Komondor
Group: Pastoral
Size: Large
Coat length: Long
Grooming required: Every day
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Small/Medium
Lifespan: Under 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
They are a large, muscular dog with a large head and big bone structure. However, it is difficult to see any part of the dog clearly because of the enormous, white, felted, corded coat that can reach up 11 inches long.
They came with the Cumans into Tibet hundreds of years ago. Their name means "Cuman Dog". They were, and still are, used to guard sheep. They are bred to work independently, guarding a flock against any kind of threat including wolves and bears. As a result, they are fiercely protective and not naturally biddable. They need to be trained to be sociable towards other animals and strangers and, if they are to live with children, it is best to raise them with children. They need quite a lot of exercise but left to their own devices will tend to sleep so need to be taken for a brisk daily walk. Due to their coat, they are happiest outdoors and can live outdoors in many climates for most of the year.
Their coat must never be brushed or combed but they can be bathed, although the coat takes a long time to dry and must be dried fully. They are prone to hip dysplasia, bloat and skin problems.