Dog Breed Guide

Komondor

Profile

Size

Extra Large

Country of origin

Hungary

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Livestock guardian

Height

male 70cm (28in) and over, female 65cm (26in) and over

Weight

male 50 - 60kg (110 - 132lb), female 40 - 50kg (88 - 110lb)

Life span

10 - 12 years

The Komondor is famous for the white, rope-like cords that cover its whole body and make it look like a giant mop. Puppies have soft, fluffy curls, but from about 8 to 12 months the coat begins to mat and gradually forms cords. The cords keep growing and can reach the floor by the age of six or seven.

This coat works like armor, protecting the dog from wolves' teeth and bitter cold. The Komondor is calm and loyal to its family, but as a flock guardian that acts on its own judgment it is very independent and highly suspicious of strangers and unfamiliar animals.

The cords do not separate neatly on their own, so the clumps must be split apart by hand. After a bath the coat is said to take as long as a full day to dry, and if it stays damp it can start to smell or grow mildew.

Good to know

On the pastures of Hungary, the Komondor lived right among the flock. Its corded white coat looked remarkably like that of the native Racka sheep, which have similar spiraling wool, so a wolf coming for the sheep could not easily spot the guardian until it suddenly rose up in front of it.

The breed is believed to have guarded livestock in Hungary for nearly a thousand years, and its ancestors are said to have come with the nomadic Cumans. During World War II many Komondors were killed defending their flocks against invading soldiers.

After the war enthusiasts around the world kept the breed alive, but it is still rare, with fewer than 10,000 dogs thought to exist worldwide. Whenever a photo of one appears online, people ask, "Is that really a dog?"