Dog
Group:
Herding 
Puli Champions
You must login to add your Champion Dog to this list.
Pronunciation:
pyoo-lee
Breed Description:
The Puli breed of dog is a robust breed that should be medium in size and have a compact appearance. They should have a sturdy build that is square in proportion, with the length equaling the height. The top line should be level and the tail should curl tightly against the back. The head of the Puli should be egg shaped and the medium sized ears hang down the side of the head.
The coat of the Puli should be a double coat. The undercoat should be short and dense and it should be soft in texture. The top coat is actually very unique since it is a corded coat. Generally, the coat begins to cord when the dog is about 8 months of age and can grow to the ground. It has a part down the spine of the dog and the cords hang flat on either side. The cords should be hard in texture and they should be fully formed by the time the dog is 5 years of age. The Puli can be found in several colors including apricot with or without a black mask, white, black or gray.
Temperament:
The Puli breed of dog is an intelligent breed that is often described as a cheerful little dog. This is a breed full of personality and they are usually very affectionate and happy with their family. They can be trained quickly, however, the task is not always easy since the Puli can be stubborn. The breed does need a firm owner who can set consistent rules. The Puli can do well with older children but they don`t have much patience for younger children. They also do well with other dogs and pets as long as they are raised with them and properly socialized. The Puli tends to be reserved with strangers but once they get to know someone, they become very friendly and affectionate.
Height:
The average height of a Puli is between 14.5 to 16 inches for a female and 16.5 to 17.5 for a male.
Weight:
The average weight for a Puli is between 20 to 30 pounds for a female and 25 to 35 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Puli breed of dog is a very healthy breed and only suffers from a few health problems including Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Cataracts and Hip Dysplasia.
Living Conditions:
The Puli breed of dog can do very well in apartments and tend to be versatile when it comes to living conditions. While they enjoy the outdoors, the Puli should not be an outdoor dog simply due to aggression problems. Left on their own too much, the Puli can become territorial and aggressive.
Exercise:
The Puli breed of dog is an active breed and they really do need a lot of exercise. Expect to give them about 60 minutes of exercise each day or about three very long walks. They make excellent jogging companions. Although the Puli has high energy needs, they can be lazy and will gain weight very easily.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Puli breed of dog can be quite a challenge to groom and there will be a period of your dog`s life when grooming becomes even more involved. When a Puli is young, all that is needed is a weekly brushing and the dog will only need to be bathed when necessary. When the Puli reaches about 8 moonths of age, the cords will begin to form and it is important that you help them form. The coat should be bathed on a regular basis and it is important that you dry them completely. Separate the cords and form them into individual cords on a weekly basis. It is very important to keep the Puli clean at this stage since any dirt or dampness can cause discoloring in the coat. Once the dog is full grown, the cords will be 5 to 6 inches in length. From there, the breed needs to be bathed once or twice a month to keep them clean. In addition, the cords should be separated on a weekly basis and the skin should be checked for any problems. It is very important to dry the dog completely when you are bathing them since mildew will form in the cords. The Puli does have a strong doggy odor and in addition to the coat, it is important to clean the ears on a weekly basis and trim the nails once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Puli breed of dog has unknown origins and while we are not sure what breed went into creating the Puli, or where it was developed, we do know that the breed is an ancient one. In addition, we do know that the Puli may haave been present in Sumeria and that the breed was developed somewhere between 2000 and 6000 years ago. The main theory on the origin of the Puli is that it was brought to Hungary by Magyar tribes that settled in the area. The breed was originally used as a herding dog, primarily to herd and protect sheep and it was prized for their ability as a shepherd dog. Efforts were made to improve the intelligence of the Puli and for a while, the breed was very popular in Hungary. The breed did not become well known in the rest of the world until the 1800`s, but by that time, the breed had already dwindled in Hungary and was close to extinction. The breed did manage to survive but this was due to Dr. Emil Raitsits nad Adolf Lendl, who re-established the Puli with their own breeding kennel in 1912. Despite this effort, the breed almost became extinct during World War II and it has continued to be a rare breed to this day. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
