Puli dog, also known as Hungarian Sheepdog or Hungarian Puli, belongs to the herding dog group.
Its distinctive feature is its fluffy and dense coat and its agile gait. Its fur covers its head like an umbrella, and the hair hangs down to cover the entire body until the straight tail tip. This abundant hair makes it look larger than its actual size, and it looks extremely cute.
This dog has a keen sense of smell, moves quickly, and runs like a bouncing ball. Perhaps this characteristic was despised long ago, but its dazzling running work has been appreciated by shepherds.
The Puli dog, originated in the 10th century, was one of the best Hungarian sheepdogs at that time. It is said to be descended from sheepdogs, but there are also records suggesting that the Puli dog may be descended from ancient Tibetan dogs. Except for the different colors, the appearance of the Puli dog is very similar to that of the Tibetan Terrier, which is why people believe that the basic lineage of the Puli dog comes from the Tibetan Terrier.
In the 16th century, invaders killed a large number of Hungarians. In the 17th century, Western Europeans, along with their Merino sheep and sheepdogs, began to re-enter Hungary. The Puli dog was crossed with sheepdogs from France and Germany, resulting in the Pumi. The names Puli and Pumi were used interchangeably for several years, and at this time the breed of Puli dog was almost disappearing.
In 1912, Emil Reichert started the plan to restore the Puli dog. Two types of coats of the Puli dog were recorded, rough and dense hair and curly hair. The first standard for judging the Puli dog was established in 1915. In 1924, FCI revised and improved this standard.
The newly restored Puli dog participated in the Budapest Dog Show in August 1923. This breed is divided into three categories: the ancestral type or the dog with dense and messy hair, the noble dog or show dog, and the dwarf dog.
In the 1934 standard, it was further divided into large dogs (50.0 cm or larger), medium-sized dogs (39.9-45.0 cm), and dwarf dogs (less than 35.1 cm) according to their height.
On February 91, 1935, the Hungarian old breed registry even recorded four different types of Puli dogs: large police dogs, medium-sized or working dogs, small dogs, and dwarf dogs. Among them, the medium-sized dogs are the most common.
The Puli dog has long and thick fur, so it has strong cold resistance but is not heat resistant. It can stay in cold climates but is not suitable for hot environments.
Because of its unique fur, it needs regular grooming. It also loves exercise, so it is not suitable for people with busy schedules. It is best to be cared for by someone who has time and patience.
It is energetic and agile, with a great need for exercise. It is not big in size and can adapt very quickly to urban life. As long as its exercise needs are met, it can be kept as a pet at home. Of course, it is more suitable for hilly areas.
1. Heart Disease
Dog heart disease is often related to obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly exhibit symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. Dog heart disease is difficult to detect, and by the time the owner notices it, the dog is usually severely ill.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common malignant infectious diseases in dogs, with high mortality rates. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once they become ill, they may exhibit symptoms such as listlessness, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The terrifying aspect of dog kidney disease is the unconscious progression of the disease. By the time the owner discovers it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells often exceeds 75%. When dogs have problems, the symptoms usually include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal worms such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, listlessness, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, and pale gums. Heartworms are parasites that reside in the dog's heart, and dogs infected with heartworms may exhibit symptoms such as poor vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and ascites.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral respiratory infections, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and fever are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
The Puli dog has special fur and needs to be groomed regularly. It is best to comb the fur once in the morning and once in the evening, for about 5 minutes each time. You can use brushes, flexible wire brushes, and long, sparse metal combs together.
The general order of combing is to start from the neck, from front to back, and from top to bottom, that is, first from the neck to the shoulders, then the back, chest, waist, abdomen, hindquarters, then the head, and finally the limbs and tail. During the combing process, comb one side completely before combing the other side.
The diet should mainly consist of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and fiber.
After the dog finishes eating, the utensils should be cleaned immediately to avoid attracting pests or the dog accidentally eating spoiled leftover food. When not feeding, the utensils should be put away to prevent the Puli dog from taking them as toys.
1. Don't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather during the summer, it can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times, otherwise it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially during the spring and autumn seasons when seasonal shedding is more severe. To maintain good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Owners can use pet-specific brushes to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once at night for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more lustrous, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4. Deworming
Poor fur quality is often related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to deworm both internally and externally. Deworming medications can cause significant damage to a dog's digestive system, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
To ensure that a dog has beautiful hair, a solid nutritional foundation must be established, and attention should be paid to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food. Choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrients to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, the dog can be given a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
Pet Encyclopedia
