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KOMONDOR |
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A working flock
guard in Hungary and a unique show dog of the United States and Great
Britain, the Komondor serves as a link between yesterday and today.
Hungarian legend
tells us that tenth-century Serb shepherds found a litter of wolf cubs
and selected those that behaved most like dogs. These were trained to
work with sheep, and crossed with native dogs, supposedly produced the
Komondor.
Despite fanciful
legends, the Komondor is directly descended from the Owtcharki brought
to Hungary by the nomadic Magyars around 1,000 years ago. The source of
his name cannot be pinpointed, but it may have been derived from the term
komondor kedvu (meaning somber, surly
or angry), apt adjectives for the ancient flock guard.
A fixture
in Hungary for centuries, the Kom has only been in North America since
the 1930s. They are routinely seen in shows, besides participating in
flock-guarding programs. Heavyweight boxer Gene Tunney owned an illustrious
Komondor bitch. The breed, however, has never become well known in Great
Britain.
The Kom protects
and dominates whatever animals are under his care and includes children
in that responsibility. He is an alert, tough guard and serves as a
police dog in some areas.
Breeder and
owner Joy C. Levy says, "The dog's protective instincts, and his
instincts to make decisions for himself, have been selected for centuries.
If we breed two imported dogs, their offspring carry on this temperament,
which gets them into trouble in Modern American Society [sic]. This
happens especially in modern suburbia, where fences do not exist and
people regularly trespass in the eyes of the dog. Hordes of children
rushing into houses without ringing or being let in often look as bad
to a Komondor as that villain who steals his family's trash,
or the one who comes into his house with a weapon, in the form of a
plumber's wrench. In the USA some of the best dogs are put down as vicious,
when all they did was try to defend their owner and his property."
True to
the flock guards, they are not easy breeders. The bitches only cycle
once a year, and the studs are not avid performers. As an additional
hindrance, the long, corded .coats make matings difficult.
The corded
coat is not seen on more than a handful of breeds. Now a unique conversation
piece, the cords served a purpose for the flock guard. These twisted
ringlets were never combed and, in adulthood, served as armor, impervious
to climate and predators' teeth. The cords also serve to make them
look like one of the semi-wild sheep. In his native land, the working
Kom is shaggy, heavily matted, and untidy. Show conditioning necessitates
a neater appearance.
Cording
takes special care, requiring meticulous training during puppyhood
and from four to eight hours blow-drying the coat after bathing.
In addition, owners spend up to two hours per week hand-separating
the cords. Maintaining the white color complicates the care.
Outside
the show ring, Koms serve as guardians for animals, property and
families. They are part of several flock-guard programs in the USA.
Breeders recommend obedience training, as the Kom likes to be the
boss.
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