Treeing Cur vs Komondor - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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 Treeing Cur dog is a mixed-breed, working dog which hails from the USA and recognized by the United Kennel Club in November 1998.

They’ve always been used to tree animals such as squirrels, raccoons, bears, and even mountain lions. They were developed to be used as hunting and guarding dogs.

Aside from these good qualities, today the dog makes an excellent family companion.

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.

Standing at between 46 – 61cm in height and weighing between 14 – 27kg, the medium-sized Treeing Cur is athletic and muscular.

He has a short to medium-length double coat that can be in a number of colors. Red and white, tan and white, black and white, brindle, some freckling and bi-colored or tri-colored.

The eyes are mostly brown but can be green or blue too. They’re well-muscled and robust and have medium length floppy ears. The tail is mostly docked but is sometimes left long.

Temperament:

These dogs are alert and intelligent, being easy to train and wanting to please their owners, getting along well with all members of the family, including children and other dogs.

They’re strong-willed dogs and will require training and socialization if you want them to be well behaved wherever they are. He is intelligent so there won’t be any trouble with training him. He is very responsive to what his owner requires of him, with a desire to make their owners pleased with them.

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.

The Treeing Cur is a working dog that loves all the action. He is an alert, intelligent dog, and being territorial and protective, he makes an excellent guardian dog too.

They can show some aggression towards strangers and other dogs they don’t know. Apart from being an excellent hunting dog, the Treeing Cur loves to be around their human family, making loyal and loving companions.

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.

These dogs are very healthy and you’re not likely to have many vet bills when you bring one into your home.

However, there are always some diseases that can plague dogs and these are -

Ear Infections:

The Treeing Cur has floppy ears, and particularly if it's a dog that loves swimming, it will battle with moisture in the ears. Dogs with floppy ears don’t have good air-flow inside the ears like a dog with erect ears would have. This means that the dog is prone to ear infections.

Cancer:

This is such a common dog illness that can strike even young dogs. That is why it is important to check your dog over regularly for lumps and bumps on the body. Age increases the risk of cancer, so if you feel an unusual lump on your Treeing Cur, better to have your dog checked out at the vet.

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.

Exercise:

Being an energetic working dog, this dog isn’t going to be content to be lying around. He is going to need regular exercise. He loves a brisk walk or even a run next to you when you go cycling.

When at home, you can consider ball games and hide and seek games with him. They just love to run, and if you live near a park, he will want to be off the leash if possible for some free running and sniffing around.

They’re smart dogs and will need some form of mental stimulation as well.

Grooming:

The short coat of the Treeing Cur will do well with a brush twice a week. While you brush your dog, check him out for ticks and fleas. Also, check him over for any unusual lumps.

Part of his grooming should be to check inside his ears for signs of redness, to make sure his eyes are nice and bright still and to see if he will let you look inside his mouth for bad teeth. Bad teeth can be a source of pain for him.

Make sure to keep his nail trimmed as well.

Diet:

Caring for your Treeing Cur in a responsible manner means ensuring good food. Such an active dog will require proper nutrients so as to meet his energy and health needs.

Your Treeing Cur will need a high-quality commercially manufactured dog food for active dogs and they will also benefit from other simple cooked foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. The habit of feeding your Treeing Cur human foods such as chocolates, popcorn, peanuts, onions and spices could cause digestive upsets and possible vet fees.

Make sure your pet has constant access to fresh, cool water.