The Mudi is even in his native country the least known Hungarian shepherd. He is however the one who's the most appreciated by the shepherds for whom a good work dog is still essential.

Subjected to the roughness of the Puszta, the mudi has to be robust, rigorous and very fast. Medium-sized, he’s got a light and flexible morphology. This Hungarian steppe’s shepherd dog proves his versatility by his intelligence and his blind fidelity towards his master.
Except gathering sheeps together, his strength of character also allows him to assemble geese, bullocks and wild pigs. Some Hungarian people even uses him for the wild boar’s hunting.

In absence of his master, he keeps his home safe with an astonishing vigilance. But while the mudi is on a walk with his master, he’s shown like a very pleasant dog begging for tenderness. In that way we can say the mudi is strongly attached to his territory.
Furthermore his remarkable work performances, the mudi has proved he’s reliable in several sporting disciplines as in agility or obedience. In the Scandinavian countries, some of them fulfil the rescue dog’s role.

As a canine teacher, I’m a little tired to see all the time the same well known races. That’s why I introduced my first mudi in Belgium in 1996. Since then, a great gripping history filled up with complicity and friendship started.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STANDARD:

ORIGIN: Hungary.

USE: Shepherd dog. Considering his courageous behaviour, the shepherds also use him to lead bigger cattle which is more difficult to carry out. He’s also used to beat off wild boars. It’s remarkable defence and accompaniment dog. He’s suited to the search of narcotics. He’s also an alarm/ watchdog, an excellent agility dog and an attaching family dog. Considering his relatively short coat and thanks to his adaptability, he could live without any problem in a flat.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: N° 238
Groups 1 Shepherd dogs and herds dogs
Section 1 Shepherd dogs.
Without work’s test

HISTORICAL OUTLINE: This race is the result of a crossing which happened during the 18th and 19th centuries between Hungarian Shepherd dogs and probably various German Shepherds with drawn up ears

BEHAVIOUR:

The mudi is an extraordinarily applied dog, he’s got a sharp temperament, he’s courageous, attentive, assiduous, waked up and accommodating.

HEAD:

His head is without any doubt the most attractive element of the mudi as a whole. A spectator must have the impression, thanks to his head, the dog is attentive, dynamic, joyous and intelligent, without any trace of timidity nor of aggressiveness. The head is wedge-shaped and is being reduced towards the nose.

COAT:

His head and the front of his legs have to be covered with a short coat, straight and smooth. On the other parts of his body the coat is uniformly very corrugated or slightly buckled, tightened, always shining, with a 3 to 7 cm length. At certain places it forms spikes and peaks. The coat is the longest on the posterior front of the forearm and on the thigh where it forms marked fringes.

COLOR:
• Black. (the widest colour)

• Blue-blackbird, it’s to say splashed, striped or mottled of black on a rather dark grey-bluish or more clearly background.

• Ashy• Brown. Small white marks are tolerated, but not sought. A white mark on the breast piece with a diameter below 5 cm and white on the fingers are tolerated, but not sought.

• White.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT:
Height on the withers:
Males: 41 to 47 cm, ideal height 43-45 cm
Females: 38 to 44 cm, ideal height 40-42 cm.
Weight:
Males: 11 to 13 kg,
Females: 8 to 11 kg.

DEFAULTS:

Any variation in comparison with what precedes must be regarded as a defect which will be penalized according to its gravity.
• Dogs with black, white, blue-blackbird or ashy coat whose noses are flesh or liver coloured or which are reached of leper. The dogs with a chestnut coat who have a flesh coloured or a leper attacked nose.

• Absence of one or more teeth (incisors, canines, premolars 2-4, molars 1-2). Absence moreover than of 2 premolars 1 (PM1). M3’s are not taken into account

• Higher and lower projection in front of the maxillary bones, deviated arch incisor. Loss of contact of the incisors of more than 2 millimetres.

• Yellow Eyes• Hanging Ears• Short coat, smooth and quite well lying on all of the body; long hair on the head; hair having the tendency to be lined with felt.

• Grey-wolf Colour; black and fire dog with yellow to brown marks.

• Height below 38 or above 47 cm.

N.B.: The males must have two testicles of normal aspect completely descended in the scrotum.