Dog
Mudi Champions
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Pronunciation:
mud-ee
Breed Description:
The Mudi breed of dog is a medium sized breed that is athletic and has the appearance of an agile herding dog. The body should slope towards the rear and it should have a muscular build without appearing course. The head is wedge-shaped and the erect ears should be triangular in shape. The Mudi should have a full tail that is held at medium height. It should curl near the third end of the tail and can be held almost erect. Some puppies are born without a tail or with a stump tail and this is not considered a fault; however, docking the tail is not accepted and is always considered a fault.
The coat of the Mudi should be short, ranging in length from 1 to 3 inches, and straight and it should have a smooth texture. It should cover the dog completely and it should be dense. In parts on the body, specifically on the forearms, upper thighs, back, neck and tail, it should be longer and should have ridges of wavy or slightly curled hair. The tail has the longest hair usually and it can measure 4 to 5 inches in length. All coat colors and patterns are accepted but the FCI accepts the fawn, black, brown, white, ash, and blue merle.
Temperament:
The Mudi breed of dog is a herding breed and they are very active and alert. They are usually very eager to learn, although they can be difficult to train at times since they can be stubborn. They are usually very alert dogs and tend to be very brave and protective of their home and family. They thrive when they are with their family and are not the best breed to be an outdoor dog. The Mudi does very well with children and usually do well with other dogs and pets, although they may herd everyone and everything in the house.
Height:
The average height of a Mudi is between 16 to 18.5 inches for males, 15 to 17 inches for females.
Weight:
The average weight of a Mudi is between 18 to 29 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Mudi breed of dog is a very hardy dog but some health problems have been seen. Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cataracts, epilepsy, wry mouth, overshot mouth and undershot mouth, albinism, and allergies have been seen. It is important to find a reputable breeder to ensure that the line is not prone to the problem.
Living Conditions:
The Mudi breed of dog is not recommended for apartments since they have a large amount of energy. They do best in homes with a large yard but some have been known to do well in apartments. They do bark a lot so it is important to consider this before you purchase a Mudi. In addition, they are not outdoor dogs and prefer to be with their family.
Exercise:
The Mudi breed of dog is a high energy breed that requires between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day. They can make excellent jogging companions and they also love to play in a range of activities from fetch to herding. The Mudi shines when they have something to do and can become destructive if they become bored. They do very well in agility and obedience competitions.
Life Expectancy:
13 to 14 years
Grooming:
The Mudi breed of dog should be brushed once every few weeks to maintain their coat and to remove any dead hair. Bathing should only be done when it is absolutely necessary and the breed can go several months before they need a bath. The nails should be trimmed on a regular basis.
Origin:
The Mudi breed of dog was officially recognized in the late 1920's by a Dr. Fényes, who, after visiting the Hungarian countryside, noticed a dog that was commonly called Puli or Pumi. From these dogs, Dr. Fenyes realized that the breed was a distinct breed and could be classified as a separate breed from other Hungarian herding breeds. It was his effort to produce several litters of these dogs and he realized that the breed bred true to form. From this, he called the breed Mudi and surmised that it was a viable breed on its own.
Despite knowing this, it is unclear what breeds went into the creation of the Mudi before Dr. Fenyes acquired the breed. At one time, it was believed that the Mudi was developed by crossing the Puli, believed to be the foundation breed of all Hungarian herding dogs, with spitz type dogs from Europe. However, some evidence has pointed to the Mudi being the foundation breed for the Puli and the Pumi and it may be a very old and primitive breed of dog.
Unfortunately, it will never be completely clear which is the case but we do know that at one time, the Mudi was called a driver dog and was used alongside both Puli and Pumi. The breed was commonly used for herding but during the Second World War, the Mudi were almost completely wiped out.
It wasn't until the 1960's that the breed was reestablished and while it has remained a rare breed, it has gained some popularity and was officially recognized by the FCI in 1966.
Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
