King of the Hungarian livestock guarding dogs, the Komondor, is one of the most unusual breeds seen in the United States today.

Koms are usually big muscular dogs covered with dense, white cords; this coat protects the dog against the elements and predators on the Puszta of its homeland, Hungary.

The Komondor is a large dog with males standing at least 27 1/2" at the shoulders, while females must be at least 25 1/2" tall. Occasionally one may see a Komondor as large as 31" or even bigger, but these cases are rare. While large, the Komondor is not an overly heavy dog. Males usually weigh more than 80 pounds and females more than 60 pounds. Despite its size, the Komondor is astonishingly fast, agile and light on its feet. The quick movement, large size, unique coat and majestic appearance of the Komondor can be awe inspiring.

A fearless dog, the Komondor's main task is to guard flocks of sheep or other livestock against predators such as wolves, coyotes, feral dogs, or human predators. The nature of the Komondor is that of a calm watchful dog who thrives on responsibility. Komondors need something to watch over. Be it livestock, children, or a cat, a Komondor is happiest when taking responsibility for another's well-being.

As a pet, the Komondor is quiet around the house, unless it perceives a threat to those entrusted to its care. If challenged, the Komondor becomes a fearless protector knocking down an intruder or breaking windows to protect its "flock". In the field, the Komondor is vigilant and trustworthy, reducing losses and even caring for orphans. It is important to remember that the Komondor is, first and foremost, a stock guard dog. When evaluating whether this is the breed for you and your family, keep this in mind.

HISTORY

The Komondor is an ancient breed. While its homeland has been Hungary for many centuries, it is generally thought to be a descendent of the Russian Owtcharka brought to what is now Hungary by the invading Magyars. The word "komondor" can be found in Hungarian documents dating from the 16th century, though reference to large sheepdogs predate that. The Komondor was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1937. During World War II contact between the United States and Hungary was cut off and there was virtually no importing and no breeding done in this country. In Europe the breed was almost wiped out because of the war. Only a few dozen specimens were left afterward, and the breed was slowly re-established in Hungary, but was rare even there.

During the entire period between World War II and 1960, only about 1000 Komondors had been registered in Hungary. Contact between the American Kennel Club and the Hungarian Kennel Club was re-established in 1962, and importation of Komondors resumed. The next two decades saw dogs imported from Hungary and elsewhere in Europe, and American breeders produced an average of 50 litters a year in the 1980s.

TEMPERAMENT

Komondor temperament is like that of all livestock guarding dogs: calm and steady when things are normal. In cases of trouble, the dog will leap to defend its territory. It was bred to think for itself and is usually intelligent. It is extremely affectionate with its family and friends and gentle with the children of the family. Although wary of strangers, it will nonetheless accept them when it is clear that no harm is meant. It is very protective of its family, home and possessions. It will instinctively guard them without any training.

Once a new member has been introduced into the family or flock, the Komondor will never forget them. A Komondor will routinely greet someone it has not seen for years as though it had just seen them yesterday. Once you are a "member of the flock," you are always a "member of the flock." A Komondor has keen instincts and can sense the intentions of anyone in its presence. Should it decide its flock, territory, family, or master needs protection, it will not hesitate to spring into action, defending it charges fearlessly and with suddenness which take the intruder by surprise. An athletic dog, the Komondor has great speed and power and will leap toward a predator to drive it away or to knock it down.

Because of the Komondor's size, power, and speed, its owner must have it under control. Obedience training is a must, preferably starting at an early age (4 - 8 months). Komondors are usually intelligent and take well to training if started early. Komondors 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. Again, puppy training is strongly recommended for all Komondors.

Given the proper environment and care, a Komondor is a responsible, loving dog. They are devoted and calm without being sluggish. They can be wary of strangers, but may accept people readily and are quite friendly. As in any breed, there is quite a range of personalities, so your needs should be outlined clearly when talking with a 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. Mo is a mixture of both

Many Komondors are "late bloomers", not fully mature until nearly three years of age. Adolescence can be marked by changes in temperament, eating habits, trainability and general attitude. This should not cause alarm. By the time they are three years old, they are responsible adults. However, to expect an eight month old puppy to behave as an adult is unreasonable. Puppies are as active, playful and troublesome as in any breed. Truly responsible behavior cannot be expected until they reach full maturity.

PREDATOR CONTROL

In Hungary, the Komondor is hardly ever seen in cities. Considered to be the chief of the herdsman's dogs, the Komondor is used to protect the herdsman and his animals. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the use of the Komondor as a livestock guardian among cattle, sheep and goat ranchers in the United States.

Federally-funded projects have been established to study the use of livestock guard dogs for predator control and have found the dogs to be successful under certain circumstances. With increasing interest in re-establishing the wolf in the Western United States, more livestock ranchers will no doubt be looking to the Komondor and other guardian dogs to protect their assets. Komondors are well suited for the task of predator control (both two and four legged kind). The white coat allows the dog to mingle unnoticed among the sheep while allowing the shepherd to see him at night. Also the coat acts as a protective barrier from the harsh weather and jaws of an attacking animal. The cords both insulate and cool. They are open to the skin so that they allow air to pass through, yet the density and length of the cords protect he animal underneath. In the U.S., Komondors have been effectively used to fend off coyotes and bobcats.

Even in livestock guarding situations, however, Komondors must be trained to know the owners rules. Many a Komondor who works well with the sheep cannot be taken to the vet when the need arises. All dogs must be trained to be handled by the owner and strangers when necessary. The Komondor Club of America has a committee dedicated to the education and assistance of the rancher. For more information about the Predator Control Committee, contact the Secretary.

OBEDIENCE

To the Komondor lover, no other dog possesses the depth of soul or sense of responsibility of this breed, but because of this the Komondor can represent a real challenge to the serious obedience trainer. Komondors are smart and have been bred to think for themselves. Therefore it can be difficult for them to trust completely the directions of a mere human. Easy to train at the start, they can just as easily decide that, once a task is done, it need never be done again. Repetition bores them. It is up to the handler to think of ways to keep training fun and full of surprises. Some breeds thrive of repetition, getting the most satisfaction out of being asked to do something which is familiar and can be accomplished successfully. The Komondor is not one those breeds.

Komondors love to learn something new. Often in competition, however, the Komondor can seem somewhat less than enthusiastic at having to do those exercises again. Lagging on heeling seems always to be the biggest point loser. Many Komondors can be seen keeping an eye on the judge... just in case he's really a predator. Judges who follow the dog around the ring make them especially nervous.

THE COAT

Most people are initially attracted to the Komondor because of his corded coat. When clean and groomed the coat can be quite beautiful, however sometimes the dogs are seen in public dirty, matted and bad smelling. When presented in such condition, the breed's reputation suffers. Caring for the coat takes organization and effort, but it is not an impossible task.

The cords form when the woolly undercoat is trapped by the harsher curlier outer-coat. As the coat mats together, the curl of the outer-coat helps determine the natural separation points. Separate the clumps following the pattern of the curls, having the base of the cords approximately the size of a quarter. With time and the process of wetting and drying, the clumps will tighten up forming cords. At first these cords will be short, but as the dog ages the coat grows longer, the cords will acquire the length and graceful swing of the impressive adult coat. Cords begin forming between the ages of eight months and twelve months, and continue throughout the life of the dog.

As the new coat grows, the cords will clump together at the base. You will need to spend time every week working on the cords to keep them neat. As you might imagine, it is easy for dirt to get into the cords. If that dirt becomes trapped as the cord tightens, the coat will become discolored and dull looking. The best way to keep a Komondor clean is never to allow it to get dirty. If the dog does get into a mud puddle, than a quick rinse with a garden hose will help get the dirt out. Trimming the hair around the mouth can help keep it dry and can lessen the odor, but there should be cords left on the muzzle. Hair which never dries can mildew, so cutting some of it off may lessen the problem.

No working Komondor can be kept from getting dirty, and most mature dogs with full coats cannot be kept immaculate save by extreme measures. Even with the most extreme measures, the coat of a mature Komondor is not as white as that of other white dogs which shed out their entire coat once or twice a year.

The true pure white color can be seen at the base of the Komondor's cords. A dryer or floor fan is very helpful in caring for the corded coat. Because damp hair picks up dirt easier than dry hair, keeping the coat dry helps keep it clean. Komondors like moving air more than cold air, and a Komondor will often be seen lying on its back upside-down in front of a fan when one is available.

Adult Komondors may occasionally lose an entire cord, but they do not shed in the usual sense of the word. Like poodles, which also can be corded, Komondors are a good breed for those who have allergies to dog hair and dander. If you are interested in an outside dog to stay with the livestock, coat care should consist of enough separating to keep the dog comfortable and routine examinations for large weeds, twigs, and burrs. Ears should also be cleaned occasionally and checked for infection and foreign objects.