Komondor Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits

Komondor Dog Breed – Facts and Personality Traits

It’s not just the unusual coat of the Komondor that makes it a very special companion – its character is also unique: This livestock guardian dog is very independent and gets along well with experienced dog owners who appreciate its charming stubborn head.

Table of Contents

• Looks
• story
• character
• education
• movement
• Komondor diet
• Health
• Care
• Is a Komondor right for me?
• How do I find my dream Komondor?

Looks of Komondor Dog Breed

A Komondor is an eye-catcher because its shaggy, ivory-colored fur covers the entire body, so it can sometimes even be difficult to tell the difference between “back” and “front” at a glance. With its magnificent hair and stately size of up to 70 cm at the withers and a weight of around 50 kg, the Komondor has a very impressive appearance. 

The coat consists of a coarse topcoat and a fine undercoat. In addition to dogs with very shaggy fur, there are also representatives of the breed with a more wavy coat and “strings” instead of shag. The longest is the hair on the croup, the loins, and the back of the thighs.

Story of Komondor Dog Breed

The roots of this proud breed lie in Asia. From here, the first representatives came to Hungary in the 9th century with the steppe people of the Magyars, which is now regarded as the country of origin. Here, too, livestock guardian dogs were used to guard large herds of cattle, which they bravely defended against wolves. The Komondor was first mentioned by name in a source from 1544. For centuries, the representatives of the breed have been famous for their courage and strong protective instinct. 

The Komondor’s shaggy fur serves as protection against extreme weather conditions and injuries – some also say that the look, reminiscent of a sheep, should put wolves to flight if the supposed sheep suddenly starts to attack. Today’s breed standard originated in the early 20th century.

The character of Komondor Dog Breed

As the original guardian dog, the Komondor is very independent and self-confident: In contrast to “herding dogs”, “herding dogs”, to which this breed belongs, defend herds of cattle or territories completely on their own. These dogs are usually very territorial and do not tolerate strangers in their territory, but behave neutrally outside of this area. 

They are incorruptible and will not be distracted by threats from strangers in their own territory. A Komondor rarely makes friends immediately with unfamiliar four-legged friends – early socialization with other dogs is particularly important. The breed exudes a dignified calm, which can be deceptive, however, because, in an emergency, the four-legged friend is ready to defend his area in a flash.

Education of Komondor Dog Breed

The idiosyncratic and proud character requires experienced dog owners who train the proud four-legged friends with expertise and empathy and do not demand unconditional obedience. Only then will the strong-character dog willingly submit. He will happily do tasks for you – if he also sees them as useful. 

The best base for good parenting is good socialization, which is guaranteed by a knowledgeable and conscientious breeder. Dog schools are an ideal supplement so that your darling can get to know other dogs of all sizes and breeds at an early age. Consider that a Komondor as a late developer only has outgrown the character of a youngster at the age of almost three.

Movement of Komondor Dog Breed

Your Komondor will be happy to accompany you on long walks, but he does not have a very pronounced urge to move. His favorite job is guarding the house and garden, and he does this on his own. The cuddly dogs are not enthusiastic about dog sports, especially since not every sport would be suitable anyway due to their size and lush fur. Your Komondor will be happy if you provide them with a large plot of land while also giving them the opportunity to spend plenty of time with their human family or significant other on a daily basis. He does not ask for any entertainment program. Especially on warm days, you should give your Komondor a rest and move longer walks to the morning or evening.

Komondor  Dog Breed diet 

If a new Komondor moves in with you, you should give them the usual food for a while so that there is no further change in addition to the move. If you then want to change your diet, do so step by step so as not to irritate the dog’s sensitive stomach. It is best to mix a little more of the new food into what your four-legged friend is already familiar with every day. Like all large dogs, the Komondor carries a higher risk of torsion. 

That is why you should make sure that your four-legged friend does not swallow or, alternatively, give several small portions every day. Also, the exclusive offering of Dry food is considered a risk factor for stomach torsion, because dry food only swells in the stomach, which means that saturation occurs later. After the meal, you should give your animal companion a rest and never ask him to play fast games or exercise a lot.

Ideally, feed them dog food without grain, as this is harder for the four-legged friend to digest. In any case, a diet with a high proportion of meat is more animal-friendly for your darling – so make sure that meat is at the top of the list of ingredients and that no inferior grains are included.

 Be economical with treats and regularly check the weight of your Komondor on a scale to keep a close eye on weight fluctuations under the lush fur and to be able to take countermeasures in good time. Also, include treats in the calculation of the daily ratio. Dental care snacks from specialist shops and dry chews such as beef ears can be a useful addition to your four-legged friend’s diet.

The health of Komondor Dog Breed

Like many larger dogs, this breed has a slight tendency to hip dysplasia (HD) and torsion of the stomach. When choosing a Komondor puppy, make sure that the breeder takes health care seriously, which means that the animals in the kennel have all been screened for HD. If not cared for properly, the dog’s head of hair can quickly lead to eczema on the skin if felt plates form or the skin is irritated by repeated bathing. In good health, a Komondor can live to be 13 years and older.

Care of Komondor Dog Breed

First of all, it should be said: A well-groomed Komondor has no disadvantages due to its magnificent hair, on the contrary, it ensures a pleasant climate on the dog’s body. Alongside all of their benefits and protective function, however, it’s also obvious that the long tufts are a dirt trap that can catch anything from spring flowers to twigs. 

Owners should check their four-legged friends for such souvenirs every day. Overall, grooming the Komondor requires some time, but at the same time, it strengthens the bond between you and your furry companion, making it far more than a mere chore.

The typical shags already form when they are puppies – you should never brush the dog as a pup – and also not later – as this would disturb the natural “shag development”. Instead, run all your fingers through the fur with each stroke, gently pulling the strands of shaggy apart along their natural base to prevent tangling. It is best to do this caressing hair care every day from puppyhood onwards so that the cords can develop optimally – it is best to let your breeder show you how. When the four-legged friend is about a year old, the matting begins. 

The individual strands should be at least a finger thick so that they do not break off so easily. Pay particular attention to the areas behind the ears and on the tail. Once the shags are fully formed, all you have to do is shape them with your hands every two weeks – brushing has no place on the adult Komondor coat either! You can completely cut off the hair on the inside of the thighs and around the genitals and anus so that no urine or feces gets caught in the fur. Also, check the paws regularly and cut off matted fur here to avoid painful inflammation. Also, be sure to remove the fluff in your ears regularly to prevent skin problems. 

You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. you only need to get them in shape with your hands every two weeks – brushing has no place even on adult Komondor fur! You can completely cut off the hair on the inside of the thighs and around the genitals and anus so that no urine or feces gets caught in the fur. Also, check the paws regularly and cut off matted fur here to avoid painful inflammation. 

Also, be sure to remove the fluff in your ears regularly to prevent skin problems. You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. you only need to get them in shape with your hands every two weeks – brushing has no place even on adult Komondor fur! You can completely cut off the hair on the inside of the thighs and around the genitals and anus so that no urine or feces gets caught in the fur. Also, check the paws regularly and cut off matted fur here to avoid painful inflammation. Also, be sure to remove the fluff in your ears regularly to prevent skin problems. 

You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. You can completely cut off the hair on the inside of the thighs and around the genitals and anus so that no urine or feces gets caught in the fur. Also, check the paws regularly and cut off matted fur here to avoid painful inflammation. Also, be sure to remove the fluff in your ears regularly to prevent skin problems. 

You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. You can completely cut off the hair on the inside of the thighs and around the genitals and anus so that no urine or feces gets caught in the fur. Also, check the paws regularly and cut off matted fur here to avoid painful inflammation. Also, be sure to remove the fluff in your ears regularly to prevent skin problems.

 You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. to prevent skin problems. You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping. to prevent skin problems. You can care for the ears with a special ear cleaner for dogs – please do not use cotton swabs for your four-legged friend’s eavesdropping.

The best way to clean your Komondor is with a simple towel. This is particularly effective if the dog has gotten slightly damp but not wet from the rain. If your dog eats wet food, you should check after the meal whether remains of it have gotten caught in the whiskers and clean them off with a damp towel if necessary. Bathing is a difficult task for a Komondor that is best avoided by yourself and your canine companion unless absolutely necessary. Because the dog finds it difficult to dry off again, you should also grease his fur with wool grease afterward.

Even if the Komondor doesn’t necessarily smell more “like a dog” than other four-legged friends with daily care and doesn’t shed because of its hair structure, but at most loses a shag here and there, you should be aware that it’s not a dog for cleanliness fanatics.

Is a Komondor right for me?

Only dog ​​lovers who can offer a lot of dog experience and space should consider moving to a Komondor. The livestock guardian dog wants to patrol its territory independently – farms or a large piece of land or at least a very large garden are ideal for this. Representatives of the breed feel comfortable in the vastness of nature and are not city dogs. If he has an appropriate territory, he hardly needs any work. As independent as a Komondor may be – he needs a connection to his human pack! Kennel keeping is therefore decidedly to be rejected for the proud dogs.

Before deciding on a Komondor, think carefully about how you will take care of your four-legged friend if you want to travel: He prefers to stay in his familiar surroundings so that you can ideally win family members or well-known dog friends as holiday sitters. In addition, the breed usually bonds particularly closely to its caregiver – so a dog boarding house would only be an emergency solution that would cause problems for the loyal four-legged friend.

Coexistence with other pets such as cats usually only succeeds peacefully if the puppies are already used to feline roommates – your companion will probably always stand on war paws with strange cats. The Komondor will mostly love and protect the children in its “human pack”. But be careful if, for example, other children come to visit – the Komondor could, for example, misinterpret the children’s fights and want to defend “his pack”! Before moving in, also consider the regular financial burdens that moving in a dog entails.

In addition to the purchases to start with (bowls, toys, dog blankets or baskets, leash, collar, security for the car), there is also an animal-friendly, high-quality nutrition for a dog weighing around 50 kg and regular visits to the vet. If the four-legged friend is ill, the veterinary costs can quickly skyrocket.

How do I find my dream Komondor?

Fans of Hungarian shepherd dogs know that they can only get a real Komondor from a reputable breeder. As a rule, only breeders who belong to a club have the know-how and sense of responsibility to obtain healthy, type-appropriate, and well-socialized puppies from matings with the corresponding breeding goal. 

Avoid breeders without a club or random litters, because those who are primarily concerned with earning money or “just getting puppies” will save on the necessary health checks of the parent animals and often also on animal-friendly socialization, which is particularly important for a little loner as is very important to the Komondor.

You can visit a reputable breeder in their home and get to know the puppies and their parents. All animals should make a healthy and balanced impression and have enough space available. The breeder will be happy to answer any questions you may have about their breed, can provide evidence of the health care of the parents, and will ask a few questions about you and your dog’s experience to find out if you can provide a good home for their protégés.

You will probably not find an extraordinary dog ​​like the Komondor in the animal shelter around the corner, but if you would rather have an adult Komondor move in with you, you can of course search the Internet. Keep in mind that living with a second-hand dog may require a lot of experience. In an extensive discussion with the mediator and ideally when you get to know each other for the first time, you can check whether the “chemistry” between you and the four-legged friend is right – then the arrival of an already adult Komondor can be a great enrichment for both sides!