Mudi

The Mudi is a herding dog from Hungary. It is closely related to the Puli and the Pumi, and was separated from them as a breed in the 1930s. Mudis are still used for herding and also take part in many dog sports.

History

The Mudi was first identified as a breed in 1936 by Dr Dezso Fenyes in Hungary, where it became known as the driver dog. It nearly disappeared soon afterward, because many dogs were killed during World War II.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognised the breed in 1966. The American Kennel Club followed on 5 January 2022, and the Mudi made its first appearance at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in June of that year. The Kennel Club in Britain recognised it in 2025.

Appearance

Adult Mudis stand roughly 38–47 cm (15–19 in) tall and weigh about 8–13 kg (18–29 lb), with males larger than females.

The hair is short, straight and smooth on the head and the front of the legs. Elsewhere it is wavy or slightly curled and 3–7 cm (1–3 in) long. Colors are fawn, black, brown, ash (a blue-gray) and blue merle.

Mudis are born with tails of various lengths, from natural bobtails to full-length tails.

Temperament

The Mudi is a high-energy dog that loves to play. It tends to do well at herding and agility, and competes in obedience, rally, flyball, tracking and herding trials.

Care and health

This is a very active breed. It needs long, brisk daily walks or jogs, and benefits from a large, safe area where it can run free. With proper care, Mudis live 12 to 14 years.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.