Puli

Puli

The very Rastafarian-looking Puli is actually a native of Hungary.

History:

The Hungarian Puli has a clouded past. Many believe that this breed is of Tibetan descent, and that it is related to the Tibetan Terrier and the Komondor. Others say that there is some of the ancient Portuguese Water Dog in the mix as well. The modern Puli is a native of Hungary, where it has been used to herd sheep since the 900s, often in company with the flock-guarding Komondor. Pulik (the plural of Puli) today probably have a longer coat than their exclusively working ancestors; however, it was sufficient even then to keep out the bitter cold. The herding heritage of this breed has endowed it with high intelligence, and in Hungary Pulik are being used as police dogs

Physical characteristics:

Height: 14 - 19 in (36 - 48 cm). Weight: 20 - 40 lb (9 - 18 kg). A Puli is covered from head to foot in long cords of hair. These begin to form when the dog is young and if left to their own devices, will form unevenly. Consequently, most breeders give the coat a helping hand. The outer, corded coat is never silky, but the undercoat is soft. The most common color for Pulik is black, but they can also be rusty black, gray, apricot or white. The Puli is a medium-sized dog, and under all those cords, is a compact, sturdy dog that is rather square in outline. The head of a Puli is domed and the muzzle is about one-third the length of the skull.

Behavior:

The Puli is a most capable dog. Although now mainly kept as a companion animal, the Puli still makes a good herding dog and is intelligent enough to be used in other forms of work such as police work. The Puli gets along well with other dogs and is really rather sociable. In most cases the Puli has a balanced temperament, and if well socialized as a puppy it can make a good family dog. The Puli is happiest when it is provided with lots of exercise, and it suits people with active lifestyles.