I mentioned that I would provide this information last week, but that I was going out of town. Project took longer to complete (NT...gotta love it), and I just got back. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find that list. If I find it, I'll post the info.

Couldn't surf at the location due to their firewall...looks like this place was busy while I was gone!

-- Faze the Nation (dazed@confused.com), March 23, 1999

Answers

Faze ... thanks for following up. NT: Neanderthal Technology.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 23, 1999.

I have a Komodore dog, and love him. His name is Baby Jake. He's 5 yrs old and very protective. They are originally from Hungary and are sheep and goat guard dogs. I guess he thinks I am his only goat. He tolerates my husband and son; but loves me and generally likes women. He has never bitten anyone; but has such a loud bark that he frightens people - even "dog" people. He weighs about 110 lbs. I shear off all his hair in May through September, and he loves that. He has such a fine undercoat, it can be spun for yarn and knitted into things. They are much more active/aggressive than Great Pyrnees(sp?). This is the 3d one I've had and love them all....they are great for keeping the coyotes back out of the chicken house,etc.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), March 23, 1999.

Jeanne -- Where can you get them? How are they around little children of their owners?

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 23, 1999.

They are excellent with little children! One more thing: once it accepts you, it will never leave your side unless you tell it to. They'll hang out with you where ever you go!

-- Faze the Nation (dazed@confused.com), March 23, 1999.

Hi, It might be worth also looking at an Anatolian Sheep Dog.Weighing in at 115 to 140 lbs they are big muscular dogs & are the 5th fastest dog in the World.clocked at over 30mph.Used to defend flocks of sheep against wolves on the plateaux in Turkey,they are very territorial and can take extremes of both hot & cold temps.They eat about 2lb of food a day but it must be lowish protein. Not a dog for women & children to take for walks as they are strong & will not stand any nonsense from any strangers or other dogs.Ours is fearless.They are a very ancient breed but relatively new outside Turkey.Therefore they are still pretty hardy and unspoilt by selective breeding for the show ring. There is a couple of web sites for the breed.search under guarding breeds or Turkish Sheepdogs.(Sorry I can't post a link) Over here a pup costs about #400.However a rescue is about #200. May be worth comparing with the great Kommadores.

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), March 24, 1999.

Thanks Chris.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 24, 1999.

The magazine "Dog Fancy" recently profiled the breed. I didn't keep the issue. Sorry, I don't know which one it was. They do have a Web site: www.dogfancy.com. They might have it in an archive.

-- luann (flataufm@hutchtel.net), March 24, 1999.

Just surfed DogFancy.com out of curiousity and found a page with a picture and info about "Komondors".

As Will Smith said in Independence Day: "Damn...I gotta get me one of these!" :-)

http://w ww.dogfancy.com/finder/profiles/k/komondor.asp

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), March 24, 1999.

This seems to be the little thread that will not die, but I still can't find any breeders for either of these dogs on the Net. Help?

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 24, 1999.

BigDog: Hope this helps.

Komondor Club of America
For breed information, breed magazine, rescue information and KCA recommended breeders, contact corresponding secretary Linda Patrick, 4695 Peckins Rd., Chelsea, MI 48118 (734-433-0417)

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), March 24, 1999.

Hello Big Dog! I am in SW Oklahoma, and there are several breeders around here. They are more common in the goat raising areas of Texas. I believe there is a ranch type magazine out of San Angelo, TX specifically for goat/sheep operations - they would have many dog ads probably. Good luck...if you get one be sure to have plenty of calcium in its diet for at least 18 mos to 2 yrs. They take a long time to grow up totally - hip problems are not prevalent in this breed, but can happen if they don't get what they need nutritionally. I gave mine a quart of goat milk per day for about 18 months.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), March 25, 1999.

P.S. Don't let that picture with the long corded hair put you off. I get my dog's hair all cut off(except for head/tail) about the first of May and then start to let it grow about the first of October every year. In the winter his hair gets thick and warm, but it doesn't "cord" on its own...that is obviously a show ring thing. jeanne

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), March 25, 1999.

Big Dog, Got a link for the Anatolians.I forgot they are called something else in the USA.We have a Kangal.

http://www.people.unt.edu/~tlt002/index.htm

If that doesn't work I found it using Excite searching under "Guarding Dogs"

PS. I just completed the dog's Y2K food preps today by accident.Went to Crufts(big dog show) 2 weeks ago & somehow ordered 200lbs of minced chicken.Found it all over the front doorstep when I got home !!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), March 25, 1999.

You guys are great, thanks. I'll report back. I must admit that the Komondor's coats are, uh, intimidating.

Plus my wife brought a gorgeous little female mutt puppy to our house today ... not that this will stop us. With chickens, geese, turkeys, beef cattle (soon) and an upset cat, what's a dog or two?

My youngest sons are excited because our little bantam (the only one in our chicken flock) successfully hatched someone's (?) baby today and is still determinedly sitting on a bunch more eggs while keeping the little one warm. Whether the chick makes it through the night remains to be seen .....

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), March 25, 1999.