Puli
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 Puli |
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| Other names | Hungarian Puli Pulik (plural) Hungarian Water Dog |
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| Country of origin | Hungary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Puli is a medium-small breed of Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat, similar to dreadlocks, make it virtually waterproof. A similar looking, but much larger Hungarian dog breed is called Komondor.
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[edit] Description
[edit] Appearance
The Puli is a solid-colored dog that is usually black. Other less common coat colors are white, gray, or cream (off white or fakó in Hungarian). A variety of the cream coated dogs have black masks. The breed standard is for females about 16.5 inches (42 cm) at the withers, and 17 inches for males[1]. Females weigh 23-25 pounds, males slightly more. The coat of some Puli dogs can be different, thinner or thicker cords, either flat or round, depending on the texture of the coat and the balance of undercoat to outer coat[2]. The coat is the result of a controlled matting process. Thin rope-like corded coats are desired and the grooming should control the coat towards the forming of thinner ropes. The Puli's coat needs considerable grooming to keep its cords clean, neat, and attractive. With age the coat can become quite long, even reaching the ground.[3] Alternatively, the coat can be trimmed short regularly for easy maintenance, although the corded coat is what attracts many people to the breed. Sometimes the coat will never grow out again[4]. This breed has little to no shedding [5] (see Moult).
[edit] Temperament
Pulis are very intelligent, acrobatic dogs; light, quick, agile and able to change directions instantly[6] and are obedient enough to train for athletic competition. They are devoted and form close bonds with their owners. [7]
The breed does very well in obedience and agility. Traditionally, the Puli dog breed was used both as a livestock guarding dog, and herding dog as well. They make very good watchdogs, as they are very protective of their master and territory. The Puli is sensitive, fun loving, courageous, but also tough and headstrong sometimes. [8]
They are loyal to their owners and wary of strangers. They are highly active and keep a playful, puppy-like behavior their entire life.
As a working dog, the Puli is very obedient, focused and determined when assigned a task. Some of them are used as police dogs. As a livestock guarding dog they are fiercely protective of their flock, and, despite their relatively small size, will try to scare and drive an intruder away, however they very rarely inflict any real injuries. They are also very good herding dogs.
As a family dog, they make good security dogs and faithful family guardians. They can be very friendly and playful, even in old age. They regard their family as their flock, and will keep their distance until they are sure the stranger is not a threat. When annoyed, they may attack without warning, so a considerable distance may be advisable for strangers. They can be extremely independent and obstinate, and only accept strong willed individuals as master.[9]
[edit] Training
Pulis are valued for their energy and determination, which is a result of their sheepdog history. Every Puli is a natural shepherd, and instinctively knows how to herd a flock of sheep or livestock, even if they have been raised as a family dog and never been trained to do it. It is advisable to start training the Puli early, especially obedience. They are very independent, strong-willed and hard to train in adulthood.
[edit] History
The Puli is an ancient sheepdog, from Hungary, introduced by the migration of the Magyars from Central Asia for more than 1,000 years ago.[10] The Puli were used for both herding and guarding livestock. The Puli would commonly work together with the much larger, white Komondor, a Hungarian dog breed of (solely) livestock guardian dog. The Komondor is a large, solidly-built dog, around 30 inches tall. The Komondor (or several Komondors if the there was a large amount livestock) were guarding the sheep or cattle mostly at night, while the Puli was herding and guarding them at daytime. When wolves or bears were attacking the livestock, the Puli would alert the pack and the Komondors would come and fight the intruders. The Komondors were usually resting at daytime but at night will walk 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.This breed is possibly the ancestor of the modern Poodle[citation needed]. 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 Poodle's once the cords are formed[11]. The ancestry of the Puli, however, is not known with certainty as there are some references to Ancient Rome.[citation needed]
Possibly the Puli’s ancestors are ancient Hungarian shepherd dogs. Travelers brought the Puli with them to the Carpathian-basin, to help them to organize the flock, herd and the stallion of the area. The huge komondor and the kuvasz were used for guarding the belongings of the owner. while the Puli would hold the animals together. Around the beginning of the 20th Century a real turning point for the breed came as it was discovered again but no longer used as a sheep dog, 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 the 2nd World War the breed became less popular pet, presently the breed has not beeen able to regain previous popularity.
[edit] Behavior
The Puli is highly intelligent; it understands almost anything and will try to verbalise responses almost as speech.[citation needed] A well trained Puli will not only understand the words and signs of its owner, the dog is able to see and determine the wants of its owner into an order and will carry it out.[citation needed] The Puli is an agile, energetic, intense and never lazy breed.[citation needed] It is also brave, and not afraid of anything.[citation needed]
The well trained Puli does not only understand the words of its owner but the signs from him, moreover the dog takes the owners wants as an order with its eyes and absolutely carries is out. [12]
[edit] Pictures
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[edit] References
- ^ Puli Breed Standard
- ^ Breed standard
- ^ Breed standard
- ^ Szőrét nyírni nem szabad, mert előfordulhat, hogy többé nem nő meg
- ^ Go Pets America: Dogs that do not shed - Retrieved September 7, 2008
- ^ Puli Breed Standard
- ^ Puli
- ^ Puli
- ^ Puli
- ^ American Kennel Club, Puli History
- ^ kiállításra szánt Pulit, Komondort valóban nem szokás nyírni
- ^ Puli description
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Puli |
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