puli [key] (pl. pulik), a breed of wiry, medium-sized working dog developed nearly 1,000 years ago in Hungary. It stands from 16 to 18 in. (40.6–45.7 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 25 to 35 lb (11.3–15.9 kg). The weather-resistant double coat is composed of soft, woolly underhairs and a moderately harsh, long, slightly curled outercoat that tends to become tangled and matted, producing a characteristically corded appearance when not groomed. Its usual color is a faded black, but it may also be white or various shades of gray. Raised for centuries in its native Hungary to herd sheep, today the puli is kept principally as a watchdog and companion. See dog.
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