Meet Molly. When I spotted Molly trotting along the Clapham Common South Side on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I nearly jumped out of my seat as she was such an unusual looking dog, and while i could not quite identify the breed, everything about her seemed so different I just had to stop her owner for a chat.
Molly is a 9-month-old Puli, hence her highly distinctive look. Puli is a Hungarian pastoral breed, known for its very distinctive dread-locked coat. She is only a puppy so her coat hasn't achieved the full corded-like appearance of a fully grown Puli but she just looks adorable and her pink tongue being one of the few indications of where her little face is hidden under the halo of soft curls.
Puli's coat is a wonder of nature. Once it achieves this dread-locked look, it becomes virtually waterproof, which was one of the requirements of this ancient breed, as they would work in th fields with the sheep in all weather conditions.
Molly's owner told me that it was this distinctive look that attracted him to the breed. A spaniel was first considered but after some deliberation Puli won, and I am not surprised. Puli is a great breed. The patience, intelligence and determination inherent in any shepherd breed are always great characteristics, and Puli has them all. Molly loves walks and playing with her toys, and I am sure she will grow up to be one smart London shepherd dog!
It was a real treat to meet Molly, not only as she is simply a delightful, friendly and beautiful dog, but also to see a Puli on the streets of London is a rare occurrence, and it is always great to see a dog that stands out from the crowd.
To find out more about Pulis please visit The Hungarian Puli Club of Great Britain.
