Dogs are the most lovable creature on this planet. And when it is a furry member then, nothing can be better. Puli dogs are known for the coats they get which are very unique.
The dreadlocks they get can protect them from harsh weather conditions and help them to stay energetic all through the day.
Is Puli Breed perfect for the type of your living and lifestyle conditions? Let’s find out more about them in the blog.
Table of Contents
Puli Pictures
Puli Facts
Avg. Weight: 25 pounds to 35 pounds
Avg. Height: 4 inches to 12 inches
Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Dog Group: Herding dogs
AKC Rank: 160
At A Glance
Size (2/5)
They weigh around 25 to 35 pound
Affection Level (5/5)
They can be very friendly with everyone in the house.
Apartment Friendly (4/5)
petting them in an apartment is not much of a fuss.
Cold Weather Tolerability (4/5)
their fur lets them survive the cold climatic conditions
Hot Weather Tolerability (3/5)
can to some extent survive the hot weather.
Barking Tendencies (4/5)
they tend to bark more than average at times
Cat-Friendly (3/5)
they can be kind of okay with cats.
Dog-Friendly (5/5)
can be a really good friend to them. They do pretty well with dogs
Exercise Needs (4/5)
would need more than the average amount of exercise.
Grooming Needs (5/5)
Because of the furry coat they need a lot of grooming.
Playfulness (4/5)
they are very playful especially when there is a kid along.
Trainability (3/5)
Training them can be easy as they are very intelligent.
Intelligence (5/5)
it has high intelligence. It can adapt to anything you say real quick.
Mouthiness (3/5)
it is not much mouthy. But when they are happy, you cannot stop it
Price Group (3/5)
$1200 to $2000 – the price that it gets is because of the unique looks.
About Puli
The water dog or the puli is very famous in the highlands where it takes the honor of sheep herding. It is known to be a dog that was first used in Hungary hence Hungarian puli is the name also given to them.
They are very intelligent who make amazing companions to single owners. They are equally affectionate to kids and can do a job of keeping eyes on toddlers as they are also very responsible. Their traits are so nice that they also protect the other animals in your home.
Many of the Puli dogs are used as therapy dogs. Besides, they understand your health conditions and can help you in case you need help. They can easily look after elders making itself suitable for the best dogs for seniors.
Puli Breed has only a few agendas. Protection of its family members or bossing around can be major two of them. If they could speak, the apartment would be in their control. It will let you know the time and activity that they should perform.
They might look too big but the fact is they are precisely very small and because of the long wired coats that they get. They weigh around 30 pounds without the fur.
Training can be easy for puli because of the intelligence it acquires. But to maintain his concentration is very important as it knows how to evade a boring situation or lesson.
Where Puli Dogs Came From?
The existence of Puli dogs goes back nearly 2000 years ago but some also state that the evidence of puli can also be around some 6000 years ago. Some also believe that puli is descendent of the Tibetan terrier.
While extracting oil in Iraq, people found out a grave of a man who was buried with a sheep and a dog. Hair of the dog matches that of what we know by the name Puli today. It is said that man was buried with his most loved sheep and dog.
Hints of puli being used as herding dogs are also found in the arts of Sumerians, one of the finest civilizations. They also have references to Puli dogs and Komondors, another herding dog just like the Puli dogs.
Magyar tribesmen bought the puli to Hungary around 1000 years ago and it got famous for the qualities that it possesses. It had the skills to move the sheep in the right direction. While the Komondors were used to protect the flock. Black puli is often the most preferred breed because it helps to distinguish the sheep among dogs.
The first breed standard was written in 1924 and the international kennel club also accepted the breed standard and diverged the breed into three categories. The shaggy coat one, the Show puli and the Dwarf puli.
World war II had created a very bad situation in the face of the world. Food was scarce, “bombs could be dropped anytime” was the fear among most of the people. Hungary faced the same issue with most of the breeders, giving out the dogs to some other country or some other breeders in exchange for money.
The savior heard them and the number of Pulik increased over the period as the war ended.
The year 1959 witnessed the development of Hungarian Puli Club which was taking care of the breed standard which made sure that all the size of puli should be taken into consideration.
In 1936 puli was recognized as a member of the American Kennel Club.
Size
Size in them is more or less the same. The males are about 17 inches taller with a weight of 15 to 45 pounds.
The height in females is around 16 inches with a weight of 25 to 30 pounds.
The size may vary depending upon the food and exercise that the pup follows. If the pup is eating a balanced diet then the size may increase.
Trainability
Puli dog is very easy to train as it is very intelligent and smart. The only thing you need to keep in mind is that the training to them should be as interesting as possible. If not, then they might not want to get trained by you and should find a better trainer.
Their training should start at an early age so that they get their own sweet time to develop the necessary things. In the beginning, they may not behave properly. It is advised not to be harsh on them and try to teach them things differently.
Always reward them with a treat or at least praise them for what good they have done.
Colors & Grooming
The coat color that they get is Black, white and Grey which are found in the United States of America.
In Hungary, the most chosen color is the brownish color A.K.A fako. they tend to get white hairs on their black coat hence, also called Weathered. As they do not shed much, their fur tends to lose its color over time due to direct exposure to the sun.
Some Puli comes with natural cords and some take help from humans to manually do it. The texture can change over time as the puppy grows over time
Keep the uncorded puli clean and hygienic all the time by brushing so that it retains the necessary oils. For the corded one, never use a brush rather use your hands
The process of bathing a Puli dog can be easy but the execution can be very tough. The cords should be dampened with water followed by a wash with diluted shampoo. They should be rubbed for 25 to 30 minutes. The cords should be dried by hands then by a towel.
It is equally important to clean their teeth at least 2 to 3 times a week so that the tooth does not build tartar which may affect stomach problems.
The nails should also be trimmed so that they do not get hurt unintentionally. Nail trimming should at least be done twice a month. One should be very careful while trimming the nails. The nails contain blood vessels which if cut deep, can cause pain.
Keep him updated with the veterinarian consultant as they may need additional checkups. You can yourself keep a check on sores or rashes so that you can address it immediately.
Common Diseases
Targeting The Bones
Hip Dysplasia–
This is a condition where the hip joint and the thighbone does not fit properly. This a common problem among dogs and is found in most dogs.
Targeting The Eyes
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
This is a disease where the retina tends to lose its power resulting in loss of vision. In some dogs, the indications of this disease are night blindness.
The blurring of a lens is commonly known as a cataract. This is one common problem among dogs. It can be treated by open surgery.
Feeding
Food is the only thing that makes them active throughout the day. So it is recommended to give them dry organic food. The quantity of the food should not be more than 1 to 2 cups divided into 2 meals a day.
Feeding them an excessive amount of food can make them obese and can give the risk of health problems.
The food requirement sometimes depends upon size and health. Some puppies might need a few extra meals. In that case, you can feed the puppy with an additional meal. But there should be a routine which should be followed without fail. The routine might help the puppy to stay full which can reduce the additional requirement of food.
It is important to check if he is over-weight. To test this one has to place his hand on their waist and thumb on the spine with your fingers downward. If you cannot feel the ribs then you should give him less food.
Suggested: Senior Dog Food
Vaccination and Care
Dogs are in general more prone to diseases than human beings. They would need certain vaccinations and injections to evade the risk of health issues.
Initially, the dog might needs vaccines like the canine distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, anti-rabies, parvovirus.
Coronavirus injection can be given to them additionally as it is much more important among all the vaccines. You can read our Guide To Dog Vaccination to have thorough knowledge about it.
They would be needing some additional checkups so ensure a healthy and hygienic life.
To maintain hygiene, the pup should be bathed regularly and should be cleaned and checked for any indications of health issues.
Monthly Expense Estimation:
Buying one Puli can cost you around $2000. With this comes the great responsibility of taking care of the dog. it is very important to make sure that the puli is living a healthy life.
The cost of ownership and maintenance will include their grooming, vaccination, toys, and food.
As this breed comes with corded fur, this would need extra grooming. To be specific Puli Breed will need a professional groomer to get done with the furs that too frequently.
The cost of annual vaccinations is around $150 to $170. The prices mentioned here are tentative.
For organic food one can expect a bill between $130 to $150. The higher the quality of food the better it will be for the dog.
Other costs include their toys and miscellaneous things for which you do not need to pay much.
Puli Behavior
Children: Puli dogs make amazing companions for kids. They are very affectionate among the kids as they are very playful and the favorite pass-time for a puli is a fetch-a-stick game.
Dogs: once they get to know each other, there is nothing that can stop them from having a good time. Puli is a really good friend to dogs.
Cats: The presence of a cat does not matter to them much. They might not go very well with cats but can be more or less good.
Overview
The Puli dog or the water dog is very popular in the highlands. This canine with the usual coat colors of black, white, and grey is also found in the United States of America. This adorable being is naturally caring Puli dogs are very affectionate among all the people.
They mostly go amazingly go with the kids who would love to go on a hiking trip. Found by the Sumerian caves, puli was very famous after world war II.
As far as training goes, the Puli Breed is very intelligent and can adapt to new things very quickly. Their training should be as interesting as possible or else they might just leave.
They get coats like grey, black and white. But what makes them unique is the deadlocks that they get. Grooming is very essential for such dogs which include trimming the corded hairs.
Just like all dogs, this breed also suffers from certain health ailments that do not bother them much because the disease is curable.
Vaccinations should be given to them with a proper schedule to ensure safety.
Dogs need good quality food as they are more prone to sickness. They should neither be served excess food. This will increase the chance of being obese which again risks the health of the dog.
Something Fun About Pulis!
Puli is the only dog breed to have the longest coat with cords.
Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg owns a Puli Breed
What is your experience with a Puli?
Do they really don’t get along with other pets or is it just a formed stereotype?
Let us know in the comment section below.
Happy Petting To You Guys!
