Komondor AKC Breed Standard

Official Standard of the Komondor

General Appearance: The Komondor is characterized by imposing strength, dignity,

courageous demeanor, and pleasing conformation. He is a large, muscular dog with plenty of

bone and substance, covered with an unusual, heavy coat of white cords. The working

Komondor lives during the greater part of the year in the open, and his coat serves to help him

blend in with his flock and to protect him from extremes of weather and beasts of prey. Nature

and Characteristics: The Komondor is a flock guardian, not a herder. Originally developed in

Hungary to guard large herds of animals on the open plains, the Komondor was charged with

protecting the herd by himself, with no assistance and no commands from his master. The

mature, experienced dog tends to stay close to his charges, whether a flock or family; he is

unlikely to be drawn away from them in chase, and typically doesn’t wander far. Though very

sensitive to the desires of his master, heavy-handed training will produce a stubborn, unhappy

Komondor. While reserved with strangers, the Komondor is demonstrative with those he loves,

selflessly devoted to his family and his charges, and will defend them against any attack. The

combination of this devotion to all things dear to him and the desire to take responsibility for

them produces an excellent guardian of herds or home, vigilant, courageous, and very faithful.

Size, Proportion, Substance: Dogs 27½ inches and up at the withers; bitches 25½ inches and up

at the withers. Dogs are approximately 100 pounds and up, bitches, approximately 80 pounds

and up at maturity, with plenty of bone and substance. While large size is important, type,

character, symmetry, movement and ruggedness are of the greatest importance and are on no

account to be sacrificed for size alone. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers.

Height below the minimum is a fault.

Head: The head is large. The length of the head from occiput to tip of nose is approximately

two-fifths the height of the dog at the withers. The skin around the eyes and on the muzzle is

dark. Eyes – Medium-sized and almond-shaped, not too deeply set. The iris of the eye is dark

brown. Edges of the eyelids are gray or black. Light eyes are a fault. Blue eyes are a

disqualification. Ears – In shape the ear is an elongated triangle with a slightly rounded tip.

Medium-set and hanging and long enough to reach to the inner corner of the eye on the opposite

side of the head. Erect ears or ears that move toward an erect position are a fault. Skull – The

skull is broad with well-developed arches over the eyes. The occiput is fairly well-developed and

the stop is moderate. Muzzle – The muzzle is wide, coarse, and truncated. Measured from inner

corner of the eye to tip of nose the muzzle is two-fifths of the total length of the head. The top of

the muzzle is straight and is parallel to the top of the skull. Underjaw is well-developed and

broad. Lips are tight and are black in color. Ideally gums and palate are dark or black. Nose –

Nose is wide and the front of the nose forms a right angle with the top of the muzzle. The nostrils

are wide. The nose is black. A dark gray or dark brown nose is not desirable but is acceptable. A

flesh-colored nose is a disqualification. Bite – Bite is scissors; a level bite is acceptable. A

distinctly overshot or undershot bite is a fault. Any missing teeth is a serious fault. Three or more

missing teeth is a disqualification.

Neck: Muscular, of medium length, moderately arched, with no dewlap. The head erect.

Topline: The back is level and strong.

Body: Characterized by a powerful, deep chest, which is muscular and proportionately wide. The

breast is broad and well-muscled. The belly is somewhat drawn up at the rear. The rump is wide,

muscular, and slopes slightly towards the root of the tail. Softness or lack of good muscle tone is

a fault.

Tail: A continuation of the rump line, hanging, and long enough to reach the hocks. Slightly

curved upwards and/or to one side at its end. Even when the dog is moving or excited, the greater

part of the tail is raised no higher than the level of the back. A short or curly tail is a fault.

Forequarters: Shoulders are well laid back. Forelegs straight, well-boned, and muscular.

Viewed from any side, the legs are like vertical columns. The upper arms are carried close to the

body, without loose elbows.

Feet: Strong, rather large, and with close, well-arched toes. Pads are hard, elastic, and black or

gray. Ideally, nails are black or gray, although light nails are acceptable.

Hindquarters: The steely, strong bone structure is covered with highly-developed muscles. The

legs are straight as viewed from the rear. Stifles are well-bent. Rear dewclaws must be removed.

Coat: Characteristic of the breed is the dense, protective coat. The puppy coat is relatively soft,

but it shows a tendency to fall into cord-like curls. The young adult coat, or intermediate coat,

consists of very short cords next to the skin which may be obscured by the sometimes lumpy

looking fluff on the outer ends of the cords. The mature coat consists of a dense, soft, woolly

undercoat much like the puppy coat, and a coarser outer coat that is wavy or curly. The coarser

hairs of the outer coat trap the softer undercoat, forming permanent, strong cords that are felt-like

to the touch. A grown dog is entirely covered with a heavy coat of these tassel-like cords, which

form naturally. It must be remembered that the length of the Komondor’s coat is a function of

age, and a younger dog must never be penalized for having a shorter coat. Straight or silky coat

is a fault. Failure of the coat to cord by two years of age is a disqualification. Short, smooth coat

on both head and legs is a disqualification.

Color: Color of the coat is white, but not always the pure white of a brushed coat. A small

amount of cream or buff shading is sometimes seen in puppies, but fades with maturity. In the

ideal specimen the skin is gray. Pink skin is not desirable but is acceptable. Color other than

white, with the exception of small amounts of cream or buff in puppies, is a disqualification.

Gait: Light, leisurely and balanced. The Komondor takes long strides, is very agile and light on

his feet. The head is carried slightly forward when the dog trots.

The foregoing is a description of the ideal Komondor. Any deviation should be penalized in

direct proportion to the extent of that deviation. Extreme deviation in any part should be

penalized to the extent that the dog is effectively eliminated from competition.

Disqualifications: Blue eyes. Flesh-colored nose. Three or more missing teeth. Failure of the

coat to cord by two years of age. Short, smooth coat on both head and legs. Color other than

white, with the exception of small amounts of cream or buff in puppies.

Approved June 13, 1994

Effective July 31, 1994