Pumi
Utility

Group:

Working

Size:

medium

Lifespan:

12-14 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

medium

Trainability:

high

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

very high

Area of Origin:

Hungary

Date of Origin:

17th & 18th centuries

Other Names:

Hungarian Pumi

Original Function:

Cattle & sheep herding

History

The Pumi, developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, was bred from prick-ear sheepdogs imported from France and Germany and crossed with the Puli. For many years, the Pumi and the Puli were not considered separate breeds. It was not until around 1920 that the Pumi was officially recognized as a breed separate from the Puli and the standard was written for the breed. The Pumi is considered the town dog in Hungary, while the Puli remains on the high plains.

Temperament

his high-spirited, energetic dog is remarkably daring. Suspicious of strangers, he barks at even the most innocent sound. This is an intelligent breed that is not difficult to train. They are smart enough to grasp what you want quickly. It is affectionate with its master and when at home surrounded by familiar faces, it is a happy, cheerful fellow. Shy and rather mistrustful of strangers. A superb watchdog, the Pumi uses its voice liberally and consistently. If you are surrounded by neighbours where you live, it is sensible to teach the dog that after a couple of barks it must be quiet. A well brought up and socialized Pumi will get along with children as long as they do not pester it. This breed can be dog-aggressive and has a tendency to wander.

Upkeep

The coat of the Pumi is easy to groom. The braided, medium-length coat does not mat easily. An occasional combing and brushing will keep it looking nice. This breed needs a lot if exercise. They are outdoor dogs and will be at its best living on a farm where it will find enough work to do for itself, such as guarding the entrance and keeping the livestock together. They can sleep and live outdoors but also like to be near their family and master. If it is to live in an urban environment then you must find replacement activities to keep it occupied. The Pumi will enjoy playing catch, chasing Frisbees, and will excel in agility skills classes.

Official Breed Standard

F.C.I. Standard No 56 dated 5th July 1966

BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The Pumi came into being during the 17th to 18th century in Hungary by crossbreeding the primitive Puli with imported German and French dogs of Terrier type with prick ears. It has been recognised as an independent breed since the beginning of the 20th century.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Pumi is a cheerful, medium sized herding dog of Terrier type. His Terrier character is most obvious in his head. The foreface is elongated and the upper third of the otherwise prick ears is bending forward. The conformation is square. Because of his constant alertness, his neck carriage is higher than normal. The wavy coat of medium length forms curls. The Pumi can have various colours but must always be of one solid colour.

CHARACTERISTICS
The Pumi is a herding dog of Terrier type. Also suitable for herding larger types of animals. His scenting ability is well developed. Has excellently proved his worth when combating wild beasts of prey or rodents. Excellent house pet and can definitely be kept indoors. Needs plenty of exercise. Is an excellent companion and sporting dog.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
his rather lively herding dog has a restless temperament. Extremely bold and a little suspicious towards strangers. As a result of his sensible behaviour, his liveliness and his expressiveness, he attracts attention always and everywhere. The Pumi is rather noisy. His whole appearance embodies thirst for action and because of his restlessness and activity, all parts of his body are constantly on the move. He is always active and ready for duty. A shy or phlegmatic behaviour is untypical of the breed.

HEAD AND SKULL
The head is relatively long and narrow. The shape of the head is characterised by the elongated muzzle. The top of the head is relatively broad and domed. The long forehead is only slightly domed and flat seen from the side. The superciliary ridges are moderately developed. The stop is barely perceptible, the forehead running an almost straight line between the eyebrows towards the bridge of the nose. The nose is narrow and bluntly cut-off. Always black in all coat colours. The bridge of the nose is straight. The elongated facial region tapers towards the nose but is never pointed. The cheeks are well muscled. The lips are tight fitting to the teeth and dark pigmented.

EYES
Set moderately wide apart and slightly oblique. Medium sized, oval, dark brown slit-eyes. The expression is lively and intelligent. The eyelids are tight and close fitting to the eyeballs and well pigmented.

EARS
The upright ears are set on high, the upper third of the ears bending forward. The medium sized, even ears show a reverse V- shape. They show alert reactions to all stimulations.

MOUTH
Strong jaws. The strong, well-developed teeth are white. A regular, complete scissor bite according to the dentition formula.

NECK
Of medium length, a little arched, well muscled and forming an angle of 50 to 55 degrees to the horizontal. The skin at the throat is tight, dry and without folds.

FOREQUARTERS
The front legs, placed under the fore-chest, support the body like pillars. They are vertical, parallel and not too wide apart. The shoulder blade is long and a little steep. The angle to the horizontal is 55 degrees. The points of the shoulder blades are placed vertically above the deepest point of the brisket. The upper arm is short and well muscled. The shoulder blade and the upper arm form an angle of 100 to 110 degrees. The elbows are close fitting to the body. The forearm is long and gaunt and the pastern is steep.

BODY
The Pumi has well-developed muscles that are dry, exceptionally taut and tough. The breed is particularly lean and of harmonious appearance. The topline is straight and the withers pronounced, long and sloping towards the rear. The back is short, straight and taut. The loins are short, firmly coupled and straight. The croup is short, slightly sloping and of medium length. The fore-chest is straight, not broad and rather deep. The ribs are slightly arched and rather flat. The brisket is deep, long and reaches to the elbow. The belly is tight and tucked up towards the rear.

HINDQUARTERS
The hind legs are very strong. Seen from the side, they are somewhat extended beyond the rear. Seen from behind, the legs are parallel, straight, standing neither too narrow nor too wide apart. The upper thigh is muscular, long and sloping to the rear. The stifle is on the same level as the elbows. The lower thigh is long and dry. The hock is lean with clean outlines and the metatarsus is short and steep.

FEET
The forefeet are rounded cat feet with well-knit toes. The pads are springy. The nails are strong, black or slate grey. The hind feet are like the forefeet. Dewclaws are not desired.

TAIL
The high set tail forms a wide circle above the croup. The hair on the underside of the tail is 7 to 12 cm long, wiry, standing apart and with little undercoat. Where tail docking is permitted the tail should preferably docked to two thirds of its length. Elsewhere a natural stumpy tail or docked tail is not permitted.

GAIT/MOVEMENT
Quite lively and spirited. The stride is short, energetic, dynamic and harmonious. The posture is bold and proud. The trot is light-footed and harmonious. The dog puts his hind feet exactly into the footprints of the forefeet.

COAT
The skin is without folds and strongly pigmented. The areas of bare skin are black or slate grey.

The wavy, curly, coat forms tufts and is never smooth or corded. The coat has an average length of 4 to 7 cm growing to smaller or larger tufts. It is elastic, shaggy and dense. It consists of a strong, but not coarse, topcoat and a soft undercoat. The dense, wiry protective hairs of medium length on the ears grow upwards. The eyes and the foreface are free of long hair. The desired coat preparation is achieved by hand trimming. Smaller corrections, done with scissors on head and legs, are possible. Preparing the entire coat with scissors is not desirable.

COLOUR

• Grey in various shades (normally, the colour at birth is black, turning grey with time)
• Black
• Fawn. Primary colours: red, yellow, cream (a trace of black or grey and a distinct mask are desirable)
• A white mark on the chest less than 3 cm in diameter and/or a white line on the toes are not faulty.
• White

SIZE AND WEIGHT

Height
Dogs: 41 to 47 cm; Ideal height: 43 to 45 cm.
Bitches: 38 to 44 cm; Ideal height: 40 to 42 cm.

Weight
Dogs: 10 to 15 kg; Ideal weight: 12 to 13 kg.
Bitches: 8 to 13 kg; Ideal weight: 10 to 11 kg.

Important Proportions

• The body length is equal to the height at the withers.
• The depth of the brisket is slightly less than half of the height at the withers.
• The length of the muzzle is slightly less than half of the total length of the head.
• The length of the neck is equal to the length of the head and is 45% of the height at the withers.

FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in the exact proportions to its degree.

VERY SERIOUS FAULTS

• Round, Puli-like head. Foreface shorter than 40% of the total length of the head
• Strongly defined stop.
• One or more missing teeth (incisors, canines, premolars 2-4, molars 1-2). More than 2 missing PM1. The M3 are disregarded.
• Over or undershot mouth, wry mouth.
• Completely upright prick ears. Ears pendant from base or carried unevenly.
• Short smooth coat. Long, very matted, sticking out or dull coat.
• Chocolate coloured or multi coloured coat. All uniform, clearly defined patches (i.e. tan markings, mantle forming marking).
• Size deviating from the height limits given by the standard.

NB:
Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.