Komondor: The Rasta Dog

The Komondor (in Hungarian the plural for komondor is komondorok) is a large, white-coloured Hungarian breed of livestock guardian dog with a long, corded coat.

Sometimes referred to as 'mop dogs,' the Komondor is a long-established powerful dog breed that has a natural guardian instinct to guard livestock and other property. The Komondor was brought to Europe by the Cumans and it was mentioned for the first time in 1544 in a Hungarian codex. The Komondor breed has been declared one of Hungary’s national treasures, to be preserved and protected from modification.

Komondors were brought to Hungary by Cumans, the Turkic speaking, nomadic people who settled in Hungary during the 12th and 13th century. The name Komondor derives from Koman-dor, meaning "Cuman dog". The breed descends from Tibetan dogs and came from Asia with the Cumans, whose homeland might have been near the Yellow River. In the late 900s, Mongols began to expand their territories at the expense of the Cumans, forcing them to move westwards. Fleeing from the Mongols, they reached the borders of Hungary in the 1100s. Cumans were granted asylum and settled in Hungary in 1239 under Köten Khan.^[3] Komondor remains have been found in Cuman gravesites. The name "quman-dur" means "belonging to the Cumans" or "the dog of the Cumans," thus distinguishing it from a similar Hungarian sheepdog breed which later merged with the Komondor. The name Komondor is found for the first time written in 1544 in the History of King Astiagis by Kákonyi Péter, in Hungarian. Later in 1673 Amos Comenius mentions the Komondor in one of his works.^[5] Today the Komondor is a fairly common breed in Hungary, its country of origin. Many Komondors were killed during World War II and local stories say that this is because when the Germans (and then the Russians) invaded, they had to kill the dog before they could capture a farm or house that it guarded.

The Komondor is one of the most unique dog breeds. This breed features physical characteristics not found in most dogs. This dog is also known as a Hungarian Sheepdog, not only because it is a flock guardian, but because it blends right in with a flock. This breed of dog has been around for many years and has always been useful to farmers and often are seen in dog shows.

This breed of dog is relatively large. It is about the same size as a sheep, which helps it blend in more. The dog has a large head with a short and dark muzzle. It has almost-shaped dark brown eyes and has long triangular ears that blend with the coat. The dog also has a long hanging tail that just like the ears blends into the coat. The dogs main feature is its bizarre coat. The breed's coat is long felted corded always white fur. The hair reaches 8-11inches (20-27cm) in length. As a pup, the fur is soft and shows signs of cords. After two years the fur begins to form itself into cords and then in five years the fur reaches full length.

The Komondor's history dates back to around the sixteenth century. Research has shown that the breed is a descent of Tibetan dogs. The dogs were first used on farms as flock guardians to guard sheep and cattle. The spread of the breed began around 1920.

The Komondor breed of dog is known to be very strong and protective. If taken in as a pet, the owner must require a natural firm authority. The owner must ensure the owner is in charge as well as the other humans in the home. The dog cannot think he is the leader of the 'pack'. These dogs are very fierce and confident. They are often reserved around strangers meaning gaining the dogs trust whilst maintaining a firm authority is important. Owners must also set strict rules.

Grooming this breed is slightly different from most dogs. This breed cannot be combed or brushed. To take care of a Komondor's coat, owners are required to divide and trim the cords of hair. The best thing about this breed is that it does not shed, not one bit. Though, the dog will need frequent baths because it does get dirty quickly.

The height of the dog is on average around 25.5 inches (65cm) for both male and female Komondors. The weight for a male Komondor is around 125 pounds (59kg) and a female is approximately 10% less.

With enough care, exercise and love, a Komondor is expected to live around ten to twelve years on average. The Komondor is required to be bathed frequently s it gets dirty very quickly, it also need to be groomed by trimming its fur and not combing. It is also important that the owner is firm and authoritative with the Komondor.

 

The Komondor may be a beautiful dog but it is also very high maintenance. The Komondor's coat is long, thick, and strikingly corded white coat, about 20 – 27 cm long (the heaviest amount of fur in the canine world), which resembles dreadlocks or a mop. The puppy coat is soft and fluffy. However, the coat is wavy and tends to curl as the puppy matures. A fully mature coat is formed naturally from the soft undercoat and the coarser outer coat combining to form tassels, or cords and will take around two years to form. Some help is needed in separating the cords so the dog does not turn into one large matted mess. The length of the cords increases with time as the coat grows. Shedding is minimal with this breed, contrary to what one might think (once cords are fully formed). The only substantial shedding occurs as a puppy before the dreadlocks fully form. The Komondor is born with only a white coat, unlike the similar-looking Puli, which can be white, black, or sometimes grayish. However, a working Komondor's coat may be discolored by the elements, and may appear off-white if not washed regularly. Traditionally the coat protected the Komondor from wolves' bites, as the bites were not able to penetrate the thick coat. The coat of the Komondor takes about two and a half days to dry after a bath.

After you've taken all that time grooming your Komondor, if you are headed to a dog show and it is raining, you don't want to have nature turning all of that work into naught. So, you put your baby in a pair of onesies and continue on your way.

Some people can get a little bit carried away when they show their Komondors, for example this poor creature below that looks like it has been tie-dyed for a 'Gratefull Dead' concert.

The Komondor is built for livestock guarding. The Komondor's temperament is like that of most livestock guarding dogs; it is calm and steady when things are normal, but in case of trouble, the dog will fearlessly defend its charges. It was bred to think and act independently and make decisions on its own.

It is affectionate with its family, and gentle with the children and friends of the family. Although wary of strangers, they can accept them when it is clear that no harm is meant, but is instinctively very protective of its family, home and possessions. The Komondor is very good with other family pets, often very protective over them, but is intolerant to trespassing animals and is not a good dog for an apartment. The dog is vigilant and will rest in the daytime, keeping an eye on the surroundings, but at night is constantly moving, patrolling the place, moving up and down around the whole area. The dogs usually knock down intruders and keep them down until the owner arrives. Hungarian Komondor breeders used to say that an intruder may be allowed to enter the property guarded by a Komondor, but he will not be allowed to come out again.

The breed has a natural guardian instinct and ability to guard livestock. An athletic dog, the Komondor is fast and powerful and will leap at a predator to drive it off or knock it down. It can be used successfully to guard sheep against wolves or bears.

It is a big, strong dog breed, armored with a thick coat. The coat provides protection against wild animals, weather and vegetation, the coat of the dog looks similar to that of a sheep so it can easily blend into a flock and camouflage itself giving it an advantage when predators such as wolves attack. The Komondor is one breed of livestock guardian dog which has seen a vast increase in use as a guardian of sheep and goats in the United States to protect against predators such as coyotes, cougars, bears, and other predators.

Due to the Komondor's size, power, speed and temperament, a lack of obedience training can result in danger to others. Komondors generally take well to training if started early (ideally between 4 – 8 months). A Komondor can become obstinate when bored, so it is imperative that training sessions be upbeat and happy. Praise is a must, as are consistent and humane corrections.

Once a Komondor gets away with unfriendly or hostile behavior, it will always think such behavior is appropriate. Therefore, consistent corrections even with a young puppy are necessary to ensure a well-adjusted adult.

This Komondor reminds me of a Musk Ox

Socialization is also extremely important. The Komondor should be exposed to new situations, people and other dogs as a puppy. Because it is a natural guard dog, a Komondor that is not properly socialized may react in an excessively aggressive manner when confronted with a new situation or person.

Given the proper environment and care, a Komondor is a responsible, loving dog. They are devoted and calm without being sluggish. As in any breed, there is quite a range of personalities, so your needs should be outlined clearly to your breeder. An experienced breeder can try to identify that personality which would be happier as an independent livestock dog, or that which wants more to please and would make a good obedience dog or family pet. 

Adolescence can be marked by changes in a Komondor's temperament, eating habits, trainability and general attitude. Many Komondors are "late bloomers," not fully mature until nearly three years of age. Breed-specific legislation requires some breeds to be muzzled in public places. Romania is the only country that requires Komondors to be muzzled.