Mudi

#30

Wamiz's Top Breed

Mudi

The Mudi is a Hungarian dog which is extremely rare in the UK. It’s a gorgeous breed, though - affectionate, loyal, energetic, playful and unapologetically protective of its family. They were bred as herding dogs and are still commonly used on Hungarian farms today. Due to their herding background, the Mudi is a very vocal breed and excessive barking is a common problem. However, other than that, this is a highly intelligent, loving breed who makes a lovely, trustworthy and obedient family pet.

Key facts about the Mudi

Life expectancy :

7

19

12

14

Temperament :

Intelligent Hunter

Size :

Access the rest of the content after the ad

Loading advertisement ...

Origins and history

The Mudi originates from Hungary. It’s believed they’ve existed since the 1800s, though the first official ‘breed’ was listed in 1936. They’re relatively rare and were at threat of extinction some years ago, but have been repopulated by a dedicated group of breeders.

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)

Section

Section 1 : Sheepdogs

Physical characteristics of the Mudi

  • Mudi
    Mudi

    Adult size

    Female : Between 15 and 17 in

    Male : Between 16 and 19 in

    Weight

    Female : Between 18 and 24 lb

    Male : Between 24 and 29 lb

    Coat colour

    Type of coat

    Eye colour

    Brown
    Odd-eyed

    Description

    This is a small-medium sized dog with a long, straight back and an athletic, sturdy overall appearance. In fact, their body is similar to that of a Border Collie. The Mudi has a wedge-like head with ears which stand upright and alert, a pointy black nose and a strong jaw. The eyes are oval and dark, giving them an undeniably expressive, alert look. Interestingly, Mudi puppies are born with no tail.

    Good to know

    The hair of the Mudi is richer in pigment than that of other breeds. The hairless surfaces are black, the pads and the nails slate gray.

    Temperament

    • 66%

      Affectionate

      Once the Mudi learns to trust its family, it’s a very affectionate and caring dog who loves human companionship more than anything else. Often, this breed becomes particularly attached to one member of the family.

    • 66%

      Playful

      The herding background of the Mudi means they’re always energetic, lively and ready to play. They particularly love playing fetch, frisbee or anything which requires some concentration - they love putting their mind to a task!

    • 33%

      Calm

      They are constantly on the alert and demand a lot of activity.

    • 100%

      Intelligent

      The Mudi is known for its incredible intelligence and is often compared to the Border Collie due to its smart disposition and ability to quickly pick up tricks.

    • 100%

      Hunter

      Although gentle, the Mudi does have a measurable prey drive and will be prone to chasing small animals, livestock and wildlife. 

    • 100%

      Fearful / wary of strangers

      The Mudi is rarely aggressive with strangers but can be standoffish. They normally take some time to warm to new faces but do accustom to them with time.

    • 33%

      Independent

      This breed is dependent on his master, who he needs to express his full potential.

      Behaviour of the Mudi

      • 33%

        Tolerates solitude

        The Mudi is prone to separation anxiety and doesn’t cope well being left alone for longer periods of time.

      • 100%

        Easy to train / obedience

        The Mudi is eager to please and enjoys taking on jobs and completing tasks - yep, they love training! With plenty of rewards and positive reinforcement, this breed is easily trainable. However, it’s essential to start young as once they’re older and more independent, they could become a little stubborn.

      • 100%

        Barking

        If there’s one criticism of the Mudi, it’s how vocal they are. They bark at anything they deem suspicious or out of the ordinary. However, it should be simple to teach them to channel their energy.

      • 66%

        Tendency to run away

        Once trained, the Mudi is normally obedient off the lead and is unlikely to run away. However, we’d still recommend only letting them off the lead in safe areas away from cars and livestock.

      • 66%

        Destructive

        A common problem with this breed is digging - they’d do it all day if they could! They’re more likely to indulge in destructive behaviours if they haven’t been exercised enough or have been kept alone for hours on end.

      • 66%

        Greedy / Gluttony

        Treats are great motivators to positively reinforce good behaviour.

      • 66%

        Guard dog

        The Mudi barks at anything unfamiliar, including strangers. This makes them excellent watchdogs - you can count on this pooch to bark at any mysterious intruders!

      • 66%

        First dog

        They are obedient and gentle, and quite a good choice for first time, active dog owners with the time to train them.

        Access the rest of the content after the ad

        Loading advertisement ...

        Is the Mudi right for you?

        take the test

        Lifestyle

        • 66%

          Mudi in a flat

          This breed can get used to living in an apartment, but is generally active and needs space to roam and thrive.

        • 100%

          Need for exercise / Sporty

          The Mudi has a high need for exercise and may be destructive and hard to handle without it. They’ll need a long, brisk walk or jog every day or, alternatively, multiple short walks. In an ideal world, they’ll also have a garden to run around whilst at home.

        • 66%

          Travelling / easy to transport

          Thanks to their small size, the Mudi is relatively easy to transport.

          Compatibility

          • 100%

            Mudi and cats

            A Mudi can co-exist with a cat, especially if they’ve done so from a young age. However, they like to have plenty of one-on-one time, so it’s best to keep them in a family with only 1 or 2 other pets. An unsocialized Mudi may chase cats.

          • 100%

            Mudi and dogs

            Once the Mudi has acquired canine codes, he can cohabitate with ease.

          • 100%

            Mudi and children

            The Mudi is a very good family dog. He is gentle and patient with children.

          • 33%

            Mudi and the elderly

            This breed may work for a particularly active elderly person, but he is not compatible with a sedentary lifestyle.

            %}

            Price

            They’re pretty hard to come across in the UK. We do not have enough data to set an average price, but you can expect to pay upwards of £1000 for a well-bred dog. Looking after a dog of this size typically costs between £50 to £80 a month, including food, medical/insurance, and incidental expenses.

            Grooming

            The Mudi’s coat naturally sheds dirt, meaning regular baths aren’t necessary. A few times a year (and possibly even less) should suffice - but do remember to rinse them with fresh water after swimming in salt water. It’s best to brush their coat weekly to keep it shiny by spreading oils, as well as minimizing mess from shedding. However, it doesn’t need trimming - yep, easy peasy!

            Shedding

            The Mudi is a light shedder.

            Nutrition of the Mudi

            Ideally, the Mudi should be fed a high-quality dog food which is formulated specifically for active dog breeds. He can eat only once a day, preferably in the evening after plenty of exercise.

            Health of the Mudi

            Life expectancy

            Overall, the Mudi is a healthy bread, with an average life expectancy of 13 years.

            Strong / robust

            The Mudi is a relatively strong, tough dog - after all, they’re first and foremost a working dog. However, they’re not the strongest pooch in the book - they’re very gentle, love a cuddle and shouldn’t live outdoors.

            Withstand heat

            The Mudi is fine in high temperatures.

            Withstand cold

            Their thick, curly coats are fairly weather resistant, meaning the Mudi copes better in cold weather than hot. However, they should always be given a warm and dry place to shelter.

            Tendency to put on weight

            In general, obesity isn’t a problem in this breed. However, senior Mudis may gain weight in the abdominal region - in this case, you may need to adjust their calorie intake.

            Common illnesses

            Leave a comment on this breed
            Connect to comment

            1 comment

            Confirmation of deletion

            Are you sure you want to delete the comment?

            1 comment out of 1