Fun Puli Facts For Kids

The puli, also known as the Hungarian water dog or the Hungarian puli, is one of the most strong-willed, fun-loving dog breeds in the world. Years ago they used to tend sheep in the Hungarian region which resulted in their tendency to herd their owners as well.

These dogs were found along with the Komondor in the Hungarian regions herding and protecting sheep from possible threats.

While the Komondor was responsible for mostly protecting the cattle, the puli was responsible for mainly herding and calling out to the Komondor if they saw any possible threats. They were very popular but they lost some of their popularity after World War II.

But the puli still makes for an amazing breed. These dogs have high energy levels which makes them very active and restless.

Their soft, woolly inner coat is overshadowed by the long, corded outer coat which closely resembles dreadlocks but they do not shed much as their coat has hair and not fur. However, the puli has no problem seeing even with the dreadlock-like cords.

The cords act like vertical window blinds and can see even better if the cords are tied up for their clearer eyesight.

The puli does not have any major health problems marking them as a great family breed. The only problem they might face is from an inactive lifestyle or hip dysplasia. This herding dog is often spotted at dog sports due to its high intelligence and learning capacity, which makes it receptive towards proper training.

Among all the dog breeds, the puli is one of those rare dogs that are very sensitive to children, the sick, and the elderly. They take special care towards them, give them attention, and tends to their needs, making them ideal therapy dogs as well.

Pulis love attention and they also expect the same love, affection, and attention from their owners.

While they do have the tendency to boss around their owners due to their natural herding tendencies, they are very protective and fiercely loyal to their family. According to the American Kennel Club, these dogs make a very good pet for their loving, nurturing, and protective nature.

If you liked learning about the puli, you will surely love our articles on Staffordshire bull terriers and Shih Poos.
 

Puli Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Puli?

Puli is a breed of dog.

What class of animal does a Puli belong to?

Puli belongs to the class of mammals.

How many Pulis are there in the world?

There are many pulis in the world as this is a dog breed that mates and reproduces frequently, producing almost a dozen puppies at a time.

Where does a Puli live?

Pulis used to live in the Hungarian mountain region years ago but now also live in the plain lands after being adopted by families.

What is a Puli's habitat?

Although these dogs lived in the Hungarian region, Pulis are also found in the plains. They have a thick fur coat and can bear harsh winter but can also live in plain lands.

Who do Pulis live with?

The puli is a loving dog breed that bonds very well with humans. They are a breed of herding dogs resulting in their active energetic nature and the act of 'herding' their owners at their heels.

How long does a Puli live?

A puli has an estimated lifespan of 12 to 16 years. If it does not develop any major health issues, with proper grooming and care, they can live up to a ripe old age.

How do they reproduce?

Pulis reproduce like any other domestic dog. This breed has a particular mating season where the male mates with the female and produces around a dozen puppies at a time through sexual reproduction.

There are mainly four stages to the reproductive cycle of the female starting with the anestrus stage, then proestrus, estrus, and lastly diestrus stage. The anestrus stage begins when the first bloody discharge occurs in the female puli.

This can last anywhere between 9 to 28 days and ends when the female accepts the male puli.

Estrus the actual mating period when the female is sexually receptive. Mating through the sexual process occurs at this stage with the female's acceptance of the male.

It is possible for the female to mate with more than one male as the ova can be fertilized even after 4 days of ovulation. The puli mothers take care of their puppies till 8 to 10 weeks of age by which they are old enough to take care of themselves.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of a puli is not listed. This is due to their good rate of breeding and mating which produces almost four to six puppies every time keeping up the number of pulik in the world.

Puli Fun Facts

What do Pulis look like?

Pulis are considered one of the sweetest breeds of dogs. The most intriguing part about the dog breed is the puli coat.

It has two layers of coat - the outer coat being a little rough and wavy or curly, while the inner coat is woolly, soft, and dense. The coat sticks up easily forming deadlocks or cords if allowed to grow naturally.

These cords or dreadlocks may be flat or round, woolly, and comes in different shapes and thickness, the balance of the two layers of coat, and the texture of the coat. While the cords do not shed, it is of supreme importance that they are combed and brushed regularly to avoid the coat from being matted and dirty.

The color of the outer coat of the puli can be either white, black, rusty black, or any shade of grey. The underside, i.e.

the skin color of the puli, is generally grey or bluish. Their weight depends generally on the weight of their coat and their height.

How cute are they?

Puli is an adorable dog breed with a charming and cute personality. They are very friendly with children as well and fiercely loyal to their family. They make a very good pet.

How do they communicate?

The puli is a breed of herding dog and so they have a habit of 'herding' their owners as well. They do this by nipping at their heels.

Apart from that, they communicate mainly by barking or whining. They bark to grab your attention or to scare off intruders or strangers. They also whine to express emotions like pain or the need for something.

How big is a Puli?

A puli is a medium-sized Hungarian breed. Their height is about 15 - 16 in (36 to 42 cm) in females and 15 - 17 in (39  - 45 cm) in males.

How fast can a Puli run?

The Puli can run very fast and is very light and agile on its feet. It has earned the name of 'acrobat of the dog world' due to its speed and agility.

How much does a Puli weigh?

The weight of a puli varies due to its height and condition of coat. A proper, mature and fully corded coat might weigh around 5 to 7 lb (2 kg - 3 kg). They normally weigh around 25 to 35 lb (11.3 kg - 15.87 kg )with their coats and everything.

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male puli is known as a puli dog while the female puli is known as a puli bitch.

What would you call a baby Puli?

A baby puli is known as a puppy.

What do they eat?

While the pulis can eat any type of dog food available in the market, they are also open to food items like carrots, rice, meat, bananas, lettuce, cantaloupe, pumpkin, and spinach. These dogs however should remain far away from products like salt, tomato, poultry bones, onions, garlic, chives, yeast, and dough as these would severely affect their health.

Are they slobbery?

Pulis are not slobbery. Their rate of drooling is very low making them pretty clean.

Would they make a good pet?

Puli makes a very good pet. They are very friendly with children and due to their active energetic persona, bond very well with their family. Although they are slightly skeptical towards strangers, with proper training they can learn good behavior and manners. Puli is also very loyal to its owners.

Did you know...

While many people mistake the puli for the komodor, they are not actually the same breed. Both are Hungarian dog breeds but they are different from each other.

The komodor is taller than the Hungarian puli and while their corded outer coat has definite similarities, the Komodor's coat is white while that of the Puli is black, grey, or rusty black.

The Puli's hair

The Hungarian puli has the most fascinating hair which closely resembles dreadlocks. The corded coat is curly or wavy and slightly rough to touch with a softer, woolly inner coat.

The outer coat if allowed to grow naturally forms the well-known cords which look like dreadlocks. The coat has to be maintained properly by regular brushing and combing with occasional washing to save it from becoming tangled, matted, and dirty.

Getting your own Puli

Getting a puli for your family is an exciting venture. People tend to get a Puli puppy to grow up in the family and these dogs are adorable and can make great family companions. The Puli Club of America has deemed this breed to be the most 'acrobatic dog in the world' due to its agile active nature.

But like every other dog, even they need special care and attention. Because of their purebred status and high breed standard, pulis tend to be a little expensive with $1200 to $2000 average puppy price by reputable breeders in the United States.

Proper grooming whether at home or by professionals is necessary for it to enjoy family time more. They are very intelligent and active dogs, so regular exercise or playtime is necessary for them.  

Pulis food habits are very basic; they do not require any special food as such and can do with two meals a day with any well-known dog food.

Grooming is very important for your puli. Their deadlocks or curly fur coats along with their soft woolly inner coat are a thing of beauty but require proper care.

Regular brushing of the coat along with combing helps the coat remain in good condition. Baths should be given three to four times a year and nails should be cut once a month. Pulis are not smelly but do need the occasional washing to remain clean.

Although there are no major health problems with the puli dog breed, it tends to be hypoallergenic and requires frequent eye tests along with checks for hip dysplasia.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including giant schnauzers and mini bernedoodles.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our puli coloring pages.