The first Hungarian postage stamp was issued in 1871, and since then, over 5,000 different postage stamps have been issued. In 1956, Hungary released this commemorative stamp of a Puli, and over the years, new owners puzzled over its depiction of a confrontation between a sheepdog and a bull.

Recently, the photo below made the rounds which suddenly brought credibility to that stamp.

The Puli was used to work and control all types of stock, but was developed particularly for sheep. A loose-eyed herder, the breed rarely grips or bites, but does rely on a barking, a bouncy gait, and if need be, jumping on the backs of his charges to get to an errant beast.  As Dr. Mary Wakeman once wrote, “The skills of the Puli, when in his own environment, include the ability to instantly lift an entire large flock, and to turn it, if not on a dime, then certainly on a quarter. Once on the move, he will join his shepherd at the rear of the flock to drive.”

The Puli is considered among the National Symbols of Hungary and of course, is the de facto mascot for National Purebred Dog Day because the two who staring at us insist we write that.

Photo of DivinesVille Csardas by Razstari Jozsi. Bred by Ines Dević and owned by Jozsef Tari – Rasztari-Duci Puli Kennel