Komondor vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Looking like a giant mop, and sometimes being referred to as 'mop dogs' the Komondor, known also as the Hungarian sheepdog, hails from Hungary.

The dog was brought to Europe centuries ago so he is a well established breed. It has been declared as one of the country's national treasures.

He is a dog related to many other dogs such as the Pulim the Ovcharka, the Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog and others.

The first known information about Afghan Hound was in the 19th century. That dog looked like a Saluki. The breed that we know today is a mix of an Afghan hound accentor which came to Britain in 1920s and other breeds that were popular in that period. Afghan Hound became popular because they were used to hunt big prays in Afghanistan. One of those breeds was Tasy breed. They were very popular among royalty because of its posture and elegance. Their popularity grew very quickly through the whole Europe.

They were also very popular because they were used to hunt antelopes, gazelles, and snow panthers. In India, English soldiers used them as a mail carrier.

Known for his unique long corded, singular white coat, the Komondor, a molosser dog, is large. Females start at 64cm in height and both males and females can reach up to 76cm in height.

This unusual coat of theirs is wavy and actually forms cords or dreadlocks as the dog matures. You can't easily see the dog's face because of all the hair.You also can't see the tail easily, in fact you might think he hasn't got a tail as it is obscured by the hair. The tail is medium length and held low.

He has a large head, dark brown eyes, and floppy ears. The coat is certainly going to require grooming even though the dog doesn't shed much. His body is robust and well muscled with the body being slightly longer than the height of the dog.

Temperament:

The Komondor has been a dog used for guarding livestock, and while his character is calm and balanced, when the livestock is threatened, he can show another side – more aggressive – as he defends his flock. He makes an excellent watchdog.

He is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a gentle playmate of children. He is slightly reserved and wary of strangers, and is willing to guard and protect his human family from them.

He is also good with other family pets. When you look at him you might think of him as not being very energetic, but he is an athletic dog, fast and powerful. Because of his size and speed, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he can be obstinate. Training him makes him obedient.

The average weight of an adult male is 26-34kg, while females are smaller with an average weight approximately 23 kg.

While average height of the Afghan Hound is 68-74cm. Females are slightly smaller with an average height of 63cm.

The lifespan of an Afghan Hound is 12-14 years, but that always depends on the dog to dog. If you have a healthy dog and you take proper care, they tend to live much longer than average lifespan.

Litter Size again variates from dog to dog, but an average litter size is 6-7 puppies.

Afghan hound has many other names, so you might know this breed as Tazi, Tazhi Spay, Da Kochyano Spay, Sage Balochi, Ogar Afgan, Barakzai Hound, Eastern Greyhound, and Persian Greyhound.

The Komondor is known for his strong guardian characteristics, especially with his human family. He is loving and loyal towards them while being wary of strangers.

True, his coat can make people think twice before making this dog a pet, but if you're game and ready to attend to his coat, he can make an excellent family pet. They're fine with other pets too, and he is also an intelligent dog, capable of being easily trained.

He needs a good deal of exercise and can become noisy and destructive without the right amount of stimulation. If you do your part with the Komondor and provide him with a loving, caring home, he will be an awesome pet and guard you with his life.

Afghan hounds love spending time with one owner or one family. They are not very sociable with other guests. They won’t bark or attack. They simply just don’t enjoy big crowd company. They do not enjoy spending time with children, but if trained properly they will learn to adjust. They simply don’t like quick and sudden movements, but they are not aggressive towards children. They are very independent and intelligent dogs. It is important to be gentle, patient and kind because they love positive training and awards. They are amazing breed with proper owner. Rough handling and punishments will make Afghan hound withdrawn or even depressed. Afghan hound do not tend to please its owner.

The Komondor is a healthy dog breed who can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years if you look after him well. There aren't any known genetic disorders prominent with the dog, but it pays to know about some of those that could strike -

Entropion:

This is an irritating eye problem where the eyelash rubs up against the eyes.The result can be scratching of the cornea and eye infections. It is an eye problem which can be corrected with surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a serious genetically inherited disorder and common in large dog breeds. It is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. It can cause problems for the dog, weakening the hip and making it incapable of supporting the weight of the dog.

It also leads to pain for the dog, difficulty with moving and even total lameness. Weight, size of dog, age and genetics are all factors which can increase the dog's likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

Whimpering, lethargy and refusing to put weight on the leg are common signs of hip dysplasia and your vet will go ahead with ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of your Komondor.

Afghan hounds are generally very healthy breed. But, as every breed, they have tendencies to some health problems. If you want to prevent those diseases it is important to select a right and healthy puppy.

Elbow and hip dysplasia are basically common health problem to any big breed. Juvenile cataracts, Cancer and Hypothyroidism are some of the health problems that have been found in this breed, but overall, with proper care and regular vet checks, you will have a happy and healthy Afghan.

Grooming:

The Komondor is most certainly not a low maintenance dog with that extraordinary coat.Before the dog turns 1, the coat begins to form its cords. These cords can become discolored and matted, In fact the cords will need to be separated to keep the dog clean and free of matted hair.

For those who keep the dog as a pet and who don't want him to be a show dog, he can be trimmed, otherwise the coat and its maintenance could turn out to be a real issue.

Of course once the distinctive coat has been sheared, he loses that typical and recognizable Komondor look.

Check his ears on a regular basis for wax- and dirt buildup so as to prevent ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked regularly to prevent tartar buildup and if you don't have the time or the knowledge to keep his teeth clean and maintained, take him to the vet as the teeth-treatments they do there will promote healthy teeth and gums.

Afghan hound loves eating and 2-2.5 cups of high-quality dry food. It is better if the dog is feeding twice a day. Always depends on the activity of the dog, metabolism, age, size and built. So it is important to observe your dog and to realize what is the best quantity of food.

Feeding the Afghan puppy

Feeding the Afghan puppy should be feed at least 3-5 times per day. It is important to feed your puppy with smaller portions, but more times per day.

Grooming the Afghan puppy

Grooming this breed is not very hard, but it requires grooming and taking care of the long coat. Besides a couple of baths, every year and regular everyday grooming will make your dog hair look amazing! Afghan hound is not dog with a lot of requirements.