The Komondor is a massively large Hungarian flock guardian coated with profuse white cords from head to tail. It is one of the world’s most identifiable breeds. Training the independent and protective Kom requires a firm, expert touch. Today’s Hungarian-language tip: Komondorok is the plural of Komondor. Let’s take a look at the dog now. We see a large and powerful guardian covered in a swath of white cords. A huge male with heavy bone, a deep chest, and tons of muscle can stand more than 27.5 inches tall and weigh more than 100 pounds. Despite their bulk, Komondorok are quick on their feet and move in large steps. Koms are tough to confuse with anything else due to their distinct appearance.
Komondor
dignified / loyal / brave
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
27.5 minimum inches (male)
25.5 minimum inches (female)
Weight
100 pounds or more (male)
80 pounds or more (female)
Life Expectancy
10-12 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Komondor
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
There are no recognized health issues unique to Komondors. Responsible breeders have breeding stock that has been recognized as hip dysplasia-free by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The Komondor Club of America, the breed's parent club, also requests eye health certifications from breeders. Bloat, a sudden, life-threatening expansion of the stomach, can occur in the Komondor, as it does in many large canines. Owners must be aware of the symptoms of bloat and intervene quickly if they arise.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Dentition Exam
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
A lovely corded coat is the product of meticulous care. 'We never brush the dogs, but we do wash them on a regular basis,' says an experienced breeder. When the coat begins to clump or 'plate up' at 9 or 10 months, we begin to split the clumps or plates into areas that grow out of a quarter-sized area on the skin. These develop into cords. There's no need for a corded coat to stink or be filthy. Bathing with diluted shampoo does the trick. To finish the bath, make sure to rinse out all traces of shampoo before drying by squeezing, using towels, and sleeping in front of a powerful fan overnight. If the coat doesn't get dry or has residual shampoo, it might smell badly.'
Exercise
Komondors are surprisingly agile and athletic for their size, and regular exercise is essential for keeping them healthy and happy. A Komondor can stay in shape by running around in a large, securely fenced yard, going for walks, and playing with their housemate dogs. Dog parks are frequently unsuitable for Komondors. Their guarding instincts, developed as a livestock guardian breed, can cause them to react negatively to loose stranger dogs or the perception that a group of dogs is a threatening pack.
Training
Early socialization and puppy training lessons, as well as obedience training and clear knowledge that the "person" is in charge, are essential for the Komondor. They are autonomous thinkers who, if not trained, might be too protective. Because of this, the dog should have learned to reliably obey commands by the age of one year.
Nutrition
Komondors do not consume a large amount of food for their size and will thrive on a high-quality dog food suited for the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some owners have reported that a high protein content can cause scratching, hotspots, and other skin reactions. 'Komondors don't need a lot of food and will sometimes miss a meal if they aren't hungry,' explains one breeder. 'In their original role, they presumably shared what the shepherd was eating.' Give table scraps sparingly, if at all, avoiding cooked bones and high fat items. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not.
History
For decades, the Komondor has reigned supreme among Hungarian flock dogs. Koms patrols the pasture for sheep. They’re self-assured and tough enough to outrun wolves and other dangerous predators. The dreadlocks give the dog a cool, unique appearance, but they aren’t for show. They guard against harsh weather and sharp-toothed animals. Koms may also blend in with the sheep thanks to the cables, providing them the element of surprise.