Puli

Typically 10 to 15 years, a wide range in which the upper end is realistic for a fit dog from screened lines. The main quality-of-life risks are hip dysplasia, inherited eye disease, and late-onset degenerative myelopathy rather than early-fatal illness, so the biggest levers are sourcing from hip- and eye-tested DM-DNA-screened parents, keeping the dog lean (hard to judge under cords, so weigh monthly), and maintaining the coat so skin stays healthy. A lean, well-screened, well-groomed Puli commonly reaches its early-to-mid teens.

Yes with their own family's children, whom they are devoted and playful with, though they are a herding breed and may try to gather and circle running kids or nip at heels in excitement. The bigger caveat is their natural wariness of strangers, including unfamiliar visiting children, which makes early socialization important. Supervise young children, redirect herding-nipping into appropriate games early, and teach kids not to startle a dog whose vision is partly obscured by cords over the eyes.

A great deal of time, even though it sheds very little. The corded coat must be hand-separated into individual cords for the dog's entire life — start weekly as cords form around 6-10 months, then maintain every few weeks — so cords do not fuse into painful skin-level mats. It is not brushed; it is separated, and it dries extremely slowly, so bathing is a multi-hour commitment. Owners unwilling to do this should plan to keep the coat clipped short instead. Low cash cost, high lifelong time cost.

At least 60 minutes of real daily activity plus mental work. The Puli is an agile, high-energy herding dog — 'the acrobat of the dog world' — and a leisurely walk will not satisfy it. Agility, herding, obedience, fetch, and hiking all fit its athletic, problem-solving nature. An under-exercised, under-stimulated Puli becomes a persistent barker and an inventive escape artist, so the exercise and the mental job are both requirements, not extras.

They are highly intelligent and learn quickly, but they are also headstrong, independent, and naturally suspicious of strangers, so they are not effortlessly biddable. They respond well to consistent, upbeat, reward-based training and need early, broad socialization to keep their watchfulness from tipping into reactivity or over-protectiveness. Bored or under-led, a smart Puli will train itself in ways you will not like. Train the brain, socialize early, and give it a job.

No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but the corded coat sheds minimally, so many allergy-prone owners tolerate a Puli better than a typical shedding breed. The trade-off is unavoidable and direct: that low-shed coat demands lifelong, labor-intensive cord maintenance and very slow drying. If you are choosing the breed for allergies, commit to the cord care — a neglected corded coat traps moisture, dander, and debris against the skin, causing infection and undermining the exact benefit you were seeking.