Komondor

Description:
The Komondor is a strong, heavy dog whose impressive muscular body is hidden underneath a white coat of felt tassel cordons. The head of this dog seem wider than it is in height, its eyes are oval shaped and have a dark brown color, not sunken in though. The ears hang in a v shape. The muzzle is wide in comparison to the skull and is blunt. The chest is powerful and wide in proportion; the thorax is ample, muscular and descends towards the tail that curves slightly toward the top in the tip and elevates until he level of the back when the dog is in movement. This dog is double coated and has thick hair, the thicker hair becomes tangled with the woolly undercoat and this causes it to form strong and permanent cordons. The coat should not be curly or short. The color of this dog's coat is white and its skin should be grayish. The size of the males is around seventy to eighty centimeters and the females sixty five to seventy centimeters.

Ideal owner:
A lot of dog and a lot of hair that looks and feels like rope, the Komondor definitely stands out and is a guard dog by definition. This dog needs a good owner, a gated garden to protect, and a good trainer. This dog is big, and aggressive and stubborn by nature if it is not well and properly trained. In the Hungarian hills, the dogs worked alone and this has caused it to become very independent. Socializing it with other dogs and people is very important.

Growth:
New born Komondors usually weigh around half a kilo or more and they grow at a variable rhythm. Most of them grow little by little and mature a little late, while there are others that grow very quickly and mature early. The owner will need to keep the breeder or veterinarian informed about his or her dog's growth. If you are interested in getting one of these dogs, make sure to get one whose eyes, nose and pads are dark, and that has the least amount of pink skin as is possible. Avoid picking one that is shy, as this can lead to behavior problems. At adolescence Komondors will start to develop its ropey hair however this process will not be complete until the dog is around three years old or more. An adolescent might also have some eating problems and this can present a problem for those that grow quickly. It's possible the veterinarian will need to prescribe an adequate diet.

General health:
The Komondor has shown to be a very resistant breed and is not susceptible to disease. However hip dysphasia has shown up in some, but it is under control by responsible breeders. Skin infections are very frequent, especially in the cases where its skin is not well taken care of. The care and grooming its hair requires is quite complicated and needs to be done professionally. Komondors seem to also be very susceptible to staphylococcus and dermatitis, as well as allergic dermatitis. These problems can be treated but they become a problem because of the dog's type of coat. Veterinarians and breeders have informed that some females Komondors lose hair, especially over the shoulders and front legs, but the reason is not known. This dog is sensitive to anesthetics and certain anti parasite baths. It needs a good balanced healthy diet and an abundant amount of exercise, as well as a good trainer all of which are vital for this dog's health. A well bred and taken care of Komondor has a life span of ten years or more.