The Komondor is a fascinating dog to encounter and it has a colorful history. It is one of three breeds that have acted as guard dogs to livestock for over ten centuries. This proud legacy is suspected of having started with the Magyars. The lineage had its beginnings with Tibetan dogs that were bred into the Hungarian Sheep Dogs eventually. While the dog is highly protective of the flock, it isn't really a herder. It is mostly a watchdog and was highly prized in this function. Its temperament makes it uniquely suited to this role, as it is very suspicious of strangers, aggressive towards other animals not in its flock, but very loving and protective with those charges within the family or flock that it attends.
The plural of Komondor is not "Komonodors" but rather "Komonodorok." This is because the plural form is taken from the Hungarian language, where it is now a native dog. This is also the reason it is sometimes referred to as the Hungarian Sheep Dog or Hungarian Komondor.
The dog can be a great show dog, if it has obedience training. There are some characteristics that will automatically disqualify this breed and need to be taken into account if you intend to buy a dog for show. If the Komondor's coat fails to cord before two years of age, it is disqualified. The curly cords have to be evident on the entire body of the dog, including the head and the legs in order for it to qualify for a show dog. If the dog has blue eyes, it is also disqualified. The coat needs to be all white to show adult dogs even if a bit of buff or cream is acceptable in puppies. The skin under the coat has to be either pink or gray, but the most acceptable choice is gray. The nose has to be flesh-colored.
With a very shaggy coat that covers all of its body, you would think that the dog could be subject to heat problems during the summer. The coat can protect it not only from cold weather, but also from hot weather too. The only time the coat is a problem is when it is wet and humid because it can take a long time to dry.
The Komondorok are very dignified as adults and are a serious dog. They take their guarding duties very seriously too. They can become aggressive when they feel their territory is being challenged. This can make it seem like they are not suitable as a pet with children in the household. However, they are dogs that count even children and other pets within the household as part of the flock they are meant to protect. They are smart enough to distinguish between people and animals that live within the household and those that do not. Thus, despite their ability to be fierce guardians they are also loyal and caring protectors of the family and its home.
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