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Herding breeds: Puli
Origin
The Puli, (pronounced poo-lee) or drover, has been an integral part of the lives of Hungarian shepherds for more than 1,000 years. The Magyars came to Hungary bringing with them a dog similar to the Puli. In the 17th century, Hungary became repopulated after the attacks by invaders the previous century, and with them came sheepdogs who bred with the then-Puli. This breeding created the Pumi, and the names were used interchangeably for quite some time. It was due to this crossing that the Puli were almost lost. In 1912, the Puli were reconstructed by Emil Raitsits. The plural of Puli is Pulik.
General description
Height: 16-17 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Color: Only the solid colors of rusty black, black, all shades of gray, and white are acceptable; however, on the chest a white spot of not more than 2 inches is permissible. In the black and the gray dogs, an intermixture of some gray, black or white hairs is acceptable as long as the overall appearance of a solid color is maintained. The fully pigmented skin has a bluish or gray cast whatever the coat color.
Grooming requirements
The coat really requires a great deal of work to maintain and it easily collects dirt, leaves, and anything else, which can be difficult to remove. It must be stressed that caring for this type of coat is a tremendous amount of work.
Bathing a heavily coated Puli can take an hour or more, due to the difficulty removing the shampoo. It also can take up to three days to air dry and six hours plus to dry with the use of a blow dryer.
This dog is very expensive to groom at a grooming shop due to the amount of work involved in the task. Some grooming shops will not groom this breed due to the amount of work necessary to properly groom it.
Health considerations
Behavioral abnormalities, hip dysplasia, and eye problems.
Breed characteristics and personality
The Puli is a sensitive, one-person or one-family breed that makes an intensely devoted companion. He has vigor, versatility, and intelligence. By nature an affectionate, intelligent, and home-loving companion, the Puli is sensibly suspicious and therefore an excellent watchdog.
Uses
Originally bred as sheepherders, the Puli today is kept as guard, watchdog, and companion.
Web links
AKC Puli page
Puli World
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