Breed library

Pumi

Also known as Hungarian herding terrier.

Pumi photograph.
Pumi 2.jpg - Steffen Heinz (Caronna). CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pumi_2.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Pumi (in Hungarian, the plural form is pumik) is a medium-small breed of sheep dog from Hungary. They are capable herding dogs, able to gather and work close to farm stock, particularly sheep, to keep them under control. Pumis have an extended, tapered muzzle with prominent ears, and a tail curled over their back, and are sometimes described as having a whimsical expression. The double coat (black, white, grey, or fawn) has a mix of wavy and curly hair. The Pumi is considered to have arisen from the cross-breeding of Hungarian Puli with French and German herding dogs from the 17th century onwards. The international breed standard was approved in 1935. The Pumi became an officially recognised breed in the US in 2011 and in the UK in 2015. There are over 2,000 Pumis registered in Hungary, with notable populations in Finland and Sweden and small but growing numbers of registrations in the US, UK and Germany.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: HungaryBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The breed was first mentioned by name in 1815 but it was regarded by many as a regional variation of the Puli.
  • In 1921, the breed was recognised as a distinct breed when Emil Raitsitz distinguished the Pumi from the Puli by writing a separate breed standard for the Pumi.
  • The breed evolved spontaneously and was not the result of planned breeding.
  • Pulis were cross-bred with German Pomeranians and Spitzes, French Briards, and several varieties of terriers during the 17th and 18th century.
  • In the 18th century, many Merino sheep were imported to Hungary, along with small Pyrenean Mountain Dogs that probably contributed to development of the Pumi producing dogs with a shorter and curlier coat.

Size and appearance

Pumis are medium-sized dogs that can be in varying shades of grey, white, or fawn (known as 'fako' in Hungary). Grey Pumis are the most common, born black, and ranging from almost black to light grey in adulthood. Puppies usually start greying at six to eight weeks old and the shade progressively lightens. The final shade is predicted by the colour of the parents. Other accepted colours are black, white, and cream to red with a darker mask, known as fawn with mask. An analysis of 1023 Pumi puppies carried out in 2009 by the University of Debrecen found that 56% were born black turning grey, 14% were black, 13% white, 11% grey, and 4% are fawn-coloured. Brown, mottled or blue-merle-coloured puppies are born occasionally.

  • Body mass reference: 10 - 11 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 10 - 11 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 11 kgBreed reference body mass. female, maximum.
  • Body mass reference: 10 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. female, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: 12 kg or moreBreed reference body mass. male, minimum.
  • Body mass reference: Up to 13 kgBreed reference body mass. male, maximum.
  • Height reference: 40 - 42 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 40 - 42 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 40 cm or moreBreed reference height. female, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 42 cmBreed reference height. female, maximum.
  • Height reference: 43 - 45 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 43 - 45 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 43 cm or moreBreed reference height. male, minimum.
  • Height reference: Up to 45 cmBreed reference height. male, maximum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: shaggy
  • Coat texture: wavy
  • Coat texture: curly
  • Height category: medium
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

The Pumi is an alert, expressive, bold, and somewhat vocal breed. They can be very protective of their own families. Early socialisation is important. Pumis are considered intelligent and bark easily, but are easy to train. As a herding dog, the Pumi is intelligent and alert, and should be kept busy with activities such as herding, dog agility and trick and obedience training, and given plenty of exercise. It retains a playful temperament into adulthood and this, together with its tufted ears, gives its Hungarian nickname, "the clown".

Exercise and activities

The Pumi was originally used as a herding dog and most working sheepdogs in Hungary are Pumis. However, today many are used for dog agility, dog dancing, and obedience. They also can be trained for detection, search and rescue, and other purposes. Since the Pumi was originally used for herding, they are eligible to compete in herding events; appropriate instinct and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive tests. Pumis that exhibit basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in trials. Pumis have also been used for hunting wild boar.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: medium
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: shaggy
  • Coat texture: wavy
  • Coat texture: curly

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

This breed emerged in the 17th-18th Century as a descendent from the Puli, German Spitz, French Briard and some type of terrier. The breed was first mentioned by name in 1815 but it was regarded by many as a regional variation of the Puli. In 1921, the breed was recognised as a distinct breed when Emil Raitsitz distinguished the Pumi from the Puli by writing a separate breed standard for the Pumi. The breed evolved spontaneously and was not the result of planned breeding. Pulis were cross-bred with German Pomeranians and Spitzes, French Briards, and several varieties of terriers during the 17th and 18th century. In the 18th century, many Merino sheep were imported to Hungary, along with small Pyrenean Mountain Dogs that probably contributed to development of the Pumi producing dogs with a shorter and curlier coat. The first known drawing of a Pumi is from 1815.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Pumi dog - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Pumi dog, revision 1376672893. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pumi_dog&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Pumi 2.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Pumi 2.jpg - Steffen Heinz (Caronna). CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pumi_2.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.