25 Komondor Facts: Hungary's Giant Mop-Coated Guard Dog

The Komondor is a large livestock guardian dog breed from Hungary.

It is regarded as one of Hungary's national treasures.

In Hungarian, the plural of Komondor is "komondorok".

The breed is thought to have arrived in Hungary with the Cumans, nomadic people from the Eurasian steppes, around the 12th and 13th centuries.

One theory says the name comes from "Koman-dor", meaning "Cuman dog".

Written records of the breed in Hungary date back to at least the 16th century.

The Komondor is often nicknamed the "mop dog" because of its long, corded coat.

Komondor puppies are born with soft, fluffy white fur. The famous cords only begin to form as they grow older.

The cords form naturally when the soft undercoat becomes tangled with the coarser outer coat, creating long ropes of hair.

A Komondor's coat can weigh as much as a small child

A fully grown Komondor's cords can reach all the way to the ground, and the coat alone can weigh several kilograms. The coat is never brushed. Instead, owners carefully separate the cords by hand so they don't matt together into one solid mass. Bathing is a big job too: soaking the thick cords can take a long time, and drying them completely can take a day or more.

The Komondor is a big dog. Males usually stand at least 70 centimetres tall at the shoulder and often weigh 50 kilograms or more.

Despite its size, a Komondor moves surprisingly quickly and lightly when it needs to defend its flock.

The white coat isn't just for show. It protects the dog from harsh weather and from the teeth of wolves and other predators.

Komondors were bred to work alone, deciding for themselves how to protect their flock without waiting for commands from a shepherd.

They often rest quietly among the sheep, but stay alert and spring into action at the first sign of danger.

Komondors are deeply loyal to their families and very protective of their home and property.

They are naturally wary of strangers, so they need early socialisation and patient, consistent training.

The Komondor is related to other Hungarian breeds such as the Puli, a smaller corded herding dog, and the Kuvasz, another large white guardian.

While the Puli was bred to herd sheep, the Komondor was bred to guard them.

A Komondor can hide among the sheep

With its shaggy white cords, a Komondor looks remarkably like a large sheep, especially when it lies down in the middle of the flock. This disguise could give wolves and other predators a nasty surprise. Thinking they were sneaking up on an easy meal, they would suddenly find themselves facing a fierce and determined guard dog.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Komondors were among the guard dogs tested in the United States to protect sheep from coyotes, with impressive results.

The breed came close to disappearing after the Second World War, but dedicated breeders in Hungary and abroad helped it recover.

The American Kennel Club officially recognised the Komondor in 1937.

Komondors are often a striking sight at major dog shows around the world because of their unique corded coats.

Komondors typically live for about 10 to 12 years.