Hungarian Puli

Known as a sheep herder on the plains of Hungary since at least the 9thcentury when it arrived with the invading Magyars as they spread west from Siberia, the Puli was highly valued by the nomadic shepherds for its working ability, and, relatively isolated, they have remained almost unchanged over the centuries. 

The Puli worked closely with its larger cousin, the similarly corded Komondor but while the Komondor would live with and guard livestock from predators and thieves at night, the quick moving Puli excelled at herding and moving the same animals during the day. 

Today’s modern Puli sports a much thicker, heavier coat than their working ancestors which requires much more maintenance than would have been possible for a working dog. In fact, originally the dogs would have been shorn with the sheep each year to keep them cool in the summer - but despite that beneath the coat the breed remains remarkably similar. 

You’ll need some experience with strong-minded breeds and with corded or curly coated breeds. If you don’t like being approached by strangers to ask what breed your dog is, or hilarious comments about mops – give the Puli a miss as they cannot go anywhere without drawing attention! For those who love an unusual little breed with unusual grooming requirements, like a fair bit of walking and enjoy dog training, the Puli can make a fun companion 

The Puli needs at least an hour a day of dog exercise, ideally more and broken up into several trips out to sniff, run and play. The Puli will also enjoy puzzle solving, interactive toys and trick training but will need a job to do, both mentally and physically, to keep them healthy and happy. 

Whilst the Hungarian Puli is not a large dog, their coat is a serious consideration in terms of space. Especially when it comes to drying out a wet Puli (which after a bath may take days!) and of course how much mud and water a fully corded Puli can bring in. A secure garden is a must as this is both an agile and clever breed, and access to plenty of interesting walks with secure space to run and play is essential. The Puli can live in town or country happily as long as they are well trained and habituated to daily life from a young age. 

The Hungarian Puli needs to have a balanced diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. Read our dog feeding guide for more information. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. 

Take expert advice from either your dog’s breeder or a professional groomer who has experience of corded coats. The distinctive coats of the Hungarian Puli dogs do not fully develop until the Puli's third year, but time must be taken each day to ensure the cords are forming correctly and not pulling on sensitive areas or matting together. The coat can be trimmed short if you prefer not to have a corded dog, although this is not acceptable in show dogs. Pulis do not shed, although dirt and small objects can be caught up in the hairs. Wash this breed only in the summer, as it can take days for their coats to dry thoroughly! You can find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article. 

Pulis will enjoy dog training as they love to work with their people and as long as you use consistent positive training methods and learn how to motivate them, they will excel in a variety of sports and tasks. They are independent-minded and will need a reason to want to work with you, but food, fun and companionship are easily employed here. Pay careful attention to dog socialisation with children and other animals when young and work hard on a good recall and on ignoring livestock. 
 

A fun companion for the active family who enjoy dog training or dog related activities although the Puli may try to herd smaller children. That however coupled with the time their coat takes to manage in the first few years whilst the cords form (or indeed the time taken to keep one brushed out and trimmed), will probably be too time-consuming for the very busy young family. A great dog for older children and teens to train and compete with. 
 
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.