July 17, 2024, 10:48 am | Read time: 5 minutes
With its shaggy coat, the Komondor has a special appearance. This former herding dog’s vigilance is still deeply rooted within them, causing them to act with an intense protective instinct towards their owner.
Origin
The Komondor is an ancient dog breed with its origins tracing back to Asia. In the 9th century, it arrived in Hungary with the steppe people of the Magyars, the place that is now considered the breed’s country of origin. As a guard dog, the Komondor was used to guard herds of cattle, which it bravely and fearlessly defended against wolves. It is said that their coat gave them the advantage of being able to mingle with their flock of sheep unnoticed by predators, not attracting attention.
The breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1954. In Germany, the Club for Hungarian Shepherd Dogs oversees the breed. The Komondor remains quite rare in Germany.
Appearance & coat
The Komondor immediately catches the eye with its special appearance: its entire body is covered with almost floor-length, shaggy fur. Underneath lies a well-proportioned, muscular body with robust limbs. Due to its magnificent coat, it is often difficult to tell where its front and back are. As a result, their facial expressions are often obscured and challenging to discern.
Its coat consists of a coarser outer coat and a finer undercoat. It happens that the shed hairs bond with the rest of the coat. This results in the formation of the breed’s distinctive cords, or tassels. The length of the coat is longest on the croup, in the loin area, and on the back of the thighs. It is of medium length on the back, sides of the chest, and around the shoulder blades. It is significantly shorter on the eyebrow arch and head, and shortest on the lips and at the bottom of the limbs. The coat is invariably ivory-colored.
Character & disposition
The Komondor is an intelligent, independent, and courageous dog. As a former herding dog, it is still territorial today and protects and defends its pack. They are loyal to their family and very affectionate towards them, which makes them a great family dog. They tend to be wary of strangers and may exhibit aggression towards other dogs if not properly trained. Consistent training is, therefore, particularly important for them.
They need regular exercise and demand this from their owners. If they are not sufficiently exercised, they may take their pent-up energy out on furniture.
Training
Due to its herding instinct, the Komondor needs consistent training, which should be lovingly structured. Regular attendance at a puppy school is recommended in order to lay all the important foundations at an early age. Due to its fur characteristics, it also needs to be introduced to being handled at an early age. The Komondor is generally regarded as a late developer, as it is only considered mature and fully grown at the age of three.
In general, the Komondor is easy to train as it is open and enjoys working with its owners. However, it also has a strong character and therefore does not just wait to follow orders. The kind of training they receive lies in the balance between leadership and consistency, and in a close and trusting relationship between them and their owner.
Correct keeping & care
As a former herding dog, the Komondor is very alert and also active at night. A quiet environment with a house and garden is therefore ideal for them. In an apartment in the city, there is always a risk that the dog will always be on alert due to the loud background noise, which means it can never calm down and is vulnerable to becoming stressed.
In their everyday lives, they love walks where they can really get going. There’s no need to be concerned about them losing control and straying away. As herding dogs, they always stay close to their pack.
The unique coat of the Komondor offers protection against both hypothermia and overheating. Contrary to what one might expect, it does not suffer too much from its coat in the summer. It has an insulating effect, especially when lying down. Nevertheless, you should not take them on too-intensive walks in the summer, making sure to use the evening hours when it cools down for walks.
Grooming the Komondor requires a significant investment of time. After every walk, it’s important to check its coat for leaves, twigs, and dirt that may have become entangled. The special method of grooming the Komondor is that the coat should never be combed because of the shaggy hair. Instead, the regrowing hairs should be separated from the skin by hand every few months. Grooming the shaggy coat is very time-consuming and should not be neglected in order to prevent matting. Once a Komondor’s coat has become wet, it can take several days to dry completely due to the dense undercoat. Grooming is, therefore, the biggest challenge for owners.
Diet
The Komondor has modest dietary needs. High-quality food should be the basis of its diet in order to support its health. The daily food intake should always be adapted to its size, weight, and activity level. As larger dogs are more prone to gastric torsion, it is advisable to spread meals throughout the day.
Susceptibility to certain diseases
The Komondor is considered a healthy and robust breed. No specific health issues are commonly associated with the breed. Only the shaggy coat can lead to skin diseases and skin inflammation.
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The Komondor at a glance
- Character: easy to train, courageous, alert
- Size: 65 to 75 cm (25.6 to 29.5 inches)
- Weight: 40 to 60 kg (88 to 132 lbs)
- Coat: long and shaggy
- Exercise requirements: medium
- Average life expectancy: 10 to 12 years
- Special features : intense protective instinct