Dr Stuart Fitzgerald (MVB MANZCVS, University College Dublin) states that the Magyars, a nomadic people from central Asia, settled the region of the Carpathian basin that was to become modern-day Hungary around 1100 years ago, and brought several breeds of dog with them. While they depended primarily on farming for their survival, they were also hunters, and used Vizsla-type dogs in combination with falcons to catch rabbits and birds. The Magyars had two types of dog that were important to them in looking after their flocks of sheep, a smaller breed that kept the flock together and was alert to danger, and a larger guardian breed that could be called into action against predators and would-be rustlers. The latter became known as the Komondor; the former, the Puli. It is thought the Puli’s history can be traced back even further, with archaeological evidence of a similar small dog with corded hair being recovered from a 6000-year-old tomb of a shepherd in Iran.

Despite being a very capable working dog, the Puli suffered an enormous decline in demand during the nineteenth century, as farming practices changed. The breed was essentially rediscovered by Dr. Emil Raitsits of the Budapest School of Veterinary Medicine in 1912 and was subsequently brought back from the verge of extinction through an intensive breeding programme. It suffered further setbacks in the wake of the subsequent World Wars, but the export of several dogs to the United States and other areas of Europe in the 1930s meant that breeding continued on a large enough scale to ensure its survival. It remains something of a niche breed, with less than 100 individual dogs being newly registered by the Kennel Club each year. Dr Stuart

General Appearance
Sturdy, muscular, wiry, with fine bone. Whole well covered with long (according to age), profuse corded coat. Long hair overshadows eyes like an umbrella. Viewed from side, trunk and limbs should present square figure.

Characteristics
Herding dog, medium-sized, nimble and extremely intelligent.

Temperament
Lively, wary of strangers, but not displaying nervousness or unprovoked aggression.
Head and Skull
Disregarding hair, head small and fine with slightly domed skull. From front it appears round, from side almost elliptical. Muzzle one-third length of head, with well- defined stop, not snipey but bluntly rounded. Arches of eye socket well defined, nose relatively large and black, eye rims and flews black in all colours.

Eyes
Medium size, dark brown with lively expression.

Ears
Set slightly below level of skull, V-shaped, pendant, of medium size, covered with long hair. Length of ears about half length of head. Ears do not appear noticeable, even when alert.
Mouth
Roof uniformly dark or variegated with deep pigmented spots on dark base. Flews tight and black. Tongue bright red. Jaws and teeth strong with perfect scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck
Set at an angle of 45 degrees to horizontal, of medium length, tight skinned and muscular. When fully coated, neck appears to merge with body.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid. Elbows tight. Forelegs straight and muscular, and viewed from any angle, vertical.

Body
Withers slightly higher than level of back, which is of medium length. Loin short and broad, belly slightly tucked up. Ribs deep, rib cage broadening from behind elbows and well sprung. Rump short and slightly sloping but this is not obvious because of tightly curled tail.

Hindquarters
Strong, and well-muscled. Pelvis forming an angle of 90 degrees with thighbone. Well bent stifle. Hocks set fairly low. When viewed from the rear, the legs should be parallel, with feet turning neither in nor out. Wide pelvis desirable, especially in bitches.
Feet
Short, round, tight. Hind feet slightly longer than forefeet. Nails strong, black or slate grey. Pads springy, dark grey in colour.

Tail
Medium- length, curled tightly over rump-loin area; long hair of tail mixes indistinguishably with similar hair of rump so that tail does not appear separate.
Gait/Movement
Stride not far-reaching. Gallop short. Typical movement short- stepping, very quick, in harmony with lively disposition. Movement never heavy, lethargic or lumbering.
Coat
Correct proportion of top and undercoat creates, naturally, the desired cords. Matting and felting to be avoided, and a combed coat is as undesirable as a neglected one. Coat generally longest on hindquarters, shortest on head and feet. Some dogs will grow a floor-length coat.
Colour

• Black, with or without intermingling of white hairs
• Black with rusty or grey shading.
• Grey in various shades.
• Fawn (known as ‘fako’ in its country of origin) preferably with a distinct black mask. All shades of fawn.
• Grey or fawn may have an intermingling of black or white hairs with black or grey tips on tail and ears.
• White without any yellow markings.

The overall appearance of all variants must be that of a solid colour. A white patch at the forechest not exceeding 5cms (2ins) in diameter and a few white hairs on feet are permissible. Skin well pigmented, black or slate grey. Any colour or marking deviating from the above is undesirable.

Size
Height: dogs: 40-44 cms (16-171/2 ins); bitches: 37-41 cms (141/2-16 ins). Weight: dogs: 13-15 kgs (29-33 lbs); bitches: 10-13 kgs (22-281/2 lbs).

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

*Note for prospective puppy buyers
Size – the Kennel Club Breed Standard is a guide and description of the ideal for the breed; the Size as described does not imply that a dog will match the measurements given (height or weight). A dog might be larger or smaller than the Size measurements stated in the Breed Standard.

Copied from the English Kennel Club Webb Site