Puli
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 Description:
The Puli's coat is his most striking and
unique feature. Loaded with cords or tassels
and reaching the ground, this characteristic
coat certainly makes quite an appearance.
The Puli is an affectionate, intelligent,
obedient and cheerful breed. He has an ancient
lineage dating back more than a 1000 years
ago. It is believed when the Magyars migrated
from Central Asia to Hungary, the sheepdogs
they brought with them were likely ancestors
of the Puli. Another similar breed to the
Puli and also connected with the ancient
Magyars is the Komondor.
Both breeds worked together guarding livestock
and property. While the Puli was guarding
and herding livestock during the day, the
Komondor guarded at night. Also, if a large
animal threatened the livestock, the Puli
would bark to alert the very large and fearless
Komondor that would then fend off the intruder.
During the sixteenth century and unrest
in Hungary, the Puli breed was mixed with
other sheepdogs from Germany and France
resulting in dogs referred to as Pumi. Ultimately,
this severely threatened the survival of
the true Puli breed. In the early 1900s,
Emil Raitsits succeeded in reviving the
Puli and the first breed standard was written
in 1915. The Puli was then officially recognized
by the American Kennel Club in the Herding
Group in 1936.
Height:
The AKC Standard for the ideal height of
a Puli is between 16 and 17 inches (41 -
43 cm) when measured at the shoulder. Dogs
are taller than bitches.
Weight:
The weight of a Puli can range from 20 -
35 pounds (9 - 16 kg). Dogs weight more
than bitches.
Coat Type:
The Puli's coat is profuse and dense with
naturally formed cords or tassels - the
most unique feature of this breed. The Puli
has a double coat - the outer coat is coarse
and can be wavy or curly and the undercoat
is thick, soft and wooly. The cords on the
Puli do not fully form until the Puli is
about 9 months old and the length will not
reach the ground for 4 - 5 years. A Puli
may need your assistance helping to separate
the cords into the right measurements so
that it's open to the skin. Pulis hardly
shed at all. They should be bathed only
when necessary (their coat is odorless)
and it can take up several hours for it
to dry or up to a couple of days if a dryer
is not used.
Color:
The color of the Puli's coat can be solid
black or white. It can also be a mixture
of black with white hairs, in which the
Puli's coat will then appear solid gray,
charcoal, or silver.
Temperament:
The Puli has a lively temperament and is
affectionate and very devoted to his master.
He is great with children, playful throughout
his life, and he thrives on attention and
human interaction. The Puli is intelligent
and does very well with training, although
at times he can be stubborn (his master
needs to be a strong leader). The Puli is
very protective of his family and is suspicious
of strangers making him great watch dog.
He is active and should be exercised daily
- either long walks, a jog and free play,
especially if his owner or family is involved
in the fun.
Health Concerns:
The Puli is a healthy breed, although
your breeder should check for these common
problems which can affect any dog: hip dysplasia,
hearing and eye problems. The average life
expectancy for a Puli is between 10 - 15
years.
Special Interest:
• The Puli has a distinctive coat
like no other breed.
• The Puli is an ancient breed and
is related to the Hungarian sheepdog.
• The Puli's coat is most commonly
black.
Classifications:
AKC: Herding Group
ANKC: Working - Group 5
CKC: Herding - Group 7
FCI: Group 1 Section 1 Sheepdogs
KC: Pastoral
NZKC: Working
UKC: Working Dog
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