Komondor

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Komondor Profile

The Komondor (plural is Komondorok) is a big, muscular dog with plenty of bone and substance, covered with an unusually heavy, white corded coat which resembles an old-fashioned string mop. Puppies are white and fluffy and tend to form cords at about 3 to 4 months of age. They are very strong and agile for their size. A hardy, healthy dog, they can tolerate changing temperatures. Keeping the coat of a Komondor is a challenge and should not be taken lightly. Cords continue to grow and must be maintained by dividing new hair growth every two to three months from the skin out to the existing cords. If not trimmed regularly, the coat will reach the ground by the time they are 6 years old. Another consideration for the Komondor is that coat is always picking up debris from outside like dirt, leaves, twigs, small living creatures, which all needs to be removed. Komondors are protective, alert, and calm. They devote most of their time to protecting their family, and are quite good at it. But for this same reason, they should be kept in proper fencing or leashed, as some have been put down for defending their family. Devoted to the ones they love, the Komondor can be trusted to stay near you and not wander too far.

Type: Guardian Dog

Height: Males average: 27.5 - 32 inches. Females average: 25.5 - 32 inches.
Weight: Males average 80 lbs. Females average 70 lbs. Ranges from 70 - 150 lbs.

Colors: White and only white. Proper grooming will ensure that the coat remains white.
Coat: Long, coarse outer coat with long cords that may reach the floor at 6 years of age; may be curly or wavy; softer undercoat. The cords feel like felt to the touch, and can also serve as armor against a foe.

Temperament: Komondors are protective, loyal and although independent, do not wander. They are attune to whatever is going on around them, and make themselves known to unwelcome guests. They can be domineering and stubborn, which is a reason to train them. They are reserved around strangers and wary of them, and should be kept out of reach. They are usually very calm and quiet when things are looking good, and fearless when things go wrong. The Komondor will fight for its family no matter what.
With Children: Good with their own family, needs to be properly introduced to other children.
With Pets: Excellent with live stock, may be bossy to other pets.
Special Skills: Guard dog and herding dog.

Watch-dog: Very high. A natural protector, they will guard with their life sheep, cattle, children or other pets.
Guard-dog: Very High. The Komondor is wary of strangers and does not take kindly to teasing; if their growls go unheeded they may attack without warning. Komondors are very protective, and sometimes perceive a threat when there is none. As breeder and owner J.C. Levy says, "Hordes of children rushing into houses without ringing or being let in often look as bad to the Komondor as that villain who steals his family's trash, or the one who comes into the house with a weapon, in the form of a plumber's wrench."

Komondor Care and Training: Meticulous grooming is essential for this breed if you wish to keep it tidy looking. You should never brush or comb the coat of a Komondor. You may want to have their coat taken care of by a professional groomer, as it requires separating the hair into cords as it grows. Some breeders spend 2 hours every week just separating the cords so that they don't mat. Bathe only when necessary and then thoroughly dry the coat (can take up to 24 hours, with 4 - 8 hours of blow drying). Perform nail and teeth cleaning when necessary. Komondors need intensive exercise such as pulling carts or a long-distance run. They also need a purpose in life. They should be given a job to do. Training of the Komondor should be firm, consistent rules and early socialization. Obedience training is essential to discourage assertive tendencies.
Learning Rate: Low. Obedience - Low. Komondors can be very independent. Problem Solving - High. They are high in intelligence, but are an independent thinker.

Activity: Medium. But the Komondor needs daily exercise.
Special Needs: Fenced yard, grooming, leash, training and socialization.
Living Environment: Suburban or rural; must have a fenced yard. Can live outside comfortably in a doghouse. Best home is a sheep ranch in Montana, second best is a house in the country with a fenced yard. Komondors must be restrained in case a "welcomed guest" appears threatening to the dog. The Komondor requires a firm, dog-experienced owner in a rural environment.

Komondor Health Issues: Hip dysplasia, skin allergies, ear problems and bloat. Bloat is a health issue to most dogs, being the second largest killer of dogs second to cancer, but Komondors can be particularly susceptible to it because of their deep chests. It is also referred to as "twisted stomach" or gastric torsion.

Life Span: 8 - 12 years.
Litter Size: 3 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: Hungary
Komondor History: The Komondor is a very old breed from Hungary where they were used to protect flocks of sheep. Known as early as 1555, it is said that they descended from the Russian herding dogs. It is believed that the Komondor originated directly from the Owtcharki brought by the nomad Magyars from Asian-Russia, supposedly around 900 A.D. Hungarian history tells of a legend in which 10th century Serb shepherds picked out some pups from a wolf litter. They picked the ones that acted most like normal dogs, and then trained them to herd sheep. They then bred these wolves with other native dogs which thus produced the Komondor. The name of the Komondor is potentially derived from the words komondor kedvu, meaning "somber, surly or angry", which certainly describes a Komondor in full sprint after anyone who threatens his family. The Kom was brought to America around the 1930s, and heavyweight champion Gene Tunny owned one. The dogs performed in shows, as well as flock guarding programs. Although accepted by the AKC in 1937, they were still quite rare in western Europe until around 10 years ago when they began to appear more and more. Today, they still participate in such programs, and some have even been trained as police dogs.

First Registered by the AKC: 1937
AKC Group: Working
Class: Working
Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI (Group 1), KC (GB), UKC

Komondors

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