The long and corded coat of a Puli resembles deadlocks and that makes this bread stand out from the rest. Puli are energetic and lively breed that would love to be the centre of attention of any household. Due to its distinctive coat, the dog appears larger than he actually is.
Physical Traits
Area of Origin: Hungary
Used for: Herding, companion
Average Life Span: About 12 years or more
Color: Black, gray and white
Coat: Long and corded
Average Height: 16-17 inches (Males); 14-16 inches (Females)
Average Weight: 25-35 pounds (Males); 20-30 pounds (Females)
Group: Herding
History and Domestication
Also known as Hungarian Water Dog, the Puli is tough-as-nails herding dog and is still used for herding in its native country. Being an ancient sheepdog, the breed has been herding flocks for over thousands of years. Their ancestors were brought to Hungary by Magyars and they resembled Komondor and Kuvasz at that time. The breed almost lost its authenticity in the 17th century due to excessive interbreeding but it was somewhere revived in 1912.
Standard Physical Characteristics
The Puli is a compact, medium-sized, square dog with a unique and distinctive corded coat. The body is muscular and the head is domed. The tail is curled over the back. The almond-shaped eyes are dark brown in color. Ears are medium sized. The coat of adult Puli can reach ground.
Care, Grooming and Health
The corded coat of Puli begins to form at around six months of age. At that stage, the coat must be separated regularly from the harsh outer coat. The cords so formed should be torn apart by hand and shouldn’t be thinner than a pencil. Grooming them doesn’t take much except regular coat separation and bathing. Make sure you dry them properly after a bath. Check their eyes are ears regularly for any signs of infection.
Puli need a daily walk or jog. They are working dogs and need to be exercised daily. They are lively and energetic and would be happiest if allowed to romp about freely. Some of them can swim but do not let go of them unsupervised. This is a hardy breed but some lines may be prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems.
Living Conditions
The Puli can adapt to any kind of living environment, be it a farm or an apartment. They are fairly active indoors and will do fine without a yard.
Temperament
Very lively and cheerful, the Puli make an excellent family dog. He is fun-loving and affectionate and enjoys the company of his family. He is also hardworking, smart and athletic. Being a little strong-headed, he requires firm and consistent training. These dogs also have a tendency to herd people and should be taught not to do that. They are suspicious of strangers and make god watchdogs. Some of them tend to bark a lot, hence vocal training is essential at the earliest.
