At a glance the quick version
FCI figures; ideal 12-13 kg for males and 10-11 kg for females.
Coat and looks how to spot one
wavy, curly double coat
A square, springy herder with a long narrow head and upright ears whose tips fold forward. Its 4-7 cm coat forms corkscrew curls that are never flat or corded, combining a springy outer layer with a soft undercoat.14
Personality what they are like
A lively, always-on-the-move dog with a cheeky, expressive face. It is brave, quick-witted and chatty, stays playful well into adulthood, and can be a little reserved with strangers.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Needs up to an hour of exercise a day and enjoys herding, agility, obedience and other dog sports.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Weekly grooming keeps the curls in order; the coat should stay curly rather than being brushed out flat.31
Home where they are happiest
Can live in a small house in town or country as long as it gets activity and mental work.3
Company who they like around
Enjoys being an active family member and sporting partner; it thrives with regular training and shared activities.12
The story where it all began
The Pumi grew from crosses between the Hungarian Puli and prick-eared German and French terrier-type dogs in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was long treated as a regional Puli type until Emil Raitsitz separated the two breeds around 1920-21.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 56, Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs, Section 1 Sheepdogs; standard dated 13.09.2000. Wikipedia gives 1935 for FCI approval of the breed standard.1
- AKC
- Herding Group; entered Miscellaneous class 1 January 2011 and full recognition 1 July 2016, per Wikipedia.2
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Pastoral group, listed as Hungarian Pumi; recognised in 2015.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Pumi. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 56 Pumi fci.beused for origin, recognition, size, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Pumi dog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for recognition dates, lifespan, history, facts
- Hungarian Pumi - The Royal Kennel Club royalkennelclub.comused for recognition, lifespan, exercise, grooming, home, history
- Pumi - AKC akc.orgused for traits, appearance
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.