Mudi

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Mudi Profile

The Mudi is a very rare breed. Belonging to the Hungarian herding family, the Mudi is a small to medium sized dog that comes in solid black, white, fawn, ash, brown, black merle or pied colors. They have slightly wavy to curly medium length fur, and triangular point ears that are erect. Mudik (plural) have dark round eyes and a dedicated working disposition. They are hard workers and are at home in the country. They enjoy hunting vermin around the farm, herding, and hunting boar in their spare time. An all around farm dog, the Mudi is courageous and versatile when there is a need for a change. They are highly trainable, being obedient yet able to work on their at the same time. Mudik are brave, intelligent and lively. They love to play and are very loyal and affectionate to their owners. Active and outdoorsy, the Mudi is an amazing rare breed that will satisfy any farmer or individual living in the country or suburbs.

Other Names: Hajtokutya, Mudik (plural), Hungarian Mudi, Canis Ovilis Fenyesi

Type: Herding Dog

Height:14 - 20 inches.
Weight:18 - 29 lbs.

Colors: Most often comes in solid black, but can really come in all different colors. They have been known to be white, fawn, red, gray, brown, ash, red merle, yellow, and very rarely blue.
Coat: Short hair on the head and the fronts of the legs, about 2 inches in length on the rest of the body. It is coarse, bristly, thick, wavy and/or curly. It sheds.

Temperament: Mudik are lively, active and intelligent. They are wonderful herders of obstinate cattle, despite their small size. They are very playful, affectionate and loyal toward their owners. The Mudi is very versatile and adaptable. They are more of a one-person dog, but get along well with children and other pets as long as they are socialized. Some may not get along as well with other dogs, mostly males. They are very trainable, independent, and can do their work without the help of their owners. They are obedient, love to bark, and have an extremely strong work drive, such as that of a Border Collie. They greatly enjoy outdoor activities, and excel in games such as Frisbee or Fly-ball. They are brave and courageous when the need be, and love to be around family.
With Children: Yes, good with children and LOVES to play.
With Pets: Yes, good with most pets if socialized. Some can be dog aggressive.
Special Skills: Watchdog, herder and family pet.

Watch-dog: Very High. Mudik love to bark at everything, and were bred so that they could alert other dogs and their owner of anything that changes. Some have been trained when to bark.
Guard-dog: Medium. Although once used for this purpose and shy or wary of strangers, Mudik generally will warm up to strangers if they are received kindly by their masters.

Mudi Care and Exercise: The Mudi actually needs a fair amount of exercise to stay in shape, and this should be given through a job. If no jobs are available to the dog, Mudik love to play and will do so to exercise. Also daily walks are a good source of exercise as well. They are also relatively low maintenance in taking care of their coat. They shed lightly to moderately, and should be brushed once a week to keep out lose hairs and the coat looking healthy.
Training: Training should begin when they are young. With only 100 years of domestication in their history, streaks of shyness may occur and positive reinforcement is always the better option. These dogs can be sensitive, and think of their owners as more of a friend than a master, therefore they will learn better when treated positively and fairly. This breed needs to feel that they can trust the person who is training them.
Learning Rate:High. Obedience - High, yet they do not need the assistance of a person to do specific jobs. Problem Solving - High.

Activity: High.
Special Needs: Exercise and socialization.
Living Environment: Mudik are very outdoorsy dogs, but can survive well in a suburban area. They are barkers, however, and a potential owner should be warned that they like to bark at just about anything. Originally this was meant so that they could alert other, bigger dogs to anything unusual, but the barking gene has certainly made its way into the regular housedog. Mudik require considerable exercise, and therefore should be given a yard to play and daily walks, or a job to do, such as herding. The best owner for this breed would be an active, outdoorsy person living in the country or suburbs.

Mudi Health Issues: Hip dysplasia and possible eye problems. This breed is not known to have many health defects and to be a pretty healthy breed, probably due to its small numbers.

Life Span: 12 - 14 years, although it is not rare to have one live longer than 14 years.
Litter Size:5 - 10 puppies.

Country of Origin: Hungary
Mudi History: The Mudi is one of the three working herding dogs of Hungary, the others being the Puli and Pumi. It has been used for centuries for guarding, herding and doing other farm tasks in its native Hungary. In fact, it is rarely seen outside of its native Hungary, and is rare even in their home country. It is thought that only a few thousand exist worldwide. Originally the Mudi, Puli and Pumi were thought to be of the same breed as the Puli and Pumi and were classified as such. But in the 1930s it was reclassified and separated from the other breeds. Not much is known about the Mudik, except that it was used as a guard, herder and all around farm dog. They have not yet been recognized by the AKC, but are on the Foundation Stock Service list, applying for recognition. They have rarely been seen in European dog shows, and are even rarer in the U.S. and Canada.

First Registered by the AKC: FSS (Foundation Stock Service - Not yet eligible for the AKC)
AKC Group: Herding
Class: Herding
Registries: FCI (Group 1), UKC (Herding), CKC (Miscellaneous)

Mudis

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