The Mudi dog breed is characterized by being of medium size and its beautiful coat. Its character is lively, affectionate and cheerful. It learns very quickly and is also very brave, it is not afraid of anything or anyone, which makes them an excellent watchdog, apart from a magnificent companion dog. At Petlifey, we explain the characteristics and character of the Mudi.
Character of the Mudi breed
Among the characteristics of the character of the Mudi, it is necessary to highlight its very high and fast learning capacity, which makes it one of the most versatile breeds of shepherd dogs in the world. In fact, its mental speed is comparable to that of the border collie, which, according to some breeders, it gains in value and physical capacity.
The temperament of the Mudi breed is lively, courageous and alert. It shows joy at work, is alert, and has a great need for exercise.
It is not afraid of anything or anyone and does not care about the size or strength of its enemies. Territorial and incorruptible guardian, it defends the cattle, its master and its family with its own life.
This extraordinary quality makes it one of the few shepherd dogs that is regularly used for hunting. Traditionally, the tendency was to separate the hunting breeds from the herding breeds, trying to lessen the predatory instinct that lives at the bottom of all canids.
However, the mudi knows how to distinguish between the animals that are part of its herd and those that it must hunt, especially wild boars, and it knows what force to apply in each of the tasks.
For all these reasons, it stands as an excellent watchdog, and its physical appearance plays in its favour here, since many people trust its small size, without knowing that it harbours immeasurable courage and strength.
- Behaviour: It is hard-working, alert and very brave. It is not afraid of anything, regardless of the size or strength of the enemy. With its master it is affectionate but sometimes stubborn or noisy.
- Energy: High level. You need to do intense exercise: runs, walks or sports activities.
- Adaptability: Medium. It does not adapt well to urban or crowded environments, as it is noisy and requires large workouts.
- Sociability: Medium. Affectionate and kind to the family, it shows a sullen and suspicious attitude towards strangers, with whom it is very barking and noisy.
- Health: Good. It does not suffer from serious illnesses and always shows a jovial and active attitude
- Longevity: High. They usually live between 12 and 15 years in good health.
- Utility: Very versatile. It is basically a shepherd and guard dog, but it also works perfectly as a companion dog, when hunting wild boar, for drug detection or in sports activities such as agility , flyball or the ring.
- Use: Pasture, guard and company
Is it a good family dog?
Surprisingly, when the mudi is with the family, it transforms into an outstanding companion animal. It is affectionate, friendly and is always careful with the weakest in the house.
Given its traditional selection and its way of working in the field, it tends to look for a reference within the family, a person whom it considers its only and true master, even though it continues to give its affection to everyone else.
On the contrary, its vigilant nature leads them to be very sullen and suspicious of strangers, which is why it is necessary to carry out an intense work of socialization with them since it is a puppy.
In addition, the specimens of this breed are used to using their voice at work, so the tendency to be barking and noisy becomes more than usual. Also from an early age you should try to correct this habit of barking unnecessarily.
Can you live in an apartment?
This breed is not the best choice for families living in the city or in a highly populated residential area, as its noisy character can be a source of conflict with neighbors.
In addition, you need to do great workouts, walks, runs, and any other activity that physically fulfills you and contributes to giving you an essential mental balance.
The great vitality of this breed means that urban environments are not its best habitat. You absolutely need to enjoy free space to run and exercise all your muscles.
Characteristics of the Mudi breed
The general appearance of the dog of the mudi breed is medium in size and square in structure, the head is wedge-shaped. The back line slopes noticeably backwards.
How is the Mudi physically?
Body
The mudi is a breed of dog with an agile, muscular body and a square structure. The depth of the chest is slightly less than half the height at the withers. The entire body is covered in dense, wavy or curly fur that is very shiny.
It has feet with elastic plantar pads, and hard, slate grey nails, the feet of the mudi are round and have the toes together.
The tail is inserted at mid-height, at rest it hangs down, with the final third pulled up almost to the horizontal, but in attention or during lively movement the dog carries it in the shape of a sickle above the upper line.
The tail is profusely covered with hair and on its underside this hair can reach a length of between 10 and 12 cm. There are some specimens that are born without a tail, and others are cut off, but keeping at least 2 or 3 well visible vertebrae.
Head
Without a doubt, the most attractive part of this dog is the head, which is wedge-shaped and tapers slightly towards the nose. It gives them the image of an alert animal, always energetic and cheerful, without any hint of fear or aggressiveness.
The eyes denote a look that is challenging, since they are dark, narrow and with the internal and external corners somewhat pointed. In the blue copies they can be gazes.
Its ears are set high and wide apart, they are erect and triangular, with abundant hair. The dog can move and rotate them independently, as if they were a radar
Fur
It has short, straight and smooth hair on the head and also on the front of the limbs. On the rest of the body, the coat shows strong undulations or is softly curly, dense, always shiny, and between 3 and 7 cm long. It reaches its maximum length on the back of the forearm and thigh, where it forms noticeable feathers.
Colour
The mudi can have different colors: bay, black, blackbird blue (dotted with black, striped, brindle or spotted on a bluish grey background either light or dark), ashy colors, brown or white.
Sometimes it is not strange to find specimens of this breed with small white spots scattered throughout their bodies. This particularity is fully accepted in the breed standard.
Mudi breed standard
- Origin: Hungary.
- Size: Medium.
- Height at the withers: between 41 and 47 cm for males and between 38 and 44 for females.
- Weight: between 11 and 13 kg for males and between 8 and 11 kg for females.
- Head: Medium-sized and wedge-shaped, which gives the dog the appearance of an alert and intelligent animal. It tapers towards the nose, which is narrow, rounded and black in color.
- Skull: It is domed, like the forehead.
- Nose-frontal depression (stop): It is gently marked.
- Muzzle: It has a straight nose and moderate power.
- Nose: It is narrow, rounded and with moderately open windows. In the specimens of black, white, bay and blue blackbird the nose is always black, but in the other varieties of color, it harmonizes with the tone of the coat. For example, the truffle in the brown variety is brown, and in the bluish-grey, bluish-grey.
- Jaws: The bite is scissor, regular and complete in accordance with the dog’s dental formula.
- Eyes: Narrow, with slightly pointed corners and set somewhat obliquely, they have a somewhat challenging look. They usually appear in dark color, but in the blue blackbird specimens they can be gazeos (white or blue). The edges of the eyelids are usually well pigmented.
- Ears: Erect and set high, presented as an inverted “V”. They are covered with abundant hair. The movement of the ears in response to stimuli is very lively and the dog can turn them independently of each other, as if they were radars.
- Neck: Set somewhat high, it is of medium length, slightly arched and very muscular. Without dewlap and without a marked rump, in males there can sometimes be a small, very underdeveloped mane.
- Body: It is muscular and the upper line draws a clear fall towards the rump. Back: It is straight and short.
- Chest: The front part of the thorax is slightly arched and the ribs are somewhat broad and rather flat.
- Tail: Well covered with hair and medium set, at rest it hangs down, but in movement it rises on the rump in the shape of a sickle. There are anurans and others with docked tail.
- Forelimbs: The shoulder blade is moderately oblique and very muscular. The sill is rounded and the tip of the sternum barely protrudes. Forearms and arms: Of moderate length, they form an angle of 45 ° with the horizontal.
- Hind limbs: They are slightly leaning back.
- Legs: They are long and quite muscular.
- Hocks: They are short and steep.
- Feet: Round, with the toes close together, with elastic pads and hard slate gray nails.
- Movement: Walks with short, very characteristic steps of the breed.
- Skin: It is firm and does not present wrinkles.
- Coat: The coat is dense, shiny and with marked undulations, or slightly curly, although on the head and the front of the extremities it is short, straight and smooth.
- Historical origin: The breed emerged in Hungary at the end of the 19th century from crosses between pulis and spitz-type dogs.
- FCI Classification: FCI No. 238. Group 1 – Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs). Section 1 – Sheepdogs.
Education and training of the Mudi breed
A well-trained Mudi is a delightful animal, capable of performing any type of job to perfection. In addition to hunting and caring for cattle, it competes at a high level in disciplines such as agility , flyball and even in ring competitions.
However, for that education and training to be successful, your master or instructor must exercise its function with a firm hand, guiding them with authority and justice, since it can show signs of stubbornness.
The Mudi can be considered a rare and rare breed, despite the fact that its owners find it incomparable and value its virtues far above any of its disadvantages.
Feeding and caring for the Mudi
The feeding of the mudi dog must be adapted to its high energy demand and contain enough energy intake to maintain such a high rate of activity.
Its coat, short-haired and with a little abundant shedding, does not need much care. It is enough to brush it once a week and bathe it only when the animal is dirty .
This eminently working dog is increasingly appreciated to live indoors as a companion dog, a function that, on the other hand, it fulfills perfectly thanks to its docile, alert and dedicated temperament. Thus, the mudi is an ideal choice for many families.
Origin of the Mudi breed
Originated at the end of the 19th century in Hungary from the cross between pulis and spitz-type dogs, the mudi began as a shepherd dog, basically a driver of sheep and cattle. However, due to its tenacity and value, it has also been used in hunting so dangerous as wild boar.
It is one of the less popular Hungarian breeds, due in part to its physical appearance, which is far less flashy and spectacular than that of its compatriots, but also to its less adaptability to everyday modern life.
However, the fact of having a shorter coat than the other Hungarian breeds and, therefore, easier to maintain, is gradually opening many doors for it as a companion dog.