COUNTRY: Hungary
WEIGHT: 80-150 pounds
HEIGHT: 251/2 inches minimum ("the bigger, the better")
COAT: Long,corded
COLOR: White
GROUP: Flock Guard
A working flock guard in Hungary and a unique show dog of the United States and Great Britain, the Komondor serves as a link between yesterday and today.
Hungarian legend tells us that tenth-century Serb shepherds found a litter of wolf cubs and selected those that behaved most like dogs. These were trained to work with sheep, and crossed with native dogs, supposedly produced the Komondor.
Despite fanciful legends, the Komondor is directly descended from the Owtcharki brought to Hungary by the nomadic Magyars around 1,000 years ago. The source of his name cannot be pinpointed, but it may have been derived from the term komondor kedvu (meaning somber, surly or angry), apt adjectives for the ancient flock guard.
A fixture in Hungary for centuries, the Kom has only been in North America since the 1930s. They are routinely seen in shows, besides participating in flock-guarding programs. Heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney owned an illustrious Komondor bitch. The breed, however, has never become well known in Great Britain.
The Kom protects and dominates whatever animals are under his care and includes children in that responsibility. He is an alert, tough guard and serves as a police dog in some areas.
Breeder and owner Joy C. Levy says, "The dog's protective instincts, and his instincts to make decisions for himself, have been selected for centuries. If we breed two imported dogs, their offspring carry on this temperament, which gets them into trouble in Modern American Society [sic]. This happens especially in modern suburbia, where fences do not exist and people regularly trespass in the eyes of the dog. Hordes of children rushing into houses without ringing or being let in often look as bad to a Komondor as that villain who steals his family's trash, or the one who comes into his house with a weapon, in the form of a plumber's wrench. In the USA some of the best dogs are put down as vicious, when all they did was try to defend their owner and his property."
True to the flock guards, they are not easy breeders. The bitches only cycle once a year, and the studs are not avid performers. As an additional hindrance, the long, corded coats make matings difficult.
The corded coat is not seen on more than a handful of breeds. Now a unique conversation piece, the cords served a purpose for the flock guard. These twisted ringlets were never combed and, in adulthood, served as armor, impervious to climate and predators' teeth. The cords also serve to make them look like one of the semi-wild sheep. In his native land, the working Kom is shaggy, heavily matted, and untidy. Show conditioning necessitates a neater appearance.
Cording takes special care, requiring meticulous training during puppyhood and from four to eight hours blow-drying the coat after bathing. In addition, owners spend up to two hours per week hand-separating the cords. Maintaining the white color complicates the care.
Outside the show ring, Koms serve as guardians for animals, property and families. They are part of several flock-guard programs in the USA. Breeders recommend obedience training, as the Kom likes to be the boss.