Pumi

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
20 min/day
Training
Puppy school only
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Alone with support
Grooming
Frequent
Barking preference
Low
Personality
Independent

History

The Pumi originated in the 17th or 18th century, when shepherding Terriers were brought to Hungary from Germany and France. These dogs mixed with the Puli and the result was a Terrier-type herding dog with a medium long coat (easier to groom than the Puli), elongated muzzle, prick ears, high set tail broadly curving over the croup and a Terrier nature and habit. The Pumi in comparison to the Puli is much younger in its origins and was ﬁrst regarded as an individual breed around 1920.

Characteristics & Temperament

The Pumi is a vigorous and sturdy sheepdog and its Terrier nature makes the breed a successful ratter and hunting dog. The Pumi is aﬀectionate with its master and has a cheerful disposition. It can be shy around strangers, a characteristic which makes it a good watchdog. The Pumi is essentially an outdoor dog and will be at its best living on acreage or a farm.

Appearance

The Pumi is a middle-sized, Terrier-like dog, with a long, thick, curly coat, which does not form into cords like the Puli. The tail has a distinctive curl and is carried high; this is complemented by a similar tendency in the ears. Coat colours are black, all shades of grey and reddish brown, but always one solid colour.

Health

The Pumi is a healthy breed and reputable breeders will ensure breeding stock have current eye certiﬁcates and undergo screening for hereditary diseases, such as Hip Dysplasia. For both the Puli and Pumi, advances in DNA testing will enable breeders to be better informed about the genetic health of their breeding stock.

Suitability

The Pumi needs a lot of exercise and space and, being very vocal, may disturb neighbours if living in an urban environment. The Pumi was ﬁrst developed for driving cattle and as a watchdog. In recent times it has become popular as a companion dog and needs to be kept busy with sporting activities such as Agility classes.

Maintenance

The Pumi’s coat is easy to groom; occasional combing and brushing will keep it looking good and will need occasional trimming. The web type feet of the Pumi are susceptible to burrs or grass seeds and should be checked frequently. Showing a Pumi requires special grooming which is achieved by hand stripping the coat; smaller corrections around the head and legs can be achieved by scissoring, however, preparing the entire coat with just a pair of scissors is not desirable.

Words: Royson Valore
Image: Terry Jacobson Photography

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Pumi you may have think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Pumi and its needs and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 14 May 2010)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

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.

Temperament

This rather lively herding dog has a restless temperament. Extremely bold, 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 are untypical of the breed.

Physical Standards

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 forechest, 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 forechest 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)BlackFawn. 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.WhiteThe coat colour must always be intense and solid.
Size	HeightDogs: 41 to 47 cm; Ideal height: 43 to 45 cm.Bitches: 38 to 44 cm; Ideal height: 40 to 42 cm.WeightDogs: 10 to 15 kg; Ideal weight: 12 to 13 kg.Bitches: 8 to 13 kg; Ideal weight: 10 to 11 kg.Important ProportionsThe 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 exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.DISQUALIFYING FAULTSRound, Puli-like head. Foreface shorter than 40% of the total length of the headStrongly 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.

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

History

The Pumi came into being during the 17th to the 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 at the beginning of the 20th century.