Komondor - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The Komondor is an old Hungarian herding breed and Hungarians consider this breed as their national treasure, but its ancestry is most likely in Asia. It is believed, that the first dogs were brought to the Hungary by Cumans. Cumans are Turkic nomadic people, who found an asylum in Hungary after the Mongol invasion in 13th century and many of them brought their dogs, including Komondor dogs with them. It is impossible to properly trace down breeds ancestry, if the dog has such a long history, but the Komondor is most likely related to South Russian Ovcharka and Puli.
2) Name
The name Komondor derives from Koman-dor, meaning Cuman dog. Interesting facts is, that in hungarian language, the correct plural form of Komondor is not Komondors, but Komondorok.

3) Coat
The most distinctive feature of the Komondor appearance is definitely its heavy matted coat. The coat serves several purposes, the first one is protection from predators. The second is protection from harsh weather. And the third purpose is camouflage, because the white coat is allowing the Komondor to blend in with the sheep flocks. Puppies do not have this corded coat, their coat is fluffy and begins to mat at 8 to 10 months of age. BTW, on average, a Komondor has around 2000 cords and it is the heaviest amount of fur in the canine world

4) Protector
Well, the Komondor was bred to be the best livestock guardian and they do have natural protective instincts. It is a devoted and pretty calm companion, but they can be wary of strangers and naturally protect their people and territory. Of course, this can be vastly influenced by early socialization, but the Komondor can be easily trained to be a great protector.

5) Family companion

It is true, that they do not enjoy company of strangers, but they love their family, their pack. This is a pretty social dog who tends to create very strong bond with its owner, often following them from room to room. This is a affectionate, gentle and calm dog that makes good companion for kids, but you should always monitor the situation between the dog and a young child. Another great fact is, that the Komondor does not have high prey drive and that he can happily live with other household pets. Overall, this breed makes a great family companion.

6) Training
Because of the Komondor strength and naturally protective nature, early socialization and proper training is needed. This is a pretty smart dog, but with independent mind, which is why they are not total pushovers to train. Because of this, i would not recommend this dog for novices or unexperienced owners, they need firm and patient trainer. But with proper training, you will have an extraordinary companion by your side.

7) Barking
Komondors bark to anything suspicious. If they will see or hear something weird, they will alert you with their loud barking. And they do bark a lot, so you should be prepared for that.
8) Energy
Although, the Komondor is pretty fast dog, they are normally not very active and does not require much exercise. Of course, you should still walk them two or three times a day. They will be happiest, if they will have access to a yard, which they can guard. But you should have a high fence to prevent the Komondor from jumping over it and trying to expand their territory, which is quite a common habit for guard dogs.
9) Grooming
The komondor requires specific and unusual grooming to keep the coat in good condition. The coat should never be combed or brushed, but to keep it clean it needs to be divided into cords and trimmed. While doing that, you should remove dirt and debris out of the coat and check the coat for ticks, fleas and parasites. Just like with all dogs you should regularly check their eyes, ears and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.
10) Size
Under all the coat, the Komondor hides robust and strongly muscled body. According to the official breed standard, male Komondors height should be above 70 cm, which is 28 inch and weight between 50-60 kg, which is 110-130 pounds. Females are little bit smaller, with height above 65 cm, which is 25 inch and weight between 90-110 pounds.