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Breed Characteristics
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Puli
| Other Names | Hungarian Puli, Pulik, Hungarian Water Dog |
| Country of Origin | Hungary |
| Weight | Males: 25 - 35 lbs. (11 - 16 kg) Females: 20 - 30 lbs. (9 - 14 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 16 - 17½ in. (41 - 46 cm) Females: 14½ - 16 in. (36 - 41 cm) (U.K. standard; slightly larger in the USA) |
| Coat | The coat of the Puli is unique and wonderful. It is a corded coat that will grow out as the animal ages. It is very important for the Puli owner to understand that this type of coat should never be brushed. Not only will brushing destroy the unique character of the animal but the brushing will be very uncomfortable to the animal. New owners of Puli animals may wish to attend a pet salon class on the proper method for separating the cords. This grooming activity must take place often, so it is a worth while class to attend. |
| Colour | The original Puli was a multi-coloured breed but today black is considered the predominate colour. You can, however, find Puli colours such as white, gray, and apricot. The gray and apricot are somewhat rare. |
| Litter Size | 1 - 3 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 - 14 years |
| Origin & History | The Puli is an ancient sheepdog, from Hungary, introduced by the migration of the Magyars from Central Asia more than 1,000 years ago. The Puli were used for both herding and guarding livestock. The Puli would commonly work together with the much larger, white Komondor, a Hungarian breed of (solely) livestock guardian dog. The Komondor is a large, solidly built dog, around 30 inches tall. The Komondor (or several Komondors if there was a large amount livestock) guarded the sheep or cattle mostly at night, while the Puli herded and guarded them during the day. When wolves or bears attacked the livestock, the Puli would alert the pack and the Komondors would come and fight the intruders. Puli can be good at fighting off wolves, because the thick coat protects their skin from being bitten. The Komondors usually rested during daytime but at night walked around the flock, constantly moving, patrolling the area. Nomadic shepherds of the Hungarian plains valued their herding dogs, paying as much as a year's salary for a Puli. In Asia, the breed dates back 2,000 years and anecdotal evidence suggests that a Puli-like dog existed 6,000 years ago. Although the coats may look slightly similar, the Puli has never worked in water and the Puli's coat does not grow continuously in the same fashion as a corded Poodle's once the cords are formed. The ancestry of the Puli, however, is not known with certainty, as there are some references to ancient Rome. Possibly the Puli’s ancestors are ancient Hungarian shepherd dogs. Travelers brought the Puli with them to the Carpathian basin, to help organize the flocks, and herd the stallions of the area. The huge Komondor and the Kuvasz were used for guarding the belongings of the owner. while the Puli would keep the animals together. Around the beginning of the 20th century a real turning point for the breed came when it was rediscovered but no longer used much as a sheepdog; extensive shepherding was replaced by intensive farming. The Puli’s role was reduced in the life of the flock. Although, their traditional duty was kept, they started to fulfill jobs that were convenient in the circumstances of their owner: they became house dogs. After World War II, the breed became a less popular pet; even now the breed has not been able to regain the popularity it previously enjoyed. |
| Personality | The Puli is a lively, cheerful little dog that is very loyal. It is an excellent family pet and will adapt to most surroundings and circumstances. Its innate intelligence makes it easy to train. If the Puli senses its owners are not as strong minded as itself, it will become willful with a mind of its own, as it will believe it needs to make up its own rules of the home. Pulik do very well in obedience and agility as well as in the show ring. Though wary of strangers, they are never aggressive, but may well give a vocal warning if they feel their owner is being threatened. Pulik are not recommended for small children who may tease or be rough with them. Children need to be taught how to be pack leaders. It is important that you learn how to properly communicate with your dog. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The Puli is generally robust and healthy. They may, however, be prone to hip dysplasia. In addition they may also be prone to eye inflammations caused by hair getting under eyelids. In general, though, the Puli is a very healthy breed. |
| Grooming | The corded coat begins to form around the age of 6 months, when the soft woolly undercoat intermingles with the harsher outer coat. The mats thus formed should be separated by hand very regularly at this stage. The clumps should be torn apart by hand from the tip to the skin. Each coat is individual but as a rough guide, these sections should not be made thinner than the width of a pencil. It is a relaxing and enjoyable process for dog and owner and if done regularly, takes little time. Keeping a fully corded Puli is very easy since they take little care apart from regular coat separation and, of course, bathing. Bathing is as easy as washing a sweater but drying does take some time. With a dryer, a fully corded Puli coat will take several hours and without a dryer it can take around 2 days to be fully dry. Eyes and ears should be cleaned regularly; nails kept clipped. The breed does not shed its coat. If you are allergic to dogs in general, you might try to see how you'd get along with a Puli since its coat is so different. A good breeder will let you visit several times by prior arrangement to see how their dogs affect you before you consider going ahead with a puppy. |
| Exercise | Pulik need a daily walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. These dogs are energetic and lively and are in their glory when allowed to romp and play, especially if their owner or a companion dog joins in the fun. Some of them are fond of water and can swim very well, but not all have this tendency and this should never be permitted unsupervised. |
| Other Considerations | The Puli will adapt to almost any circumstance, be it an apartment or a farm. This breed is suited to all climates. In the heat of Australia and Florida it does extremely well and, conversely in the extreme cold of areas like Denver in winter it also does likewise. It is fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. Notable Pulis; In 1978 a Puli called Cinko Duda Csebi won the world exposition organized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The Mexican-born dog was owned by breeder Roberto Hernández Ávalos. The dog known as "The Auditor" is assumed to be a Puli. It lived in the contaminated Berkeley Pit copper mine in Butte, Montana. Notable for being one of the few things that could live, and thrive in such a place, in time it became a sort of mascot for the town. After The Auditor died, several memorials were erected, celebrating its existence. British grunge-rock band Bush featured a picture of a leaping Puli in the booklet to their album Sixteen Stone. This particular Puli belonged to frontman Gavin Rossdale and was named Winston. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has a white Puli named Beast. In the 1960s, writer Harlan Ellison adopted a Puli named Ahbhu and wrote about him in the 1975 Hugo-winning novelette "The Deathbird" (part of the 1975 collection Deathbird Stories). In addition, Ahbhu appeared in the 1969 short story "A Boy And His Dog" as a predecessor to the main character's telepathic dog Blood. American novelist T.C. Boyle used to own several Pulis and still has one. One of them, named "Kutya" (Hungarian for "dog"), is commemorated in his novel The Harder They Come. |
