Komondor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Komondor |
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| Alternative names | ||
| Hungarian Komondor Hungarian Sheepdog |
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| Country of origin | ||
| Hungary | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 1 Section 1 #53 | Stds |
| AKC: | Working | Stds |
| ANKC: | Group 5 (Working Dogs) | Stds |
| CKC: | Group 3 - Working Dogs | Stds |
| KC (UK): | Pastoral | Stds |
| NZKC: | Working | Stds |
| UKC: | Guardian Dogs | Stds |
The Komondor is a livestock guardian dog breed originally from Hungary. The plural is Komondors or Komondorok.
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[edit] 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 one of the larger common breeds of 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.
[edit] Coat
Its long, thick, uniquely and strikingly corded white coat (the heaviest amount of fur in the canine world) resembles dreadlocks or a mop. 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.
[edit] History
The origin of the Komondor is debated. Some believe the Komondors were a dog of the Magyars (originally migrating from Siberia) and while others believe it to be a dog of the Sumerians (originally migrating from Mesopotamia) and yet others believe it to originate from the Cumans. Interestingly, the origin of Hungarians themselves are partly disputed and the theories of breed origin probably stem from this debate. The origin of the name Komondor has multiple theories as well, some say it comes from the word Cumans (or Komans, from light yellow or pallid), some believe the origin of the name to be from the Hungarian word komor (somber), while others say it comes from the Turkish word kumundr (KU=dog, MUND=command, UR=master). The Hungarians avoid the debate and simply say Komondors have guarded the herds "since the beginning of time".
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 a rare breed even inside its country of origin, Hungary. Many Komondor were killed during World War II, and local stories say that this is due to the fact that when the Nazis (and then the Russians) invaded, before they could take over a farm or house with a resident Komondor they had to kill the dog.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Health
Komondors 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.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] External links
[edit] Breed clubs
| Hungarian dog breeds | |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Vizsla | Komondor | Kuvasz | Magyar Agar | Mudi | Puli | Pumi | Transylvanian Hound | |
