Medium
16 Years
45 Kg
Pastoral Dogs
Energetic, Intelligent, Lively, Loyal, Responsive
The Hungarian Puli is a medium-sized pastoral breed that owes its origins to the Hungarian herding dogs of the Far East brought to the west by the Magyars. This nimble and extremely intelligent breed is often referred to as a lively dog, often wary of strangers but never showing any signs of timidity or unprovoked aggression. The Puli is a solid-coloured dog where black is the most common colour. The other less common coat colours are white, fawn, and grey. Its main physical distinction is its long, profuse, corded coat, where the tight curls of the coat look similar to dreadlocks. It is similar in looks to another Hungarian herding dog, the larger sized Komondor. The coat of the Hungarian Puli may vary from dog to dog where some can have thinner or thicker cords, either flat or round. The cords are results of a controlled matting process and can be trimmed for easy maintenance or let to grow long to floor-length. The ideal size of a male Hungarian Puli is 40cm to 44 cm while a female may be between 37cm to 41cm. Weight usually varies: males are between 13 to 15kg while females are typically between 10 to 13kg.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Hungarian Puli is an ancient sheepdog, with anecdotal references dating back to six millennia ago. The modern ancestor of the Puli, however, dates back to the migration of the Magyars from Central Alisa more than 1,000 years ago, where these dogs were used for herding and guarding livestock. The Puli would work in tandem with the much larger Komondor. The Komondor would guard the flock by night while the Puli would herd and guard them during the day. When predators attack the flock, the Puli would alert the pack of Komondor which would then attack the predator. Both the Puli and the Komondor’s thick corded coat protects them from being bitten. The Hungarian Puli was rediscovered around the start of the 20th Century where it served the double duty of being a flock guardian and a companion house dog. The breed suffered during the onset of the two World Wars but breed enthusiasts kept the numbers from dwindling. Today, the Hungarian Puli still remains popular, although not as popular as it was prior to the wars.
Being a flock guardian in its native setting, the Hungarian Puli is regarded as intelligent, lively, wary of strangers but not shy or aggressive. These attitudes make it an excellent watchdog. It is an agile dog despite its bulky appearance and thick coat. It can run quite fast and can stop and change direction very easily. It is very obedient and devoted that it forms close bonds with its owner. Inside the home, the Hungarian Puli is an excellent security dog that treats the family as its flock, fiercely protecting them from strangers. It is very friendly and playful with the family even as an adult.
Although intelligent, focused and active, the Puli is a natural sheep herder with strong determination and an independent attitude. With that being said, the Puli may sometimes need obedience training as a puppy in order to become a well-balanced adult. When given a task, the Puli is highly determined to do the job. There are well-known Hungarian Pulik that are used as police dogs. Guarding also comes naturally with the breed and requires no training. It will fearlessly defend its flock and drive away intruders and attackers despite its relatively small size.
The Hungarian Puli’s long corded coat is characteristic of the breed and proper understanding of coat maintenance is tantamount to giving the dog a fit and healthy life. Some owners who don’t show their dogs in the ring opt to keep the cords at a shorter length while show ring dogs have longer cords, often reaching to the floor. The coat starts to form into cords from age six months until about 4 to 5 years of age. Once matured, the coat is not brushed but managed by grooming using the fingers in order to separate the developing chords. Different dogs will have unique chord development. Some can have long thinner (pencil chords) or thicker (ribbon) cords, either flat or round. Trimming around the mouth area and under the feet is required. Checking the eyes and ears regularly and looking for signs of irritation or infection is also very important.
The Hungarian Puli is one of the working dog breeds that generally benefits from good health and can stay well and active and be long lived. However, like most other dogs, the Puli is prone to a few health issues where it needs to be monitored at. Being a working dog, the Hungarian Puli is prone to canine hip dysplasia and eye problems such as multifocal retinal dysplasia.
Exercise is on the moderate side. If kept as a household pet, the Puli requires enough exercise to channel all its reserve energy. It is an adaptable breed and can have no problem living in an urban setting as long as it gets enough exercise on a daily basis. However, it will thrive best if given a home where it can roam freely in the open. A Hungarian Puli with inadequate exercise can become mischievous and can develop destructive behaviour. Running alongside a bike, brisk walking, hiking, jogging, field works are all ideal exercises for the breed, preferably done on a daily basis.
Children and Pulik go along together very well. Being a natural-born guardian, the Puli will often act as a babysitter and guardian of not only children but other animals in the house as well. It is a fun-loving breed, highly affectionate, smart and hardworking that loves human attention not only from the children but from the whole family. It also gets along well with other dogs and pets especially if socialised properly and early.
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