Pumi Facts

Pumi Profile

We’ve covered the delightfully corded Hungarian sheepdog known as the puli, before. But there is a bright and playful cousin of the Puli that shares its history, and has gained popularity around the world for being a smart, attentive, and energetic companion.

This is the Pumi, an unassuming descendent of the Puli, and one deserving of recognition.

Pumi Facts Overview

Pumi’s descend from the Hungarian Puli dog, and have been bred to fill similar roles in livestock management. They are herders by nature, but are smart and hard-working dogs with a lot of potential to make excellent domestic companions.

As with all dogs, their needs must be met for them to be well-adjusted, but thankfully those needs aren’t too extreme: good food, a good social life and attention to their exercise and health requirements is the bare minimum of any animal husbandry, and plenty to make the Pumi happy.

Interesting Pumi Facts

1. They come from Pulik

For a long time, the names Puli and Pumi were used interchangeably. It’s not clear which one came from what, but there are suggestions that Pumi is derived from Puli, and the breed itself most certainly is. Pumis, or, the Hungarian plural, Pumik, descend directly from the charismatic corded sheepdogs of the Ottoman empire.

The word may stem from the Germanic word for puppy or from the word “pommern”, which was commonly used to refer to the Pomeranian Spitz, used in a lot of the breeding stock of the 19^th Century.

But the Pumi goes much further back than this. It’s thought to have originated from Puli stock mixed with a German spitz and an unknown terrier, sometime around the 17^th or 18^th century. It wasn’t until much later that a breeding standard was derived and the breed formally recognised in 1921³.

3. They’re popular but rare

This breed is described as alert, bold, and never overly aggressive. This is a well-balanced breed and respond exceptionally well to early socialisation and plenty of stimulation. They’re still not very well known outside of Hungary, but were introduced to Finland in the ‘70s, Sweden a little later, and have made it all the way across Europe in small numbers ever since⁴.

Their rarity comes from a lack of exposure, as their popularity as companions is huge among those who know them.  In 2004 they made it into the American kennel club, and the UK followed suit in 2015⁵.

This is still a relatively obscure breed, but one that has the potential to take over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

4. “The Clown”

Pumis are said to be noisy and playful dogs, bringing their intelligence and alertness with them from their history as shepherds, and responding very well to training. But they carry a lot of character too, and are good with children, being small enough and playful enough to be trustworthy in this context.

The Hungarian nickname for this breed is apparently “the clown” and this might come from its attitude or the cute little tufts on its ears that complement its playful nature⁶.

5. They make good pets

If this wasn’t clear already, all these features add up to a well-rounded and loyal pet. And one that isn’t particularly high maintenance.

Being quick to bark, they make good guard animals, and being smart and loyal, they respond well to training and can live in peace around other pets and livestock. They may have a tendency to dig and even nip, but do not have a reputation for serious aggression.

Being smart, though, they can be stubborn and might need to be strongly encouraged not to bark all the time.

6. But they have some health issues

Pumik are also purebred dogs, so they come with their genetic predispositions common to their kind. In this instance, it’s a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years; patella issues in their knees and hip dysplasia. Breeders are encouraged to test their dogs for degenerative eye conditions associated with their DNA, too, and can sometimes screen for knee and hip issues.

Ultimately, pure-bred dogs will always come with the collateral damage of the littermates who weren’t up to spec. Runts, disabled puppies, or individuals who just don’t look the part may be released to become strays, palmed off on uncaring owners or simply killed, and this is part and parcel of the selective breeding process for any animal.

Pumik are certainly healthier than many fashionable breeds, but the nature of selective breeding is important to understand when considering buying a puppy of any kind⁷.  

Pumi Fact-File Summary

Scientific Classification

3. Morris, Desmond(2002), “the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds”, Internet Archive.¹.

   

   2. They’re herders.

   The pumi/puli division became cemented in the early 20^th Century, and the group was split into three categories: the corded pumi, the square-headed puli, and a third, the Muli, with erect ears. The trio are all still going strong today and were bred originally as herding dogs. They have also been used for hunting wild boar.

   This isn’t their major role outside of Hungary any longer, though they do compete in herding for sport and show, as well as various other increasingly humiliating events, such as: agility, obedience, and dog dancing. Pumis are also involved in far more respectable pursuits like search and rescue.

   These are smart and attentive dogs, easy to train, and small enough to carry under the arm, which makes them particularly popular²“Working Dog”, Hungarian Pumi Club UK.

4. “Pumi”, The American Kennel Club.
5. “COMPARATIVE TABLES OF REGISTRATIONS FOR THE YEARS 2015 -2024 INCLUSIVE”.
6. Ria Hörter (2014), “Small Hungarian Sheepdogs”, The Canine Chronicle.
7. David J (2024), “Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding”, National Library of Medicine.