Tuesday 29 April 2008

What's that?





Mopsa put me in touch with this picture of an Hungarian Puli jumping over an agility hurdle.The Puli is an Hungarian sheep dog of medium size known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat, similar to dreadlocks, make it virtually waterproof. The exact ancestry of this breed is unknown although there are some references to Ancient Rome. It was probably, introduced by the migration of the Magyars, an ethnic group from Central Asia in the Middle Ages. Nomadic shepherds of the Hungarian plains valued their herding dogs, paying as much as a year's salary for a Puli. The Puli is possibly the ancestor of the modern Poodle. Pulis are very intelligent, have excellent agility, and are sufficiently obedient to train for athletic competition. They are also reliable herding dogs and are loyal to their owners.As a working dog, the Puli is very obedient, focused and determined when assigned a task. Some of them are used as police dogs too. As a shepherd, they are fiercely protective of their flock, and, despite their relatively small size, will see off any intruder they consider a threat. They make good pets and are very protective of the family and wary of strangers.Pulis are predominantly black-coated. On the whole shepherds prefer black dogs as they are easier to spot amongst the flock.At the time of WWII, the breed was almost extinct but a controlled breeding program by some dedicated breeders worldwide ensured the survival of the breed.

7 comments:

Whispering Walls said...

What a mop head!

Unknown said...

I have seen these dogs in books and always wondered how do the owners keep them clean/groomed? If they are water proof can you give them a bath or flea treatment?

jmb said...

What a great photo Eurodog and also what a coincidence as we saw one on our Thursday walk last week and had to ask the owner what it was. It was chasing a ball in a green space with the dreadlocks flying everywhere. Quite the sight.

Flowerpot said...

what an incredible looking dog ED!!

Mopsa said...

Isn't she just wonderful? That flying mop picture is one for the archives.

The_Sphinx's World said...

That is so great, I haven't seen anything like it before. It sure does look like a mop head!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Never seen one before!