History

The Komondor is a very old and rare breed. It has been bred as a working dog for over 1,000 years and is called King of the Hungarian Shepherds. It is believed that the early Hungarians moved to Europe from Asia. These early Hungarians were nomads and drove herds of sheep, cows and horses. During these travels, they included their dogs to protect their livestock from predators.

The world wars did much to decimate the Komondor. As guardians of flock and their human charges, many were shot and some experts say that there were less than 20 Komondors left in Hungary after World War II.

The Komondor began to be imported to the United States in the 1930’s and were recognized about that time by the American Kennel Club. There are fewer than 10,000 worldwide.

Breed Traits and Characteristics

The Komondor is a large dog that works independently. They think for themselves and do not have to be taught to guard. They do not wait for a command but act based upon their own instinct. A Komondor owner must understand this aspect of the Komondor personality. When given a command, the Komondor thinks about the why and whether the command is necessary. They do not blindly obey. This is the reason that they must respect their masters. A Komondor puppy needs lots of socialization and a firm hand. Never let a 20 pound puppy do what you would not like a hundred pound dog to do.

A Komondor is loyal to a fault. They love being with their families and will literally give up their life for that family. It is not unusual for a Komondor to follow their family from room to room to maintain contact.

For a large dog, they are exceptionally agile. They can jump full speed and turn 180 degrees in the air.

An adult Komondor, is usually very calm and sedentary. They usually lie in a strategic spot to oversee their domain.

Coat

The most unusual aspect of the Komondor is his corded coat. The coat color is always white. A puppy coat is curly and fluffy. They look very much like a cute little polar bear cub. Soon, the coat begins to shed and mat, forming clumps that are separated into smaller mats (cords). The cords lengthen with age and will eventually touch the ground and must be trimmed. A Komondor is never brushed or combed.