The Komondor is a large, white-coloured Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog with a long,
corded coat. Sometimes referred to as 'mop dogs,' the Komondor
is a long-established powerful dog breed that has a natural guardian instinct to guard livestock
and other property. The Komondor was brought to Europe by the Cumans and it was mentioned
for the first time in 1544 in a Hungarian codex. The Komondor breed has been declared
one of Hungary’s national treasures, to be preserved and protected from modification.
Etymology and history Komondors were brought to Hungary by Cumans,
the Turkic speaking, nomadic people who settled in Hungary during the 12th and 13th century.
The name Komondor derives from Koman-dor, meaning "Cuman dog". The breed descends from
Tibetan dogs and came from Asia with the Cumans, whose homeland might have been near the Yellow
River. In the late 900s, Mongols began to expand their territories at the expense of
the Cumans, forcing them to move westwards. Fleeing from the Mongols, they reached the
borders of Hungary in the 1100s. Cumans were granted asylum and settled in Hungary in 1239
under Köten Khan. Komondor remains have been found in Cuman gravesites. The name "quman-dur"
means "belonging to the Cumans" or "the dog of the Cumans," thus distinguishing it from
a similar Hungarian sheepdog breed which later merged with the Komondor. The name Komondor
is found for the first time written in 1544 in the History of King Astiagis by Kákonyi
Péter, in Hungarian. Later in 1673 Amos Comenius mentions the Komondor in one of his works.
Today the Komondor is a fairly common breed in Hungary, its country of origin. Many Komondors
were killed during World War II and local stories say that this is because when the
Germans invaded, they had to kill the dog before they could capture a farm or house
that it guarded.
Description The Komondor is a large dog, making this one
of the largest common breeds of dog, or a molosser. The body is covered by a heavy,
matted, corded coat. The dogs have robust bodies, strongly muscled, with long legs and
a short back, with the tails carried low. The body, seen sideways, forms a prone rectangle.
The length of body is slightly longer than the height at the withers, approximately 104%
of the height at withers. The Komondor has a broad head with the muzzle
slightly shorter than half of the length of the head, with an even and complete scissor
bite. Nose and lips are always black. People unfamiliar with the breed are often surprised
by how quick and agile the dogs are. The minimum height of female Komondors is
25.5 inches at the withers, with an average height of 27.5 inches. The minimum height
of male Komondors is 27.5 inches with an average height of 31.5 inches. No upper height limit
is given. Komondor females on average weigh between 88–110 lb and Komondor males weigh
on average between 110–132 lb. Appearance
The Komondor's coat is long, thick, and strikingly corded white coat, about 20 – 27 cm long,
which 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 and will
take around two years to form. Some help is needed in separating the cords so the dog
does not turn into one large matted mess. The length of the cords increases with time
as the coat grows. Shedding is minimal with this breed, contrary to what one might think.
The only substantial shedding occurs as a puppy before the dreadlocks fully form. The
Komondor is born with only a white coat, unlike the similar-looking Puli, which can be white,
black, or sometimes grayish. However, a working Komondor's coat may be discolored by the elements,
and may appear off-white if not washed regularly. Traditionally the coat protected the Komondor
from wolves' bites, as the bites were not able to penetrate the thick coat. The coat
of the Komondor takes about two and a half days to dry after a bath.
Temperament The Komondor is built for livestock guarding.
The Komondor's temperament is like that of most livestock guarding dogs; it is calm and
steady when things are normal, but in case of trouble, the dog will fearlessly defend
its charges. It was bred to think and act independently and make decisions on its own.
It is affectionate with its family, and gentle with the children and friends of the family.
Although wary of strangers, they can accept them when it is clear that no harm is meant,
but is instinctively very protective of its family, home and possessions. The Komondor
is very good with other family pets often very protective over them, but is intolerant
to trespassing animals, and is not a good dog for an apartment. The dog is vigilant,
will rest in the daytime, keeping an eye on the surroundings, but at night is constantly
moving, patrolling the place, moving up and down around the whole area. The dogs usually
knock down intruders and keep them down until the owner arrives. Hungarian Komondor breeders
used to say that an intruder may be allowed to enter the property guarded by a Komondor,
but he will not be allowed to come out again. Uses
The breed has a natural guardian instinct and ability to guard livestock. An athletic
dog, the Komondor is fast and powerful and will leap at a predator to drive it off or
knock it down. It can be used successfully to guard sheep against wolves or bears. It
is a big, strong dog breed, armored with a thick coat. The coat provides protection against
wild animals, weather and vegetation, the coat of the dog looks similar to that of a
sheep so it can easily blend into a flock and camouflage itself giving it an advantage
when predators such as wolves attack. The Komondor is one breed of livestock guardian
dog which has seen a vast increase in use as a guardian of sheep and goats in the United
States to protect against predators such as coyotes, cougars, bears, and other predators.
Training Due to the Komondor's size, power, speed and
temperament, a lack of obedience training can result in danger to others. Komondors
generally take well to training if started early. A Komondor can become obstinate when
bored, so it is imperative that training sessions be upbeat and happy. Praise is a must, as
are consistent and humane corrections. Once a Komondor gets away with unfriendly or hostile
behavior, it will always think such behavior is appropriate. Therefore, consistent corrections
even with a young puppy are necessary to ensure a well-adjusted adult. Socialization is also
extremely important. The Komondor should be exposed to new situations, people and other
dogs as a puppy. Because it is a natural guard dog, a Komondor that is not properly socialized
may react in an excessively aggressive manner when confronted with a new situation or person.
Given the proper environment and care, a Komondor is a responsible, loving dog. They are devoted
and calm without being sluggish. As in any breed, there is quite a range of personalities,
so your needs should be outlined clearly to your breeder. An experienced breeder can try
to identify that personality which would be happier as an independent livestock dog, or
that which wants more to please and would make a good obedience dog or family pet. Adolescence
can be marked by changes in a Komondor's temperament, eating habits, trainability and general attitude.
Many Komondors are "late bloomers," not fully mature until nearly three years of age. Breed-specific
legislation requires some breeds to be muzzled in public places. Romania is the only country
that requires Komondors to be muzzled. In popular culture
American musician Beck features a leaping Komondor as the album cover for his album
Odelay. See also
Bergamasco Shepherd Puli
National symbols of Hungary References
External links Breed Standard at the website of the American
Kennel Club Komondor Club of America
Middle Atlantic States Komondor Club The Komondor Club
The Komondor - Animal Planet