Pumi
Dogs
Pumi
Pumi |
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Alternative names |
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Country of origin |
Hungary |
Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 1 Section 1 #56 |
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AKC: |
FSS |
ANKC: |
Group 5 (Working dogs) |
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UKC: |
Herding dog breeds |
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Notes |
The AKC Foundation Stock Service is for beeds working towards
full recognition |
The Pumi is a medium-small
terrier-type
breed of
dog. It is a
sheep dog
from Hungary.
The plural of Pumi is Pumik.
Appearance
Most Pumi are gray, and almost any shade of gray is accepted in the show
ring. Gray Pumi are born black but puppies usually start graying at the age of 6
to 8 weeks, and the shade gradually lightens. The final shade can be predicted
by the color of the parents. Other accepted colors are black, white, and
maszkos fakó, which is yellow-brown with a darker mask. This color is known
as sable with mask in other breeds, such as the
Tervueren.
The graying often also affects the maszkos fakó Pumi puppies, and the adults are
often just slightly shaded. Other colors are possible, but not accepted for
show dogs.
Black and tan, brown, blue, and wolf-colored puppies are born occasionally.
The coat is curly, thick, and of medium length, approximately 7
cm
long and consisting of a harsh
topcoat
and soft
undercoat. The coat is maintained by combing every few weeks, and trimming
every 2 to 4 months. The coat grows constantly (similar to that of the
Poodle) and, if
grooming is not maintaind, the coat may start matting.
The Pumi trademark is its ears, which are always alert and very lively. Ears
are high-set and the tip bends down. Ears are covered with longer hair than the
rest of the body.
The Pumi is a light-bodied, square dog that looks slightly larger than it is
because of the thick coat. The Pumi has a long, narrow head. The
muzzle is 45%
of the length of the head, which is of equal length to the neck. The
stop is barely
noticeable, and the skull is flat when seen from the side. The eyes are small,
dark, and slightly oblique. Movements are lively and energetic, as is the Pumi
itself.
Male Pumi stand 41 to 47
cm
at the withers
and weigh 10 to 15 kg;
bitches are 38 to
44cm and weigh 8 to 13 kg.
Temperament
The Pumi can be very protective of its own family, and often slightly
reserved toward strangers, so
socialization must begin early. The Pumi is a lively and active breed. It is
intelligent but barks easily. Pumi are moderately easy to train, as it is easy
to motivate using toys or food.
Health
Pumik are a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but Pumik
have been known to live up to 17 years. Known medical problems are
patella luxation and canine
hip
dysplasia.
The most extensive health records of the breed can be found from
Finland and
Sweden, and
around 80% of the Pumik born there have healthy hips.
Activities
The Pumi was originally used as a
herding
dog, but now, most of them are used for other purposes such as
dog
agility,
dog dancing, and
obedience, but also can be trained for
detection,
search and rescue, and other purposes. Pumi have been used also for hunting
wild boar.
History
The Pumi has been used as a "general farm dog", shepherding not only
sheep but also
cows and
pigs, and also for
catching small
rodents. It originated in the 17th or 18th century, when shepherding
terriers were
brought to Hungary from
Germany and
France. These
terrier-type dogs mixed with the Puli-type dogs that were in Hungary, and the
result was a terrier-type herding dog. As a
working
dog, it was quite freely bred until the 1970s, and other Hungarian dogs such
as the Puli and
Mudi were used for
breeding. Until recently there has been a special B-registry for work bred Pumi.
The parentage of these dogs are unknown, but if they meet the breed standard,
they can be given a "B-pedigree".
Pumi received
FCI recognition in
1966. The breed was quite unknown outside Hungary until the 1970s. In
1973, the first
Pumik were exported to Finland, and in
1985 to
Sweden. Later,
Pumik were exported also to Germany,
Netherlands,
Italy, and in the 1990s to the USA.
Miscellaneous
The Pumi is relatively unknown outside Hungary, but in Sweden and Finland
around 100 Pumik are registered every year. In both countries, the Pumi is a
very popular agility dog, and pumik are seen almost every year in the
Championship competition. In
Scandinavia, the Pumi is used for obedience and dog dancing competitions.
In 2004 Pumi was accepted to the
American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service program, and the Hungarian
Pumi Club of America was founded.
References
External links
Hungarian Pumi Club of America
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