THE KOMONDOR

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Another important aspect of the Komondor's training is socialization. When they're mature, the dogs tend to be somewhat aloof and suspicious of strangers . . . so it's important that a Komondor—from puppyhood—have frequent contact with a variety of people. After all, you don't want a dog that will attack anything or anyone happening to stray into its territory . . . including your neighbors and friends! Therefore, a canine sentinel has to be taught—by the example of the trainer—to distinguish between friend and foe.

Although the Komondor is an intelligent creature and eager to please the people it loves, there'll be occasional lapses or mistakes during the training process, and some form of correction must be applied in such cases. Physical punishment, however—hitting the dog on the muzzle, for instance—is not recommended. Most Komondor owners agree that this breed doesn't respond well to such conditioning, and may even turn on the trainer. Fortunately, the Komondor—like most domesticated animals—does respond readily to more subtle forms of discipline. When they need to rebuke Pandy, the Redpaths grasp her head firmly—just under the ears—and shake it back and forth several times, while repeating "No!" in a stern tone of voice. Once it has learned its mission, however, a Komondor will be just about unsurpassed in its ability to protect a flock. The dog will not hesitate to react swiftly if it thinks the sheep are being threatened . . . and its impressive speed (a Komondor can easily outrun a coyote or wolf) and courage insure that the canine guardian will almost always emerge as the victor in a conflict with a marauding predator. Therefore, intruders soon learn to be wary of crossing the invisible line that separates the watchdog and its charges from the rest of the world.

A HUNGARIAN BEAUTY

An adult Komondor is a physically imposing dog: A full-grown male will stand upward of 25-1/2 inches at the shoulder, and can weigh as much as 120 pounds. However, in my opinion, the Komondor's coat is its most striking feature. This is no street-variety "shaggy dog"! What might appear (to the untrained eye) as unkempt mats of hair are actually called "cords" . . . and they have several important functions. In addition to repelling rain and snow, the dangling, furry "ropes" further protect the animal by acting as a thick armor against the sharp teeth of an attacker.

Maintaining that unusual coat is no easy matter, however. The dogs are particularly difficult to bathe and dry, and grooming, therefore, requires a lot of patience and persistence on the part of the owner. Joan remembers one especially arduous session with Pandy: Only after a six-hour workover with a tangle splitter, brush, and comb did the animal's coat finally assume its characteristic appearance of controlled disarray!

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