The character of the Pumi dog is brave, rustic and always ready to follow the orders of its master. Due to its medium size it can be misleading, but you have to know that behind this look of a sweet teddy bear hides an intelligent, agile, determined, bold dog with a very marked temperament. At Petlifey, we explain the characteristics and character of the Pumi.
Character of the Pumi breed
The character of the Pumi dog is really lively, active and willful, has an indefatigable temperament and never fails.
Although it is very bold, its behaviour is judicious and with strangers it is somewhat suspicious, without being shy. Due to its inability to be still and its permanent activity, all of them is always in motion, ready to act, and can be quite noisy.
Although its physique is peculiar, the most characteristic of this breed is its character, since spitz-type dogs participated in its formation, alive and alert, and also some terrier dog breeds, responsible for its courage and bravado.
These characteristics have made the Pumi a dog prized both for its guarding and herding skills.
- Energy: High level. You need to exercise daily, but not just walks, but directed and specific activities: running, hunting or sports sessions.
- Temperament: Lively, intrepid, restless, alert and bully, it is somewhat stubborn, but cheerful and affectionate with the family.
- Adaptability: High. It can live without problems in the city, but you have to educate it because it can be very barking and noisy. Better if you have a garden or outdoor land.
- Sociability: Medium. Suspicious, distrustful and elusive with strangers, with the family it is very affectionate. Due to its dominant temperament, it can try to impose themselves as the leader of the pack.
- Health: Good. It does not usually suffer from serious illnesses.
- Longevity: High / very high. Live 12-15 years, or even longer.
- Utility: Very versatile. It is a shepherd dog, but also a guard dog, a companion dog, a rodent and vermin hunter, and a hunting assistant. It is good at flyball , frisbee, or agility.
- Use: Pasture and company.
Is it a good family dog?
The Pumi is an excellent family dog, as it is a breed that is very adaptable to life in coexistence with humans and is very affectionate with its family and friends, especially with its owner or guide.
But as a good watchdog, it is suspicious and elusive around strangers, and uses its voice excessively, which is why it can become a very noisy dog, with consequent complaints from neighbors.
Can you live in an apartment?
It is a dog that needs a lot of exercise outdoors, so apartment living is not the best for them.
Selected to live and work outdoors, the Pumi likes to enjoy large open spaces and even the ability to sleep outside.
It is capable of adapting perfectly to life in a house, but as long as it has a garden, or, better yet, large areas around where to run.
Pumi Features
The general appearance of a Pumi breed dog is that of a medium-sized dog. This terrier-type shepherd has a square body structure and its neck is taller than usual given its permanent state of attention.
Despite its close kinship with the Puli dog breed, and the obvious resemblance to its name, the Pumi has such a special appearance that it is unique.
One of its distinctive signs is the tail, which, always carried high and in constant motion, constitutes one of the indicators of the breed’s temperament and its state of mind.
Their ears are also characteristic, erect and oblique, located very high on the head and covered with abundant hair. And finally, its soft, medium-length mantle with fluffy curls that never get cordoned off like those of the Puli.
How is the Pumi race physically?
Body
With a slim but harmonious complexion, the length of the body is equal to the height at the withers, so its figure is square. A shaggy cloak, in curly or wavy strands, covers the entire body. Coats abound in different shades, but always on a solid color base
Their feet are round and their toes are very tight together. They are endowed with strong, black or slate grey nails, as well as elastic pads.
The tail is set high and forms a wide circular curve on the rump. It has little undercoat, but on the underside it has open, long, wire-textured hair.
Head
The head is relatively long and narrow, with an elongated muzzle. In fact, it gives them a certain terrier look. The stop is barely perceptible and the nose, narrow and with blunt edges, is black.
Their eyes are set somewhat obliquely and are of medium size oval and slanted. Dark brown in color, they give the dog a lively and intelligent look.
The ears are erect and set high, the ears of the Pumi are of medium size, symmetrical and triangular, with the upper third drooping. They are endowed with a lot of mobility.
Fur
The hair is elastic, disheveled and bushy, wavy or curly, and in strands. The average length of the hairs is 4 to 7 cm. Double-layered, the outer coat is made up of a coat of strong and hard hair, although not too thick, and the undercoat is a soft fluff. The eyes and muzzle are free of long hairs.
Colour
The pumi is always a single solid color, it can be grey in different shades (usually black at birth and grey more towards the tip), black, white or fawn (with basic colors red, yellow or cream).
Pumi breed standard
- Origin: Hungary.
- Size: Medium.
- General appearance: Medium in size with a square build, the pumi is a terrier-type dog; the head is elongated and the ears are erect but with the tip drooping forward.
- Height at the withers: between 41 and 47 cm for males and between 38 and 44 cm for females.
- Weight: between 10 and 15 kg for males and between 8 and 13 for females.
- Head: It is where its terrier heritage is most noticeable, since the facial region is elongated and the upper third of the ears, which are erect, fall forward.
- Skull: The crown area is relatively broad and domed, and the forehead, seen in profile, is flat. Superciliary arches are moderately developed.
- Nose-frontal depression (stop): It is barely perceptible.
- Muzzle: The muzzle is straight and the long facial region tapers towards the nose, although it is not pointed.
- Nose: It is narrow, with blunt edges and black in color.
- Jaws: The jaws are powerful, with strong, well-developed white teeth. The bite is complete and in scissors.
- Eyes: At a medium distance from each other and set somewhat obliquely, they are of medium size, oval, slanted and dark brown in color. Its gaze is lively and intelligent.
- Ears: The ears are symmetrical, erect, set high, medium in size and shaped like an inverted “V”. Its movements are active.
- Neck: Of medium length, slightly arched and very muscular.
- Body: The musculature is well developed, and it is dry, especially firm and resistant. It is a very lean breed with a harmonious image.
- Back: It is straight, short and firm.
- Chest: The front part of the thorax is flat, not very wide and rather deep. The ribs are slightly arched, rather flat, and the rib cage is long, deep and reaches the height of the elbows.
- Tail: Set high, forming a wide circular curve on the rump. The hair on the underside of the tail is between 7 and 12 cm long, with a wire texture, open and with little undercoat.
- Forelimbs: Seen from the front, they support the body like columns, as they are straight, parallel and not too far apart.
- Shoulders: The shoulder blade is long and slightly steep.
- Forearms and arm : The forearm is long and lean, while the arm is short and muscular.
- Hind limbs: They are very powerful, and seen in profile they can be seen somewhat stretched backwards. From behind they look parallel, straight, neither too close together nor too far apart.
- Legs: They are long and skinny.
- Knees: They are at the same height as the elbows.
- Hock joints: Lean, they have a sharp outline.
- Feet: They are “cat’s feet”, that is, round and with the toes close together. The pads are elastic, and the nails are strong and black or slate grey.
- Movement: It is really lively, full of temperament, with a bold and proud demeanor. The stride is short, energetic, dynamic and harmonious. The trot is light and harmonious, since the dog places the hind feet exactly in the tracks left by the fore feet.
- Skin: Firm, dry and without wrinkles, it is well pigmented black or slate grey.
- Coat: The coat is wavy or curly, and forms tufts that are never smooth or corded, about 4 to 7 cm. Elastic, shaggy and dense, it is grey, black, white or fawn.
- FCI Classification: FCI No. 56. Group 1 – Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs). Section 1 – Sheepdogs.
Education and training of the Pumi breed
Having been selected to perform different jobs but always in close proximity to man, it is an easy breed to train.
Smart and very lively, it quickly learns anything it is taught, although if you notice that their owners do not have enough personality to impose their criteria, you can be a bit stubborn and question authority. However, with rigorous discipline and consistent, authoritative teaching, you have no problem quickly learning whatever task you are given.