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Breed profile

Pumi

A curly Hungarian herder with corkscrew ears, plenty of energy and something to say about everything.

Grey Pumi leaping across a mown field with ears and tail up
A grey Pumi in mid-bound.Photo: Schenda / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
10–13 kg22–29 lb
Height
38–47 cm15–19 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Pastoral / Herding
Origin
Hungary
Popularity
#160 US#169 UK · 2025

Known for: Low sheddingEasy to train

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Lively, Alert, Clever, Vocal.

Health problems to know about

  • Patellar luxation
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Primary lens luxation
  • Degenerative myelopathy

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or more of exercise plus training or a dog sport every day. Comb the curly coat every few weeks and trim to shape.

A good fit for

Active owners who enjoy training, agility or herding.

Probably not ideal for

Close neighbours (they are vocal), people out all day, owners wanting a calm dog.

Sources

  1. American Kennel Club: Pumi
  2. PetMD (vet-reviewed): Pumi
  3. Wikipedia: Pumi dog

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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