Komondors

Appearance:

Body: Large, tall, well-muscled, and heavily boned. Back is broad, level, and muscular, chest is deep and powerful, and shoulders well-laid.

Coat: Tassel-like with a long coarse outer coat, and dense, wooly, protective undercoat; thicker than any other dog. The coarse outer coat combines with the soft undercoat forming felt-like cords.

Color: White with pink or gray skin.

Ears: U-shaped with slightly rounded tips, high set, and hidden by it's thick, corded hair.

Eyes: Medium size, almond-shaped, dark, with grey or black rims, and hidden behind it's corded coat of hair.

Feet: Strong with tight, well-arched toes, hard elastic pads and strong nails.

Head: Large and short with arched skull, moderate stop, wide, coarse muzzle, and black nose.

Legs: Forelegs are straight, well-muscled, and well-boned. Hindquarters are very muscular and powerful, stifles are well-bent.

Neck: Moderately long, muscular, and slightly arched.

Size:
Weight: 80 - 100 pounds
Height: 25.5 - 27.5 inches

Tail: Long and natural with a slight upwards curve.

Behavior

Recommended for experienced dog handlers
Not recommended for apartment living
Can be aggressive towards strangers
Night barkers

The Komondor is known for his unusual mop-like coat consisting of strong, heavy cords that feel like felt. Often affectionately referred to as a "walking mop".

He is a large, muscular, powerfully impressive dog who can be aggressive towards strangers. He is affectionate with his own family taking full responsibility for their protection, including the children and other family pets but must be supervised with visitors.

AKC Standard says, "The Komondor is a mighty fellow. His head is impressive in its generous formation, and his general appearance is commanding. At first sight he is likely to create fear. Strangers of evil intent have reason to be fearful, but he is a devoted companion to his master and readily mingles with friends and the family."

Komondorok are a very old breed of dog originally used for guarding sheep and are capable of enduring most any type of weather conditions. Having been bred to guard flocks of sheep and other livestock, independent of his master, he is capable of making decisions on his own and will put himself in charge unless taught at an early age who is boss.

Obedience training and constant socialization are vital to producing a well-mannered adult Kom. If he is allowed to think he is in charge, even once as a puppy, he will decide for himself who is friend and who is foe to his family. Without responsibilities he can easily become bored leading to destructive behavior.

He needs an experienced dog handler capable of establishing himself as the "alpha dog" and maintaining consistent control at all times. Koms are sensitive and won't accept or tolerate harsh treatment. Training needs to be firm but positive, include praise and reward-type treats, and be challenging.

Breed Type

AKC Group: Working Group

Used for guarding flocks of sheep and other livestock.

Care and Grooming

Exercise: Moderate daily exercise with an enclosed area where he can run freely.

Grooming: Cords must be cleaned and separated at least once each week. The cords form when the wooly undercoat is trapped by the coarse outer coat. Cleaning should be done immediately after getting dirty. Spay with the hose and dry with fans to keep mold from forming inside the thick cords.

This is a daunting task for any dog owner and should be a serious consideration before deciding to bring a Komondor home. If you do bring home a Komondor, ask a professional for further advise about properly maintaining his coat.

Health

Life Expectancy: 12 Years

Possible Problems:
Bloat Entropion - eyelids turn inward
Skin problems due to their tight thick coat

May have a negative reaction to medications such as anesthesia and vaccinations. Check with your veterinarian before administering flea and tick controlling products or other drug related treatments."

Recommended Certificates:
OFA - for the hips

Country of Origin

Hungary