- • Grey in various shades (normally, the colour at birth is black, turning grey with time). • Black. • Fawn (fakó).
- Preferred: Primary colours: red, yellow, cream (a trace of black or grey and a distinct mask)
- A white mark on the chest less than 3 cm in diameter and/or a white line on the toes are not faulty. • White.
- The coat colour must always be intense and solid
About the Pumi
Origin: Hungary
- Typical life span
- 12-13 years
- Size
- Medium — from its typical weight
- Weight
- 10-13 kg
- Height
- Male
- 41-47 cm
- Female
- 38-44 cm
- FCI status
- Recognised by FCI
- FCI groupFCI divides this breed into varieties, and our sources don’t record which one a breeder works. Ask them which variety their line is.
- Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
- Origin
- Hungary
- Known hereditary risks
- Not researched yet
About
What is a Pumi?
Medium-sized, agile Hungarian herding dog known for its whimsical, terrier-like expression, distinctive corkscrew-curled coat, and high-set semi-erect ears with an alert, lively attitude
Pumi history and origins
Developed in Hungary during the 17th-18th centuries from crossbreeding the native Puli with German and French herding dogs and terriers. Used as versatile farm dogs for herding cattle, sheep, and swine
Pumi appearance and size
Males typically stand 41-47 cm at the shoulder and females 38-44 cm.
What the breed standard says
- Bred for
- Herding dog of Terrier type. Also suitable for herding larger types of animals. His scenting ability is well developed. Has excellently proved his worth when combatting wild beasts of prey and rodents. Excellent house pet, can definitely be kept indoors. Needs plenty of exercise. Is an excellent companion and sporting dog
- Behaviour and temperament
“This rather lively herding dog has a restless temperament. Extremely bold, a little suspicious towards strangers. As a result of his sensible behaviour, his liveliness and his expressiveness, he attracts attention always and everywhere. The Pumi is rather noisy. His whole appearance embodies thirst for action and because of his restlessness and activity, all parts of his”
Quoted from FCI standard n°56. It describes the breed the registry recognises, not any individual animal.
Breed reference from The Dog API.
Characteristics
- Size
- Medium
- Exercise needs
- —
- Easy to train
- —
- Amount of shedding
- 4 of 5
- Grooming needs
- 5 of 5
- Good with children
- —
- Cost to keep
- —
- Tolerates being alone
- —
- Intelligence
- —
- Health of breed
- Not researched yet
Pros & cons
Pros & cons for the Pumi
What you get with the Pumi
- Purpose stated in the standard: “Herding dog of Terrier type”
- The standard describes the breed as: “This rather lively herding dog has a restless temperament”
What you are taking on
- High grooming needs — the standard’s own description is “The desired coat preparation is achieved by hand trimming.”
Drawn from sources rather than written as an opinion — cited health research, the registry’s own standard, and peer-reviewed longevity. FCI breed standard. One breeder’s animals can differ from any of it, and an empty column means we hold nothing for that side rather than that there is nothing to say.
Characteristics
FCI standard · Pumi
Coat and colour
As the FCI standard sets it out. Every line below is the standard’s own wording, tagged preferred.
Coat
The wavy, curly coat forms tufts and is never smooth or corded.
The coat has an average length of 4 to 7 cm, growing to smaller or larger tufts
it is elastic, shaggy and dense.
It consists of a strong, but not coarse, topcoat and a soft undercoat.
The dense, wiry protective hairs of medium length on the ears grow upwards.
The eyes and the foreface are free of long hair.
The desired coat preparation is achieved by hand trimming.
Smaller corrections, done with scissors on head and legs, are possible.
Preparing the entire coat with scissors is not desirable
Colour
- Preferred
- Permissible
- Undesirable
- Disqualifying
Preferred, permissible, undesirable and disqualifying are FCI’s own words about the breed. They describe what the standard asks for — not an assessment of any individual dog, and not ours.
Shortened from FCI standard n°56 — each label is the standard’s own wording with the verdict lifted into the tag beside it. Read the full clause at source.
FCI varieties
FCI divides the Pumi into these varieties, listed in the registry's own words. Depending on the breed they separate colour, coat, size or line — they are not a full list of colours, which no registry we hold publishes. Ask a breeder which variety their line is.
- GREY IN VARIOUS SHADES
- BLACK
- FAWN (FAKÓ). PRIMARY COLOURS: RED, YELLOW, CREAM
- WHITE
Breed-level information from The Dog API. It describes the Pumi in general; any individual animal can differ.
Health guide
What to ask for in a Pumi
No breed-specific health panel has been written up for the Pumi on this platform yet. That is a gap in our records, not a clean bill of health — ask the breeder which hereditary conditions their lines are tested for, and ask to see the results for both parents, dated and from a named laboratory.
Gallery
No photographs yet
This is where Pumi owners’ own photographs will go, from the pet profiles they keep here. Nobody has added one to a public page yet.
A photograph in a pet profile stays private to its owner. We will not put one here unless they ask us to.
Puppies
No puppies listed right now
No Pumi breeder has a record on this platform yet, so there is nothing to list. That is a gap in our coverage, not a fact about the breed.