Komondor
Dogs
Komondor
Komondor |
|
Alternative names |
Hungarian Komondor
Hungarian Sheepdog |
Country of origin |
Hungary |
Common nicknames |
|
Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 1 Section 1 #53 |
|
AKC: |
Working |
|
ANKC: |
Group 5 (Working Dogs) |
|
CKC: |
Group 3 - Working Dogs |
|
KC (UK): |
Pastoral |
|
NZKC: |
Working |
|
UKC: |
Guardian Dogs |
|
Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
|
The Komondor is a
livestock guardian dog
breed originally from
Hungary. Known as the
king of the Hungarian sheepdogs, the Komondor is a truly impressive animal. The
plural is Komondors or Komondorok.
Appearance
Large (27 in/69 cm at the
withers, 100 lb/45 kg), it has a thick, muscular body. Male Komondorok are a
minimum of 27 inches at the withers, but many are over 30 inches tall, making
this a truly impressive dog. The body is not overly coarse or heavy, however,
and people unfamiliar with the breed are often surprised by how quick and agile
the dogs are.
Coat
Its long, thick, uniquely and strikingly
corded white coat (the
heaviest amount of fur in the canine world) resembles
dreadlocks. The
puppy coat is soft and fluffy. However, the coat is wavy and tends to curl as
the puppy matures. A fully mature
coat is formed
naturally from the soft
undercoat and the coarser
outer coat
combining to form tassels, or cords. These cords are formed naturally as a
result of the soft, wavy undercoat intertwining with the coarser outer coat. The
length of the cords increases with time, as the coat grows. Shedding is very
minimal with this breed, contrary to what one might think. The only substantial
shedding occurs as a puppy before the
dreadlocks form.
The Komondor is born only with a white coat, unlike the
Puli, which is usually white or
black, or sometimes grayish. However, a working Komondor's coat may be
discolored by the elements, and may appear less than white if not washed
regularly.
History
The Komondor is an ancient breed, thought to be of Asian origin, descending
from the dogs whom the Magyars
brought to Hungary in the
10th century. It's been suggested that the name "Komondor" comes from the Cuman
(or Koman) people, who were Turkish-speaking people who once lived near the
Yellow River;
Koman-dor would mean the dog of the Cumans. The unique
dreadlock appearance
gives a hint of common origin with the
Puli and the
Bergamasco. There
might also be a link between the Komondor and the big, white Russian livestock
dogs, the
South Russian Ovtcharka.
The Komondor is built for livestock guarding. It is big, strong, and armored
with a thick coat. The coat provides protection against wild animals and the
weather and vegetation. The coat is the trademark of the breed.
The Komondor is rare everywhere outside the country of origin, Hungary,
although the USA and Germany have large Komondor populations. In the USA, the
Komondor is used as a
livestock guardian, but in Europe, outside Hungary, most Komondors are
guardian and family dogs.
Temperament
Komondorok are independent, protective, aggressive with strangers,
territorial, and very intelligent. The Komondor excels as a guardian because it
bonds strongly with its charges. The Komondor is a protector rather than an
aggressive dog looking for trouble; indeed, a good livestock guardian will not
leave the flock to chase a predator. In the absence of a flock, the Komondor
bonds with the owner and family, making it an excellent family dog. It is indeed
intelligent and independent, due to the fact that traditionally it lived with
the animals with no master on hand to make decisions and direct the dog's
actions. The Komondor therefore makes his own decisions, which means the owner
must bring the dog up to understand that the owner makes the decisions and the
dog must abide by them. No Komondor of good temperament is aggressive toward his
charges, however, human or animal. Such aggression is plain poor temperament,
not correct behavior for this breed.
Health
They have a life span of approximately 12 years and a tendency to develop
bloat and skin problems. As
with many large breeds, there is also a predisposition toward
hip dysplasia.
Miscellaneous
- The Komondor is featured on the album cover of
Odelay, released in
1996 by Beck.
External links
Home | Up | Kangal Dog | Kanni | Karelian Bear Dog | Keeshond | Kerry Blue Terrier | King Charles Spaniel | Komondor | Kooikerhondje | Koolie | Korea Jindo Dog | Kuvasz
Dogs, made by MultiMedia | Free content and software
This guide is licensed under the GNU
Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.
|