Plate 179 · Continental Europe
Puli
波利犬
“The corded herding dog of the Hungarian plain.”
- Origin
- Hungary
- Hungarian plain
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Probably arrived with the Magyars in the 9th century; standard 1915
- Today
- Herding dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Hungarian plain
A compact, usually black, corded Hungarian herding dog that herded the flock by day alongside the larger guardian Komondor.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Herding sheep on the Hungarian plain while Komondors guarded them at night.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
The Magyars probably brought its ancestors to Hungary. Shepherds are said to have paid up to a year's wages for a good Puli. Emil Raitsits revived and standardized it in the early 20th century.
04 · Today
Herding dog · Companion
A companion and herding dog.
Personality
- Loyal
- Smart
- Home-loving
- Agile
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Needs mental exercise as much as physical exercise.
- Grooming
- Cords must be separated by hand as they form, or the coat brushed or clipped.
- Training
- Very intelligent and quick; it does not suffer fools.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Coat
- Dense, weatherproof coat that forms cords; usually black, also grey or white
Field note
Pulik worked by day while the big white Komondors guarded the flock at night.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 1, standard 55)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Herding Group, recognized 1936.
AKC registrations: ranked 177 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Puli — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/puli/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Puli dog — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puli_dog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Probable arrival with the Magyars, work alongside the Komondor, shepherds' valuation, Emil Raitsits, the corded coat.
- Puli — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/PULI-55.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Hungary; Group 1, section "Sheepdogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.