A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
The Komondor is an old established Hungarian herding breed of Asiatic origin. His original ancestors almost certainly came with the migrating Old Magyars, living as stock-breeding Nomads, to the Carpathian basin.
The Komondor is large in size and powerfully built. His appealing outward appearance and dignified deportment arouse respect and even fear in the observer. By nature he is not ingratiating. His robust body is covered by matted, corded, throughout dense, long hair. The body, seen sideways, forms a prone rectangle, little deviating from a square. The thickly coated head rises above the body. The tail is carried hanging down with its tip bent upwards, almost horizontal. The coat colour is ivory.
The body length slightly exceeds the height at the withers
The deepest point of the brisket is approximately on a level with half of the height at the withers
The muzzle is slightly shorter than half of the length of the head
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT:
He has an imperturbable courage in the guarding and defence of the herds entrusted to him and the property and home of his master. He attacks silently and daringly. He regards his territory as his own property and will not tolerate any other living creature in it. His nature is suspicious. During the day, he likes to keep a lying position enabling him to control his area. At night, he is always on the move.
Broad, in good proportion to the body. Even the dense screen of hair does not make his him appear out of proportion.
Skull: Domed, brows well developed.
Stop: Well developed but not too steep.
Nose: Straight, cut off blunt, black.
Muzzle: Not pointed, bridge of nose straight.
Lips: Black, tightly fitting to mouth and jaw bones. Corner of mouth jagged.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaws very well muscled, strong and powerful. Even and complete scissor bite, according to the dentition formula.
Cheeks: Broad, of medium length.
Eyes; Horizontally set, dark brown. The black rim tightly fitting to the eyeball.
Ears: Set medium high on the domed skull. Clearly pendant from the base and V or U-shaped. Not raised, neither when alert nor in attack.
Very well muscled. Should form an angle of 35 degrees to the horizontal. In quiet or peaceful situations, it is carried almost in continuation of the backline. Rather short than of medium length. Without dewlap or neck ruff.
Topline: Those parts of the body which form the topline are broad and very well muscled.
Withers: Sufficiently long, clearly defined in front.
Loin: Of medium length.
Croup: Broad, of medium length, slightly sloping.
Chest: Broad, well muscled. Brisket of medium depth, broad, long.
Underline: Slightly tucked up.
Low set, clearly pendant; tip of the tail shows a slight bend, almost too horizontal. It is desirable that the tail reaches to the hock. When alert, the tail is raised, at most, to the level of the back.
Forequarters: Judging of the limbs is highly affected by the long corded coat. Front legs are columnar and straight, parallel and vertical seen from the front or the side. The chest is broad which results in wide apart, strong and free moving legs. The limbs are firmly connected to the body. Bone substance is strong and powerful. Joints are large.
Shoulders: The shoulder blades are moderately sloping. Points of the shoulder blades placed vertically over the deepest point of the chest.
Forefeet: Large, strong with well knit toes. Pads are slate grey, thick and well padded. Toenails grey.
Hindquarters: The position of the hind legs supports the body with medium angulations. Continuing the croup of medium length, broad, well muscled limbs are required.
Upper Thigh: Strongly muscled, voluminous.
Hind Feet: Longer than forefeet, otherwise similar. Dewclaws to be removed.
Light, free and even. The stride is wide and ground covering.
The skin contains a lot of pigment and is slate grey. Dark pigment at the gums and the roof of mouth preferred. Diminished pigment and pink skin undesirable.
Hair: The whole body is covered by long hair. The coat consists of a coarser topcoat and finer undercoat. The characteristic coat is determined by the relation of the top coat to the undercoat. The shaggy coat, that tends towards matting, is a basic requirement. An equally dense, wavy, corded coat also occurs. The smaller tufts of hair are less or not matted at all. The coat is longest on the croup, at the loin region and on the rear of the upper thighs (at least 20-27 cm). On the back, at the sides of the chest, and at the region of the shoulder blades, it is of medium length (15-22 cm), at the cheeks, the eyebrows, on top of the head, on the ears, the neck and the limbs, it is shorter (10-18 cm) and at the lips and on the lower parts of the limbs shortest (9-11 cm). Neither a combed nor a completely neglected coat are desirable.
Colour: Ivory colour.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the Withers: Dogs Minimum 70cm. Bitches Minimum 65 cm.
Weight Dogs 50-60kg. Bitches 40-50 kg.
The breed shows few faults in type and is largely uniform as it has always been bred with the same target.
Any departure from the foregoing points should be regarded a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to the degree of the fault.
Lack of pigment on nose leather, eyes and rims of lids
Aggressive or overly shy.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
Flabby construction, body lacking muscle
Overshot or undershot, wry mouth
Pricked, light ears
Short tail (ending 3 cm above hock)
Heavy limbs and faulty movement
Not ivory coloured or multicoloured coat
Diversion from lower height limit as mentioned in the standard
Male animals must have two apparently normal developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Only clinically and functionally healthy dogs with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.