The Puli
AKC Puli Standard
The Puli is a compact, square appearing, well balanced dog of medium size. He is vigorous, alert and active. Striking and highly characteristic is the shaggy coat which, combined with his light-footed, distinctive movement, has fitted him for the strenuous work of herding flocks on the plains of Hungary. Agility, combined with soundness of mind and body, is of prime importance for the proper fulfillment of this centuries-old task.
Ideally, males are 17 inches measured from the withers to the ground; bitches, 16 inches. An inch over or under these measurements is acceptable. The tightly knit body approximates a square measured from withers to ground and point of shoulder to point of buttock. Medium boned.
By nature an affectionate, intelligent and home-loving companion, the Puli is sensibly suspicious and therefore an excellent watchdog. Extreme timidity or shyness are serious faults.
Personality
The Puli is faithful and intelligent. he can make a wonderful house dog. he is an alert active dog. He will be faithful to his owners. No Puli should be shy, but as the standard says suspiciously cautious of strangers. The Puli can be loud and "talkative" at times while trying to alert you to something. He will find creative ways to get what he wants, and needs daily activities. The Puli usually has a long life span , 12-15 years, and will be active most of its life.
The Coat
The Puli coat is usually the first thing people notice. The Puli has a double caot of a wooly undercaot and a coarse wavy top coat. This combination forms the cords that the Puli is known for. As a puppy you will need to dedicate time to grooming your Puli to ensure the cords form properly. Once corded the coat can take up to 5 years to reach the ground. After a bath it is essential to thoroughly dry your Puli's cords to prevent mildew.
Activities for your Puli
Herding
The Puli was bred to Herd. Many centuries of breeding has kept this instinct intact. The Puli does not herd like other breeds using eye contact. The Puli instead uses his movement and bark to do his job. Herding is an activity your Puli will excel in. We will help you find classes in your area if interested.
Obedience Training
Training your Puli is a must. He has been bred to be intelligent and solve problems on his own. This means if he thinks something needs to be done, he will do it. The Puli is a quick study and can learn many commands and tasks.
Basic obedience training is a must. Classes ranging from puppy kindergarten to advanced obedience training are available in most communities. If this is an activity you love, you can even compete with your Puli in obedience trials. We can help you find local dog clubs that have puppy classes.
Agility
Many Pulik excel in agility . A Puli naturally likes to run, jump and play so this sport is a great fit. Pulik like the challenge and positive training of agility. This is a great sport for you to spend bonding time with you Puli.
If you are interested in agility training, we can help you find classes in your area