This is about the dog breed. For other meanings, see the Chinese towns Puli, Nantou and Puli Town, and the Puli automobile made in Hungary.

Puli
White Puli
Alternative names
Hungarian Puli Pulik (plural) Hungarian Water Dog
Country of origin
Hungary
Classification
FCI: Group 1 Section 1 AKC: Herding ANKC: Group 5 (Working) CKC: Group 7 - Herding Dogs KC(UK): Pastoral NZKC: Working UKC: Herding Dog Breeds
Breed standards (external links)
FCI, AKC, ANKC KC(UK), NZKC, UKC

The Puli is a medium-small breed of dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat make it virtually waterproof.

Black Puli with cords tied up to avoid collecting twigs and dirt

Appearance

The Puli comes in white, apricot, and black. It weighs around 22 pounds (13 kg) and is about 16 inches (42 cm) at the shoulder. The coat needs considerable grooming to keep its cords clean, neat, and attractive, or it needs regular trimming to a short coat for lower maintenance, although the corded coat is what attracts many people to the breed.

History

The Puli is an ancient sheep dog of Hungary, introduced by the migration of the Magyars from Central Asia in the middle ages. Nomadic shepherds of the Hungarian plains valued their herding dogs, paying as much as a year's salary for a Puli.

In Asia, the breed goes back 2000 years and anecdotal evidence suggests a Puli-like dog existed 6000 years ago. This breed is possibly the ancestor of the modern Poodle.

Temperament

This breed is very energetic and makes for a good watchdog and family pet.