Pumi

The Pumi is typically a small, intelligent and energetic herding dog who tends to become attached to family members quickly.

Daily Care

Grooming Tips

The Pumi’s coat is a combination of wavy and curly hair. It corkscrews and curls over the entire body in an even mixture of soft, insulating undercoat and harsh, protective top coat.
To groom the Pumi, comb him every week to remove mats or debris. He won’t leave a lot of hair on furniture or clothes, but quite a bit will come out when you comb him.
After combing, wet the coat and let it dry naturally to restore the curl. Never blow it dry, or it will look fluffy instead of curly. Trimming is usually only necessary every three months or so. You may want to find a reliable groomer when it’s time for trimming.
The Pumi doesn’t need frequent baths, but if he spends a lot of time on your furniture or bed, you may want to bathe him monthly.
The rest is basic care: Trim the nails every three to four weeks, or as needed. Brush the teeth often — with a vet-approved pet toothpaste — for good overall health and fresh breath.

Exercise Tips

The Pumi isn’t a breed for the couch potato. He needs lots of exercises to keep him happy and healthy. Happiest on a farm or in a rural area, this dog needs to be put to work, and excels at guarding and tending livestock and guarding animals and property. He likes to be outside, so make sure he’s got plenty of room to run around.
If you live in an urban area, you need to keep your Pumi occupied. Great activities for this dog include walking, hiking and jogging.
Always make sure that this dog obeys the heel command, as it is important for you to be viewed as the leader. Pumis also do well in agility skill classes and love nothing better than playing a game of fetch.

Feeding Tips

The Pumi is a hear working and energetic dog, so he will need a diet that keeps up with his high activity level. A premium dry food that contains quality proteins and fats is recommended for this breed.
Theydo well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval.
Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.
Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not.
Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

The Pumi is regarded by most breeders and veterinarians as a healthy breed, with an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Some have lived to 19, and maybe older. Despite the breed’s general good health, it does have a few potential health predispositions, including hip dysplasia, luxating or floating patellas and primary lens luxation (PLL). Of course, environmental and other factors can contribute to each of these conditions.

Trainability

The Pumi is alert, watchful and intelligent. In fact, he is so smart, that if he senses that his owner is a pushover, he will quickly take advantage of the situation. This will make the dog willful and cause major disruption in the household. You need to become the dominant head of the family so the Pumi knows his place in the pecking order. You need to make the decisions and rules and ensure that your dog follows the rules.
Because this is intelligent, he takes to training easily. After mastering the basics, do not be afraid to move onto more challenging tasks.
The Pumi excels at agility and obedience training, and it’s a great way to help expend his energy levels. He can also be trained for dog dancing, detection, search and rescue, and other activities. Because Pumi enjoys using their voices, barking should not be reinforced.

History

The Pumi came into being during the 17th to the 18th century in Hungary by cross-breeding the primitive Puli with imported German and French Terrier type breeds with prick ears. It has been recognized as an independent breed since the beginning of the 20th century. The Pumi was recognized by the United Kennel Club January 1, 1996.