Puli

A Puli does well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared under your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Match the diet to the dog's life stage: puppy, adult, or senior. Pulik need a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to stay in good body condition. Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.

Some Pulik are prone to gaining weight, so watch calorie intake and body condition. Treats help with training, but too many lead to obesity. Learn which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not, and check with your vet about any weight or diet concerns.

Feeding amounts vary by dog and depend on size, metabolism, health, neuter status, and activity level:

• Adult Pulik do well with two measured feedings per day.
• Feed puppies about three meals a day on a regular schedule, which keeps blood sugar stable.
• The feeding guide on your dog food packaging gives portion sizes by weight; your veterinarian can fine-tune the amount from your dog's lifestyle and health.

At your vet's recommendation, a Puli may benefit from added omega-3 fatty acids, found in skin and joint supplements, fish oil, and some specially formulated dog foods. These support the skin, coat, kidneys, joints, and heart.

A Puli can be kept corded, brushed, or clipped, and the breed sheds very little. Until a puppy is 8 to 10 months old, there is little grooming to do beyond regular baths, ear care, and grinding the toenails.

When the undercoat begins to come in, the coat feels thick and matted, and you will feel natural separations where the hair clumps close to the skin. That is the beginning of a cord. At this stage, pull the soft clumps apart with your fingers into quarter-sized sections, repeating many times across about six to nine months. Some Pulik cord easily on their own. A good time to work the cords is while you are watching TV and want something to do with your hands.

Once the coat carries distinct cords, bathe the dog as needed and separate the cords; mature cords should not be brushed. After a swim or a bath, dry the coat completely with a fan or blow dryer and squeeze excess water from the cords rather than rubbing with a towel, since moisture trapped between cords can cause mildew and skin infections.

Clean the ears regularly with a veterinary-approved cleaner, and ask your vet how often. Take care around the ears, where the skin is thin and sensitive, and talk to your vet if you notice signs of infection such as odor or debris buildup. Pulik also need regular nail trims and a dental routine of at-home brushing plus professional cleanings.

The breed needs no special eye care, but because Pulik can be susceptible to progressive retinal atrophy, contact your veterinarian if you notice changes in the eyes such as discharge, cloudiness, or squinting.

The Puli is an energetic, high-drive dog that needs plenty of physical activity, and mental work matters just as much. Alongside brisk walks, Pulik do well in dog sports such as agility, obedience, and herding.

Keep the mind busy too. Games like hide and seek or puzzle toys help keep these active, intelligent dogs engaged. Reputable breeders caution against overdoing physical exercise while a dog is young and the growth plates have not yet fused.

Because of the thick, double corded coat, watch that your dog does not overheat during activity. Steady mental and physical activity is also important because a bored Puli can bark a lot.

Pulik are intelligent, agile, and loyal, so they learn quickly and aim to please. Many Pulik are headstrong and independently minded. They follow commands but tend to do things their own way and do not care for repetition, so a Puli will happily test you.

Focus on positive reinforcement and rewards-based training, and avoid repetitive drills, which make these dogs lose interest. These playful dogs learn well through training games. Begin while your puppy is young and keep working on cues throughout life.

Early socialization matters, especially for a breed historically kept as a farm guardian; without it, Pulik may be wary of strangers. Socialize early so your dog grows comfortable and confident around new people.

When properly introduced, most Pulik are patient with young children who know how to interact with dogs. Because of their herding instincts, they may try to round up children or small animals, so they need to learn that kids are not to be herded.