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| Image: Teglasi Szelbori Komondor |
Komondor dogs (also known as
the Hungarian sheepdog) are large, white livestock guardian dogs with a long,
corded coat.
Komondors were brought to
Hungary by Cumans, the Turkic speaking, nomadic people who settled in Hungary
during the 12th and 13th century. The name Komondor derives from Koman-dor,
meaning "Cuman dog". In the late 10th century, Mongols began to
expand their territories at the expense of the Cumans, forcing them to move
westwards. Fleeing from the Mongols, they reached the borders of Hungary in the
12th century. Cumans were granted asylum and settled in Hungary in 1239 under
Köten Khan.
Komondor remains have been
found in Cuman gravesites. The name quman-dur means belonging to the Cumans or
the dog of the Cumans, thus distinguishing them from a similar Hungarian sheepdog
breed which later merged with the Komondor. The name Komondor is found for the
first time written in 1544 in the History of King Astiagis by Kakonyi Peter, in
Hungarian. Later in 1673 Amos Comenius mentions the Komondor in one of his
works. Today Komondors are fairly common breed in Hungary. Many Komondors were
killed during World War II and local stories say that this is because when the
Germans (and then the Russians) invaded, they had to kill the dog before they
could capture a farm or house that it guarded.
Komondor dogs have a natural
guardian instinct to guard livestock and other property. They are an extremely
independent thinker and can often times be stubborn and dominant. They can be
very reserved around strangers and tends to be hostile towards other strange
dogs. However, Komondors interacts rather well with other pets and specifically
livestock. They are happiest when they are watching over someone or something.
While their personality can often be calm and quiet, Komondors are absolutely
fearless when a situation arises where they need to act as a guard dog. In this
sense, they are extremely protective of their family and may sometimes
misinterpret playful tumbles with children.
About Komondor Dogs
