Large
12 Years
61 Kg
Pastoral Dogs
Courageous, Independent, Intelligent
The Komondor is a large Hungarian pastoral breed (averaging 80cms in height), also known as the Hungarian sheepdog whose unique characteristic is a mop-like coat that covers the dog from head to toe. The coat of the Komondor is white and corded which grows to about 20-27cm long and has the heaviest amount of fur of all the dog breeds. The corded coat resembles that of dreadlocks or a mop, that is why it is sometimes called the “mop dog”. As a puppy, the coat is soft, curly and feathery white but as the dog matures, the soft undercoat and the coarser undercoat combine together to form tassels or cords, which usually takes around 24 months to form.
The Komondor is a native of Hungary where it has a long-established history as a powerful guardian of livestock and property. It is one of Hungary’s national treasures and is a highly-valued canine that represents a unique history. The average size of males is 80cms at the shoulders while females have an average size of 70cms. Weight standard is 50-61kg for males and 36-50kg for females.
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 Komondor is one of the ancient breed of dogs brought to Hungary by the Cumans, Turkic-speaking nomadic people from Asia during the 12th and 13th century. The Cumans brought with them their prized dogs when they were driven away by the Mongols and eventually settled in Hungary in 1239. The name “Komondor” is derived from “Koman-dor” which simply means “Cuman dog”. The breed is a descendant of Tibetan dogs from Asia and is related to the South Russian Ovcharka and the Puli. It was originally used to guard livestock against predators such as wolves and bears and against sheep and cattle thieves. The first mention of the Komondor was in 1544 by Kakonyi Peter in the “History of King Astiagis”. The population suffered greatly during the Second World War because they were killed by the invading Germans and later by the Soviet Forces mainly because they had to kill the dog before the soldiers could capture a farm or estate that the Komondor guarded. Today, the Komondor is kept solely as a pet but still retains its strong instinct to guard and protect.
The Komondor has a forbidding temperament, wary of strangers and has a very strong territorial instinct. It is a formidable guard dog possessing great strength and courage. It is highly faithful to its family members and a devoted companion. The Komondor is intensely loyal and will always want to be near its human family whenever possible, enjoying attention and admiring physical contact. This breed has a tendency to become miserable and destructive when left alone for long periods of time. As a devoted family companion, the Komondor has a strong instinct to guard and protect not only his human family but also its territory. It was originally bred to guard livestock independently with little to no human intervention, the Komondor is an independent thinker and may not obey unless it sees a good reason to do so.
It is very important to note that great care must be exercised when introducing the Komondor to other unfamiliar people or dogs. Training and early socialisation is the key and should start during puppyhood (between 4-8 months), introducing the dog to other people and animals in order to minimize aggressiveness. Firm, consistent training method should be observed at all times because a Komondor that lacks obedience training is a great liability to the owner. Training should be done by an experienced handler who can teach the dog in a firm but gentle manner. Harsh training method will only lead to antipathy. It is an intelligent breed and can be trained quickly, although it can be headstrong or stubborn at times so training sessions should be upbeat and happy.
Grooming the Komondor is not an easy task. Although it does not require brushing like other dogs, grooming involves separating the coat into cords, removing debris such as grass seeds, small twigs, leaves, and anything that can get caught up in the coat in the process. Grooming also involves bathing the Komondor, which can take two and a half days to dry. In a young Komondor, the cord will start to form as lumps of hair, particularly on the feet and legs then on the rump. Hairs will begin to clump together and form mats. Cording is the process of separating the mats into the desired thickness by pulling apart the matted hairs with the fingers or with the use of a mat splitter. Cording should be done up to the skin. Bathing is straightforward. It’s the drying part that consumes a lot of time.
Like other dog breeds, the Komondor can be subject to certain health problems, although it doesn’t necessarily mean that all Komondorok are susceptible to these diseases, but it is important to know these health conditions if planning on getting a Komondor as a pet.
The Komondor is a large breed, although an apartment or condominium-type setting is not the ideal living space for this breed, it can easily adapt to this lifestyle if given enough daily exercise and is trained not to bark extremely. It is typically not a high-energy breed like other working-type dogs but it will benefit from short daily walks to keep him healthy.
The Komondor is patient with the family’s children but it can be overprotective at times, especially when other kids are around. Similarly, it can become protective of household pets and aggressive with other animals that do not belong to the family.
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