Komondor

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Minimum 70cm for dogs, 65cm for bitches.
Colour: White.
Coat: Hair falling in curly tassels and cords.
Gait: Light, free, and ground covering.
These dogs with their distinctive coats are noted for their strong guarding instincts. Beneath the hair which covers the entire head, the skull should be wide and the muzzle relatively short. The medium sized eyes are dark and the U shaped ears hang to the side of the cheeks. The strong neck runs into a body which is slightly longer than its height and has a deep, broad chest.
The long tail is curved at the tip and may be raised when excited. The fore and hindquarters are well angulated and the large feet are compact.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Like many herding and guard breeds, these dogs are wary of strangers and should always be treated with respect. They are devoted to their masters and will protect them against any sort of attack. Making use of this characteristic, the Hungarian shepherds used them more for guarding than herding. (See also Hungarian Puli). Being a big dog, they require plenty of exercise and a fair amount of space in which to roam. The cording tendency of the coat is natural from about nine months of age, however, in order to form individual cords rather than matted platelets, care should be taken to see that hairs from one cord do not knot up with those of an adjacent cord. Once this has been achieved, most coat care is limited to keeping the dog clean.
HISTORY
Looking like their smaller cousins the Hungarian Puli, this breed also has its origins in Asia, but differs in that their origins lie with the Asian mastiff family. Some theorists believe the Komondor, together with the white Kuvasz, are among the oldest European breeds. While the history is obscure, it is believed that the Komondor incorporates lines of the heavily built Russian Outcharka which arrived in Hungary during the 9th century. Their sheep-guarding skills are legendary and their long corded coats act as protection if attacked by other animals.