Working Dog Group - Komondor

This breed hails from Hungary. It was said that this dog was bred to take care of the livestock. The origin is debatable, it is said that the name Komondor came from the word 'Komon-dor' which means that this dog is the dog of Cumans. This dog bears a strong resemblance to the Russian livestock gurard dog, Ovcharka. It was said that this dog was trained and used for the purposes of guarding sheep because of its distinct appearance and its basic nature that is to guard. This breed was close to extinction during the World War as its guarding abilities were admirable and soldiers had no option but to kill these dogs to enter the buildings that they guarded.

It has unique appearance that gave it many nicknames like mop dogs. Its coat is distinctly corded and appears like a mop or a bundle of strings; it is also very thick and long. This dog therefore has no problems in camouflaging with the sheep and protects it from the predators. It is very muscularly built and can put up a great fight with the predators like wolves and foxes that usually attack the cattle. Komondor has two coats, the overcoat measures up to 8-10 inches and can grow to its full length in two years. The undercoat is soft and it was said that this dog had two coats to protect itself from the extremes in the weather conditions.

This dog though looks like a cute adorable dog which can be cuddled by anyone; the reality is exactly the opposite. This dog can be quite ferocious when the time comes to be defensive and be quite protective about the family when it comes to strangers. It can only be friendly when it knows that the stranger means no harm and is accepted in the family by the master of the family. It is courageous and loyal and will fiercely defend the family when the situation demands. It is not a dog that can adapt to the city life as it cannot accept teasing of any sort.

This dog will be constantly alert, keeping a watch on things and surroundings during the daytime, and in the night, it won’t rest; keeping a constant watch on the area, and guard the whole area. It is an excellent dog for big estate and as it is a dog that believes in guarding its territory till its last breath. It has been trained and bred to be an independent guard dog that makes it highly dominant in nature. This dog has to be taught to socialize since its puppyhood, as it can tend to be very aggressive with strangers and if not disciplined properly in its puppyhood can turn into an aggressive dog biting all the strangers and dogs that come into its territory, considering them as killers, who are after the flock it is guarding.

These dogs should be properly trained not to jump, bark or bite the strangers that they meet. This dog is highly suitable for the countryside, where it can get sufficient amount of exercise easily. But it can also be fairly comfortable in an apartment if it is given considerable exercise. It is necessary to take the Komondor on long walks. It is a lazy dog and sleeps for long hours. They are prone to bloating and skin problems; hence they should be groomed regularly. The Komondor is an outdoor dog and can live happily outside in all kinds of weather.

The Komondor is a great guard dog and is perfect for shepherds.