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Pastoral · Hungary

Pumi

A walker's guide to the Pumi: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Medium, 8 to 15 kgHigh energyCurly coatCorkscrew earsVocalHerding drive
Exercise a day90 min plus
Energy4 of 5
Walk styleFast, busy, reactive
With other dogsBold, sometimes bossy

Overview

The Pumi is a Hungarian herding breed with a curly, non-cording coat, semi-erect ears tipped forward and an alert, whimsical expression. It was developed from the Puli crossed with German and French herding dogs, and it was used to drive cattle, sheep and pigs through villages and along roads, which gave it a bold, busy, outgoing nature.

Pumik are fast, inquisitive and vocal. They are more terrier-like than the Puli in manner: quick to react, quick to bark, and always wanting to be involved. They are affectionate with their household and watchful with strangers.

Exercise and walking needs

Ninety minutes a day of active walking with training built in. Pumik excel at agility, herding trials and scent work. They need to think as much as move, and they need a daily chance to run.

They are not big, but they are relentless. A walk that satisfies a Pumi usually involves varied terrain and several short games.

Daily minimum90 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeGood with a known handler

On the walk

  • Recall: Good with a dog that knows you. Pumik orient to their handler and come back readily, but they are quick enough to be out of sight before you notice.
  • Herding: Will try to move things that run. Keep the lead on around cyclists, joggers and children.
  • Other dogs: Bold, sometimes bossy. Fine with calm dogs, tends to try to manage boisterous ones. Introduce on lead.
  • Barking: Frequent. They alert bark at anything new, which can be a problem on residential routes.
  • Coat: Curly and relatively easy care, but it collects seeds and burrs. A quick check at the end.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Teach a quiet cue and reward it; otherwise the barking will follow you round the park.
  2. Use obstacles: jumps over logs, weaving through posts. The dog loves it.
  3. Rotate routes; this breed notices repetition and gets bored.
  4. Check feet and ears for grass seeds after long grass.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • Does the dog chase or herd runners, bikes or other dogs, and what works to interrupt?
  • How much barking is normal for this dog, and does the owner want it managed?
  • What training does the dog know, and which cues can you use?
PuliA corded Hungarian herder that moves like a bouncing mop and thinks like a collieMudiA rare Hungarian herder with a sharp voice and a serious work ethic: fastCroatian SheepdogA blackSchapendoesA shaggy