The origin of the Hungarian Puli dog is still not known for certain. Some researchers suggest that it was brought to Hungary from China, others claim that it was from India.
But the main place of distribution is considered to be Hungary.
Appearance
Puli is a medium-sized dog - height up to 45 cm. It has a strong constitution. Well developed muscles. The skeleton is light. Weight up to 14 kg. Color: white, black, different shades of gray.
But purebred Puli is only white.
Life expectancy is from 10 to 15 years. This dog has a specific appearance, it looks like a plush toy. She has an original long coat, twisted into plaits, which looks simply luxurious in movement.
Look at the photo of the Puli dog and see how adorable she is.
History of the breed
The first information about Puli shepherd dogs dates back to the second half of the tenth century. People did not take part in its creation. All changes are made by nature, naturally.
Bullets with a white coat are considered to be purebreds. Those with dark coats have ancestors in whose veins the blood flows mixed with other types of shepherd dogs (German, French).
The birthplace of the bullet is Hungary. But there are two versions of how these dogs got to Hungarian lands:
1. Bullets were brought to Hungary in the thirteenth century by the Cumans from Syria and India. 2. The bullets arrived in Hungary from China along with the nomads. There is a possibility that Hungarian Shepherds and Tibetan Terriers have common ancestors.
The development of the breed took place in Hungary. The name “Puli” itself appeared in 1751. Initially, the only purpose of the Hungarian Shepherd was herding, guarding and driving livestock to other pastures.
But the bullets performed their service only during the daytime. Due to their not too large dimensions, the owners did not trust them with their flocks, fearing that at night they would not be able to protect the sheep from large predators. Therefore, at night they were replaced by kuvasz, larger and more powerful dogs.
Over time, when the number of farmers keeping flocks of sheep decreased, Hungarian water dogs began to be used during hunting for fetching and as gun dogs.
The popularity of the bullet is growing not only in its homeland. European countries also appreciated and accepted these amazing animals. Americans have a special attitude towards them, all because of their fur, reminiscent of the hairstyles of Rastafarians. In the mid-twentieth century, Hungarian Shepherds entered the territory of the former Soviet Union.
Character
Originally, the Puli is a herding dog with the appropriate skills and behavior. Currently, this breed has not lost its relevance; it manifests itself in the family as a cheerful friend and faithful protector.
It is not aggressive and predictable, so the bullet can be owned in a family with small children.
Smart and quick-witted, easy to train. Puli chooses one owner, to whom he becomes attached with all his soul and loves more than others. The owner's dissatisfaction is difficult to bear; during this period he may refuse to eat and even become depressed.
He loves to “keep an eye on” someone, be it other animals, children or the owner himself.
She is sociable and ready to be with her owner around the clock, which may seem intrusive to some. Barks often, warning about something.
She is smart, knows how to make decisions independently, which is connected with her original purpose - to control and protect a flock of sheep.
In the vast majority of cases, she obeys her owner unquestioningly, but in some situations she is able to take the initiative and act differently.
Puli love water very much, they are excellent swimmers, but due to the nature of their coat, they dry within three to four days.
Pros and cons of the breed
Puli, with its unusual appearance, has gained popularity in many countries. This dog is perfect for large families, for those who lead an active lifestyle and have a lot of free time to pay attention to their Hungarian Shepherd pet.
Like any other breed, the Puli has its pros and cons, which you should familiarize yourself with before purchasing a puppy.
Advantages:
1. Exotic appearance. 2. Devotion. 3. Excellent guard qualities. 4. Love for children. 5. Unpretentiousness in food. 6. Performance.
Activity
Hardy, she needs activity like air. Long daily walks with physical activity will only benefit her. He moves energetically, in circles, loves to run with obstacles, and jumps quite high.
She will enjoy accompanying her owner on a bike ride and following various commands. They tolerate any weather well. Its coat, thick and dense, reliably protects from moisture and frost.
Pet care
You will have to take a lot of care for your coat
. Hungarian Shepherds are not picky eaters. The main thing is that the owner should think about a healthy diet for the pet with a complete composition of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It’s not worth giving bullet meat alone.
Prohibited:
- fried and smoked;
- poultry bones;
- sweets;
- flour products;
- fatty foods;
- food from the master's table.
It is imperative to ensure that the bowl is filled with clean water, regardless of whether the dog eats dry food or a natural product.
The dog should be washed only when it gets dirty. Its woolen cords take a long time to get wet, they cannot be washed well, and they will take several days to dry. This is fraught with the fact that mold and mildew may grow in the dreadlocks.
A mandatory condition of care is cleaning the ears, as well as trimming the nails if the Puli lives in an apartment. Dogs must be taught this from an early age. Puppies can be combed, which will prevent the fur from matting, but adult animals cannot be scratched, only with your hands to disassemble the cords at the base so that they do not fall together and do not pull the pet’s skin, causing inconvenience.
Training
Puli dogs need to start being trained at a young age. Gently but persistently show her the acceptability of this or that behavior. Otherwise, habits that have been formed over centuries will take over.
This is how the protective functions assigned to her ancestors are manifested. Whereas a dog accustomed to frequent guests does not show any anxiety.For example, she is kind to family members, but can express dissatisfaction with strangers.
Health
On average, a Hungarian Shepherd can live 12-13 years. Her health is good, her body’s immune defense is strong. These dogs are hardy and mentally stable. This characteristic of the breed, with regard to health, has remained unchanged for several centuries.
It is worth noting the bullet’s predisposition to the following diseases:
- Hypothyroidism – occurs due to insufficient amounts of hormones in the thyroid gland.
- Onychodystrophy is a pathology of the claws.
- Portosystemic shunt is an anastomosis between the veins of the gastrointestinal tract and the caudal vena cava.
- Erythematous pemphigus - usually occurs on the front of the head (the bridge of the nose and around the eyes), as well as on the ears.
- Tail shortening.
- Missing teeth.
- Dysplasia – brings severe pain, the dog limps and moves little.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- Dermatitis is a skin disease that requires long-term treatment.
- Diabetes.
Photo of Puli dog
Help the project, repost
0
Interesting Facts
- It is very interesting to watch how Puli herds sheep - she jumps on the backs of animals or jumps over them;
- The dog loves water too much. However, you need to hold it, because it takes an impossible time to dry, and you can’t use a hairdryer on its fur;
- If the owner does not love such a dog and is rude to it, the bullet may even die from depression;
- In the past, bullets were very valuable. For one price you could buy a puppy and a cow. An adult, milking cow;
- Previously, it was believed that a dog did not need to be well fed at all, it was only given a piece of bread;
- In the old days, bullets were punished for any offense. And they were punished cruelly - they were hung over a well. It is interesting that the dog did not lose love for its owner even then.
Feeding
Excellent health allows you to choose any available feeding method. It is better to choose high-quality food, as for other dogs, simply because they contain enough useful substances. Otherwise, the dog will need expensive vitamin complexes to maintain the immune system, bone strength, and so on.
Homemade food should include a large amount of carbohydrates. It is necessary to feed the dog porridge, meat or meat scraps, bones, and cartilage. It is also important to provide vegetables and fruits. Vitamin supplements should not be neglected; they should be mixed into the food daily.
No matter what food is chosen for your dog, he should always have access to clean, cool water.
How to choose a puppy
There is a possibility that to buy a purebred Puli puppy you will have to go to Hungary. After all, the number of such nurseries is very small. According to statistics, America registers only up to 150 Puli puppies per year, while the number of Golden Retrievers is about 60,000.
After the conditions for purchasing a puppy have been agreed upon, you need to independently verify its abilities. He must be active, inquisitive, have a playful mood, and bark enough, taking into account the characteristics of the breed.
When making a sale, the breeder is obliged to provide you with a veterinary passport with vaccinations, a birth certificate, a photocopy of the pedigree and care recommendations.
It is recommended to purchase a puppy between 2 and 4 months old. If you are planning to purchase a show bullet, then a dog 6 months or older will be the best. Their bones are already well formed, the quality of their coat is visible, and they have awards for victories in junior competitions.
Content
Puli is a shepherd dog at heart - an energetic and athletic animal needs space for comfort. The dog is endowed with high jumping ability, so a fence of at least 2 meters is a prerequisite.
A spacious fenced yard is an ideal place so he can't run away and get hurt. In a small room, a playful dog will run around the dining room chairs and jump over the sofa.
The Agile Puli is a good candidate for many dog sports, especially agility tests and obedience competitions. He needs mental and physical challenges. Otherwise, he may become bored, which can lead to terrible behavior such as barking, digging, chewing.
