Komondor at a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height
- 70–80 cm
- Weight
- 36–61 kg
- Life expectancy
- up to 10 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Shedding, Time alone, Cats and small pets.
Is the Komondor right for you?
Like every breed, the Komondor is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You can give around an hour of exercise a day.
- You would like a dog that tends to be quiet.
- You would like a dog that is usually calm at home.
Consider another breed if…
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
- This would be your first dog.
- You cannot commit to brushing several times a week.
How would the Komondor fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Komondor
The Komondor is a large, powerfully built livestock guardian with a dense white coat that forms long cords as the dog matures. It is formidable in appearance and in temperament: devoted to its family, but distrustful of strangers and strongly territorial.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Large
A large dog.
- Exercise
Moderate
Typically around an hour of exercise a day.
- Energy level
Usually calm
Tends to be calm and settled around the home.
- Grooming
Moderate
The coat usually needs brushing several times a week.
- Shedding
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Trainability
Independent
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Can be selective
Can be selective about other dogs.
- Good with cats
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
- Suits first-time owners
Experienced owners
Best with an experienced owner.
- Barking / vocality
Tends to be quiet
Usually a fairly quiet dog around the home.
- Time alone
Not assessed yet
Our sources do not say enough yet.
The largest of the Hungarian pastoral breeds, the Komondor shares some ancestry with the Puli and the Kuvasz. It has been known in Hungary for over a thousand years and is thought to have arrived with the nomadic Magyars.
The breed was developed to live with the flock and protect it from theft and predators. Its corded coat kept it warm and dry in any weather and acted as thick body armour, even against wolves.
Komondor temperament
Centuries of breeding to guard mean the Komondor typically treats strangers with suspicion and will protect what it considers its own. Even an easy-going Komondor is a large, powerful dog, and its protective instincts can lead it to make errors of judgement.
It is not a breed for everyone. Komondors usually do best in a rural home with few visitors, where regular visitors are introduced carefully until the dog accepts them as part of the family. A busy urban setting can leave them constantly on alert and stressed. They are generally quiet dogs.
Size and appearance
The Komondor is a large breed. Males typically stand around 80 cm at the shoulder and weigh 50–61 kg, while females stand around 70 cm and weigh 36–50 kg.
The coarse topcoat and soft undercoat combine to form cords, which will eventually reach the floor if they are not trimmed. It takes about five years for the cords to reach full length. The only breed standard colour is white.
How much exercise does a Komondor need?
About an hour of exercise a day is usually enough, with extra time for training and puzzle-solving. Access to secure places to run free and a large, securely fenced garden are important.
The coat collects a lot of water and debris, so check your dog after every walk for leaves and twigs.
Training a Komondor
The Komondor is not an easy dog to train. Many generations of breeding for suspicion of strangers, and a willingness to confront perceived threats, mean careful management is essential.
- Use positive reinforcement, patience and kindness, but expect a dog that does not train for its own sake.
- Introduce regular visitors gradually, so your Komondor learns to accept them.
- Keep fencing extremely secure.
- Add puzzle-solving exercises to daily routines.
Komondor grooming
The corded coat is never brushed. Instead, new hair growth is divided by hand from the skin every couple of months to keep the cords separate. New owners need to be shown how to do this by the breeder or an experienced enthusiast, as very few professional groomers can or will deal with this coat.
Cord care is time-consuming and must never be neglected, or the cords will mat together. When wet the coat can smell strongly, and a fully corded Komondor can take a day or more to dry after a bath, so a home set up for a large, wet dog is a must.
Living with a Komondor
Komondors are best suited to families with plenty of secure rural space, few visitors, and time and energy for exercise, training and grooming. As family dogs they are better with dog-savvy older teenagers: the heavy coat makes their body language hard to read, and they are not tolerant of typical small-child behaviour.
Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Can be selective about other dogs.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually needs a roomy home.
Garden
A secure garden is strongly advised.
First-time owners
Best with an experienced owner.
Komondor health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
The Komondor is described as a generally robust breed, but some conditions are recognised in it. Lifespan estimates vary, from under 10 years to 10–12 years.
Hip dysplasia
The breed may be prone to hip dysplasia, which affects the hip joints. It is one of the conditions to ask a breeder about.
Gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat)
The Komondor is prone to bloating and stomach problems.
Ear infections
The breed may be prone to ear infections.
Genetic diversity
The Royal Kennel Club lists prioritising genetic diversity as a key part of responsible breeding in this breed.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Komondor home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Komondor cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Komondor home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically up to 10 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Komondor
If you have decided the Komondor suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Komondor
Komondors do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Komondors looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Komondor adverts at the moment.
Find Komondor adverts for sale and for adoption on Mypetzilla now.
Similar breeds you may want to consider
Komondor FAQs
Is the Komondor good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Komondor live in a flat?
Usually needs a roomy home. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Komondor need?
Moderate: typically around an hour a day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
How much grooming does the Komondor need?
Typically: several times a week.
Is the Komondor easy to train?
Can be independent-minded; patient training helps. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Does the Komondor bark a lot?
Tends to be quiet. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Komondor live?
Typically up to 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Komondor get?
Adults typically stand 70–80 cm at the shoulder and weigh 36–61 kg.