PUMI DOG

Introduction

The Pumi, also known as the Hungarian Pumi, is an agile, active, medium-sized herding breed whose ancient ancestors accompanied the Magyars to Hungary thousands of years ago. The name “Pumi” was coined in the early 1900s. It may come from a combination of “Puli” and “Mudi,” two breeds that probably are behind the modern Pumi. Bred to herd and drive sheep, cattle, pigs and other livestock, and also to hunt rodents, the Pumi combines the alertness and drive of a terrier with the willingness and intelligence of a shepherd. They typically work very close to their livestock and use their voices and quick movement to guide and keep the flocks and herds under control. Pumis make good watch and guard dogs and still are used to protect small farms from invasive rodents, human intruders and wild animals in their country of origin. They retain their native hunting instincts and have even been used to hunt feral hogs. These dogs have a well-developed sense of smell and participate in search and rescue, freestyle dog dancing, agility trials, obedience trials and conformation competitions. They are exceptionally fast learners and very responsive to training. Versatility, loyalty, alertness and affection have all contributed to this breed’s expanding following. Pumis make excellent indoor companions and sporting partners for active people.

Appearance

The Pumi is a small, highly active, terrier-like sheepdog that hails from Hungary. Pumi puppies are born black and turn varying shades of gray by about 6 to 8 weeks of age. As the dogs get older, they lighten considerably to a color that typically is gauged by the color of their parents. Today’s Pumis have long heads with narrow muzzles, circular tails and short, wiry, curly coats. They should be square in profile. Pumis have lively, whimsical facial expressions that are complimented by their remarkable ears. In fact, the breed's signature trademark are its large, high-set, stand-up pricked ears, which are longer-haired than the rest of its body and tip over at the top, giving the dog the most alert, endearing appearance possibly of any breed. The Pumi’s eyes are tight, medium-sized, dark, deeply set and gentle in expression.

Size and Weight

The Pumi is not a big dog by any means. Mature males stand between 16 and 18.5 inches at the withers and typically weigh between 22 and 33 pounds. Adult females range from 15 to 17.5 inches in height and normally weigh between 17 and 28.5 pounds. According to some registries, the ideal weight for dogs is 27 to 29 pounds and in bitches, 22 to 24 pounds. Their thick coats are deceiving, making them look heavier and bulkier than they actually are.

Coat and Color

The Pumi’s medium-length double coat is thick, unruly and made up of a combination of wavy and curly hairs that form corkscrew-like tufts all over the body. The top coat is harsh, wavy and wiry. The undercoat is much softer. This shaggy coat makes the Pumi look bulkier than it actually is. It should never be either smooth or corded. Pumi’s eyes and faces are short-haired, but still wavy. Their tails have long feathering ranging up to 5 inches in length. Pumis do require regular maintenance to keep their unusual coats attractive and tidy. Most Pumis are gray. Any shade of gray is highly preferred in the show ring, although black, white, grizzle, rusty brown and fawn (ranging from pale cream to deep mahogany red with gray or black shading) are also acceptable under the American Kennel Club breed standard. The overall appearance must be that of a solid-colored coat. Colors that appear in Pumi litters but are not accepted in most show rings include blue, chocolate, black-and-tan or any patched coat, including piebald. Occasionally, puppies are born wolf-colored.

Grooming Requirements

Pumis require quite a bit of grooming. Because their coats are virtually non-shedding, they are predisposed to developing mats, which if not attended to can lead to skin irritation and sores. Their double coat should be brushed and combed out every few weeks. Pumis should also be trimmed and bathed every three or four months. Their hair should be allowed to dry naturally in order to achieve the characteristic corkscrews and curls in the coat. Pumi’s should never appear overly-fluffed or blown-dry. Ideally, their coat should be kept between 1 ½ and 3 inches in length when combed out. This regimen of combing, trimming, bathing and drying will help maintain the coat’s luster and keep the hair soft and manageable. Owners who are not experienced with grooming should hire a professional groomer. The time and expense of regular coat maintenance should be considered before anyone decides to acquire a Pumi.

History

The Hungarian Pumi’s history parallels that of the Hungarian Puli, at least up until Western sheepherding dogs and terriers, such as the French Briard and German Spitz, were brought to Hungary in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These imports were crossed with the native Pulis. Eventually, those breedings produced a small, versatile and extremely smart herding dog with tremendous natural terrier-like drive and determination. This is the Pumi. The Pumi retained the heavy, virtually weather-proof outer coat of the Puli but lost its undercoat felting, and with that, lost its coat’s proclivity to form cords. Pumis originally were used as herders of livestock and hunters of rodents, both of which they did efficiently and effectively. They have always also been beloved companions to their owners.

The name “Pumi” reportedly first appeared in the early 19th century. However, the names “Pumi” and “Puli” were confused and used interchangeably well into the early part of the 20th century. A Hungarian dog breeder, Dr. Emil Raitsits, recognized the confusion in names and types of Hungarian herding dogs and set out to make clear breed definitions, distinctions and standards between the Hungarian sheepdogs. Through his own selective breeding program and those of others, Raitsits concluded that a number of fundamental differences existed between the older Puli and newer Pumi dogs. As a result of his work, the Pumi appeared as a variety of the Puli at a Hungarian dog show in 1920. In 1921, Raitsits proposed classifying the Pumi as a separate breed. By 1923, the Pumi appeared as an entirely separate breed from the Puli in the Hungarian show ring. This caused a number of changes to the development of each breed. While the Puli continued to grow in popularity as a fashionable companion dog, the Pumi became fine-tuned as a versatile working dog.

Both breeds still have many similarities and many differences. Pumis are basically sheep-herding terriers with medium-length coats; Pulis are long-haired sheep dogs. The Pumi remained popular in Hungary throughout the 1900s, both as a working dog and as a pet. The breed really started to gain international acceptance in 1966, when the international purebred dog registry, the Federation Cynologique Internacionale (FCI), officially recognized the breed. The Pumi’s exportation to Finland and Sweden in the 1970s and 1980s greatly enhanced its rising popularity. By the 1990s, the Pumi was established throughout Europe, as well as in the United States.

Pumis were recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in January of 1996. They were admitted into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in 2001. The Hungarian Pumi Club of America (HPCA) was formed in 2005, to encourage and promote quality in the breeding of Pumis (the plural of Pumi is also referred to as “Pumik”), to do everything possible to bring their natural qualities to perfection, to protect and advance the interests of the breed, and to encourage sportsman-like competition at dog shows, companion events and performance events where the Pumi is present. Pumis moved into the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class in 2011, classified as part of the Herding Group.

Health Predispositions

The Pumi is regarded by most breeders and veterinarians as a healthy breed, with an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Some have lived to 19, and maybe older. Despite the breed’s general good health, it does have a few potential health predispositions, including hip dysplasia, luxating or floating patellas and primary lens luxation (PLL). Of course, environmental and other factors can contribute to each of these conditions.

Personality

The Pumi is exceptionally cute to look at, but it certainly is no lapdog. These are curious, smart, intense dogs that are extremely possessive, protective and watchful. They have a natural instinct to act as guard dogs and will use their voices liberally in the process. Pumis are reserved around strangers and unfamiliar animals, to the point of being suspicious. They are always on the go and ready to take action at a moment’s notice, especially when they are outside. Inside their own home, Pumis are affectionate, playful and devoted to their family members. They generally play well with children and other family pets, as long as they are properly socialized from an early age. These dogs are not well-suited for apartment life, as they need more open space to stretch their legs and burn off excess energy. The Pumi is not a dog for every family, especially those that are homebodies or who regularly work long hours away from the house. On the other hand, active people who are committed to doing lots of things with their dog every day, such as playing catch or fetch, taking long walks, jogging, biking, playing Frisbee or visiting the dog park, may find the Pumi to be a good choice.

Activity Level

Pumis are extremely active, spunky, high strung little dogs with a tremendous amount of endurance for their moderate size. Since they were bred for herding and hunting, these dogs are extremely athletic and love to run. The ideal living environment for a Pumi includes a loving home, with a medium-to-large securely-fenced yard, and regular daily outings with its owner for exercise, socialization and fresh air. This breed also thrives living on a farm or ranch, although it does not need that much space to stay happy and fit. Pumis enjoy obedience, herding, agility, flyball, freestyle, jogging and chasing tennis balls. They also love taking long, leisurely walks with their owners and having play-dates with canine friends.

Trainability

This is an extremely bright, willing breed that is easy to train and fun to work with. Pumis respond best to motivational, reward-based training techniques, with lots of positive reinforcement and repetition. Many experts consider the Pumi to be one of the easier dogs to train since they are quick-learners and have a strong desire to please. It is important to start socializing Pumis at a young age, because they can become defensive and dominant around unfamiliar dogs and people.

Behavioral Traits

The Pumi has an excellent sense of smell and has been used quite successfully as a bomb-and-drug-sniffing dog, as well as in search-and-rescue operations. Pumis do tend to be noisy and usually bark when they hear any sudden sound. Because of this, they aren’t the best choice for households that live close to their neighbors. Pumis are extremely inquisitive and will investigate nearly every sound, sight or scent that they hear, see or smell. This trait makes them excellent watch and guard dogs. Due to its extremely protective and forward nature, a Pumi would probably spring to attack an unknown intruder that threatened its family or challenged it directly. While Pumis are generally good with children, very young children can pester, poke and annoy them to the point where they may bark, snap or even nip. Pumis are better suited for families with older children, adolescents or no kids at all. Toys are a huge hit with most Pumis, as they love to run and chase things, as well as play fetch and other games. They are nimble and are used in various agility competitions world-wide.

1. It's All in the Family

Until early in the 20th century, the Pumi were thought to be the same breed as two other Hungarian herding dogs, the Puli and the Muli. However, the Pumi ancestry is a bit more scandalous. Well, not really, but …

It is the crossbreeding of the Puli and the German or French terrier that gives the Pumi its square shape and long head. This charming dog also has a curly coat that does not shed.

2. To Bark or Not To Bark

Because the herding instinct is strongly ingrained in its genes, the Pumi is very vocal. Normally used to help guide sheep back to the flock, the Pumi will bark at strangers and intruders (and possibly suspicious looking shadows) to alert their owners.

 It’s important to train your Pumi to let them know when it’s appropriate to bark, otherwise you may have a lot of annoyed neighbors.

3. Small Dog, Big Personality

This is not a quiet lapdog that will just sit there and look pretty. This little dog has lots of energy, enjoys playing Frisbee and running about. In fact, the Pumi is purpose-driven, giving itself its own tasks when it has nothing else to do.

However, this intelligent breed can also be stubborn and tricky -- they’ll work out ways to get around your rules and get away with it. But this doesn’t mean they’re a "problem" dog. They don’t fight and get along with other dogs and even cats.

4. Tricks & Jobs

The Pumi, as we said, is an active dog. So they love to learn tricks and take part in different activities, especially dog shows. The Pumi is great at dancing, obstacle jumping, obedience, agility, and post zig-zagging.

This breed is hardworking, too. There’s even one Pumi in Europe that works as a security guard dog. Other Pumi dogs, meanwhile, show great aptitude for tracking and herding. In fact, most pass herding instinct tests without ever having seen a sheep before.