AKC Dog Breeds: Mudi

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Foundation Stock Service® Breed
Height: 14-20 inches   Weight: 18-29 pounds  
Color:
Red, brown, black, white, gray, and yellow. May have merle markings

The Mudi was discovered as a local Hungarian herding dog type with strong existing breed characteristics.  The Mudi is truly a rare dog. The few owners who employ and favor the Mudi find him incomparable. His seemingly unending list of talents combined with his pleasant disposition makes him a top dog among canines. Highly intelligent, they can learn as quickly as Border Collies or even faster. The Mudi originated in Hungary and is a relatively new breed. They are noted for their versatility as sheep herder, flock guardian, guard dog, cattle herder, hunter, and companion. Mudi's are also utilized as rescue dogs. This breed is exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain.

General Appearance
A medium sized breed, the Mudi is brave, agile, and alert. They are robust, flexible, and reliable. The most distinctive characteristic of this breed is the head. Mudi's possess an expression of being attentive, intelligent, and dynamic. The Mudi has a wedge-shaped head with a pointed nose. The jaws are muscular with a scissors bite. The skull is convex with a well-marked stop. The eyes are oval and dark brown. The ears are erect in the shape of an upside-down "V". It has a deep thorax. It is not unusual for the puppies to be born without a tail. The back is straight and rather long. The hind legs are surprisingly wide set. The hair on the muzzle is short, becoming bristly toward the ears. Its dense, wavy to curly coat is about 2 inches (5 cm.) long with glossy hair that forms tufts and easy to care for. Coat colors include black, white, red, brown, gray, bread-pale, and fallow. There is also a very rare color called "cifra" (blue-merle) which is dark or light gray and mixed with a black, spotted, striped, stained, marbly color.

Temperament

Extremely powerful and courageous, the Mudi is afraid of nothing, not even wild boar, which it can overpower quickly. It makes a good guard dog. It is very loving and gentle in the family and has therefore gained appreciation as a companion dog that, if the need arises, will defend both property and person. Within the family it also has a tendency to bond with one particular person. Mudi are well suited to the house and it’s advised that the Mudi be treated as a member of the family and not be relegated to living in the backyard. He likes to be close to his people and is generally quiet and low-energy in the house.  The Mudi does not fare as well in apartments or community housing situations only due to his tendency to bark. However, a Mudi taught to “quiet” on command should have no problems adapting to apartment living. Note, some animals can be difficult to housebreak and this should be taken into consideration when bringing a Mudi into the home. However statistics prove housebreaking is not a problem in most cases. Mudis can be wary of strangers. Socialize them well preferably at a young age. Some will not come up to a stranger until it sees that the person is friendly and doesn't want to hurt it. They are not aggressive when they meet someone they do not know; they just need to get accustomed to them. They will do okay with children.  The Mudi breed is highly intelligent, obedient, and independent. They respond best to firmness, fairness, and consistency. The Mudi excels in agility, security, narcotics dog, and rescue.

Grooming
The Mudi has an easy-to-care for, wash-and-wear coat. With short hair on the head and front of the legs, and wavy-to-curly hair over the rest of the body, a good (and quick) brushing about once a week or so is all this dog needs for grooming. The Mudi is a light-to-average shedder. Bathing should be done when necessary.

Health Problems and Life Expectancy

Though the average Mudi will live to be 12-to-14 years old, it’s not unheard of for some animals to live much longer. This is likely due to their remarkable good health. Though it is rare, there have been instances of hip dysplasia; puppy buyers should ensure the potential parents of their new puppy have been tested and cleared of this disease as well as any eye problems.

Activity Level

Mudi are very energetic dogs. Though they are calm and relaxed in the house, once outside they appreciate a good run. Not surprisingly, Mudi excel at fly ball, obedience, herding, and Frisbee. Mudi are quite playful and can be mischievous, particularly when it comes to digging—they are quite the little engineers. They also are noted for their extraordinary jumping ability. A well-exercised Mudi is a Mudi who tends not to find trouble elsewhere either by jumping over, or digging under, any fences keeping him from the greener other side.





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