Breed library

Puli

Puli photograph.
PuliBlack wb.jpg - Original uploader was Elf at en.wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PuliBlack_wb.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Puli (plural pulis or pulik) is a small-medium breed of Hungarian herding dog known for its long, corded coat. The tight curls of the coat appear similar to dreadlocks. A similar-looking, but much larger breed - also Hungarian - is the Komondor.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: HungaryBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The Magyars probably brought the Puli to Hungary in the 9th Century when they invaded westwards from Siberia, and it has been a sheepdog on the Hungarian plain since then.
  • According to the Encyclopedia of the Dog, the puli is "almost certainly" the ancestor of the poodle.
  • The breed was first studied by Dr Emil Raitsitz from Hungary's veterinary college in the 1920s.
  • When wolves or bears attacked the livestock, the Puli would alert the pack and the Komondors would come and fight the intruders.
  • Pulis can be good at fighting off wolves, because the thick coat protects their skin from being bitten.

Size and appearance

The Puli is a solid-colored dog that is usually black. Other less common coat colors are white, gray, or cream (off-white or fakó in Hungarian). A variety of the cream-coated dogs have black masks. The white Pulis are not albino, nor do they have blue eyes. They commonly have dark pigment, black pads, black noses and black pigment inside the mouth. The white gene is recessive to the pure black gene. The breed standard for females is about 16.5 in at the withers and 17 in for males. Females weigh 23-25 pounds and males slightly more. The coat of some Puli dogs can be different with either thinner or thicker cords which can be flat or round depending on the texture of the coat and the balance of undercoat to outer coat.

  • Body mass reference: Up to 13 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 10 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 15 kgBreed reference body mass. male, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 13 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 40 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 38 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: 41 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 43 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: corded
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

An intelligent and active dog, the Puli needs obedience training while still young. With enough exercise, Pulis can live in the city, but they do best when not kept as indoor pets in small living spaces as, without enough exercise to use up their energy, they can become either shy or overactive. They need to get the kind of exercise they were created for. Pulis are best kept in a house with a garden. Cozy and very friendly especially towards children, they are sensitive and prone to resentment.

Exercise and activities

Despite their bulky appearance and very thick coat, Pulis are very fast, agile, and able to change directions rapidly. They are obedient enough to train for athletic competition. Pulis are devoted and form close bonds with their owners. Traditionally, the Puli dog breed was used as a herding dog and sometimes even as a livestock guarding dog, as well. They make very good guard dogs, since they are very protective of their masters and territory. The Puli is sensitive, fun-loving, courageous, but also, at times, tough and headstrong.

  • Activity guidance: active

Training and enrichment

Pulis are valued for their energy and determination which is a result of their sheepdog history. Every Puli is a natural shepherd and instinctively knows how to herd a flock of sheep or livestock even if they have been raised as a family dog and have never been trained to do it. It is advisable to start training the Puli early in age, especially in obedience. They are very independent, strong-willed, and difficult to train in adulthood.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: corded

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

The Magyars probably brought the Puli to Hungary in the 9th Century when they invaded westwards from Siberia, and it has been a sheepdog on the Hungarian plain since then. According to the Encyclopedia of the Dog, the puli is "almost certainly" the ancestor of the poodle. The breed was first studied by Dr Emil Raitsitz from Hungary's veterinary college in the 1920s. When wolves or bears attacked the livestock, the Puli would alert the pack and the Komondors would come and fight the intruders. Pulis can be good at fighting off wolves, because the thick coat protects their skin from being bitten. The Komondors usually rested during daytime but at night walked around the flock, constantly moving, patrolling the area.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. File:PuliBlack wb.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. PuliBlack wb.jpg - Original uploader was Elf at en.wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PuliBlack_wb.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  4. Puli dog - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Puli dog, revision 1354317604. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Puli_dog&action=history
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.