Mudi

Herding Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dogs ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Mudi, in all probability, has existed since the 15th to 18th century, initially in 1773, with Comte de Buffon describing a Mudi-like shepherd dog. Continuing in 1815 with Ferenc Pethe in the History of Nature, in 1902 with Lajos Mhely, and in 1912 with Ott Herman.
The purposeful breeding of this dog is attributed to Hungarian Dr. Dezs Fnyes, who obtained some brilliant-haired, erect-eared, highly intelligent, and docile individuals of an unknown breed. He began to breed them and, in 1936, presented the dogs at the breeding animal fair. He submitted the first standard for the breed, and the committee accepted the description using the dog breed name Mudi. The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) officially recognized the breed in 1966.
The Mudi was recognized by the United Kennel Club on July 1, 2006.
Plural: Mudi or Mudis (The word Mudik is only used when speaking or writing in Hungarian).
Pronounced: "Moody"
Phonetic and IPA [moo-dee | md | mu di]

General Appearance

A medium-sized Hungarian herding dog, purposely bred for work. Overall, a well-muscled, moderate-boned, and firm-bodied dog with spitz-like qualities. When viewed from above, it has a wedge-shaped head that tapers towards the nose, with prick ears and almond-shaped eyes. In profile, the Mudi has a topline that slopes very slightly downward from the withers to the croup, and its length is slightly longer than its height. The coat is short, straight, and smooth on the face and front of the legs, to a lengthier wavy or curly coat on the body.

Characteristics

The Mudi has a loose-eyed and upright herding style with intense, powerful, dedicated to duty, and excellent work-all-day endurance. They are inherently courageous, alert, and may be aloof to strangers, producing an outstanding guard, watch, and alarm dog. Versatile, playful, and obedient, they enthusiastically participate in multiple dog sports and activities.
Disqualifications: Viciousness or extreme shyness.

Head

The foxlike head is proportionate to the body wedge-shaped when viewed from above. When viewed in profile, the skull and muzzle lines form parallel planes. Skull to Muzzle ratio is 4:3.
Their intelligent, energetic, alert, and playful characteristics combine with the features to portray a genuine "mischievous" expression.
SKULL -Broad between ears with noticeable tapering to the nose. Forehead slightly arched.
Occiput: Slight but perceptible. Brows: Barely developed. Stop: Defined but not abrupt.
MUZZLE -The muzzle is tapered to the nose with a straight bridge.
NOSE - Rounded tip, moderately wide nostrils. The lips are tight and clean.
TEETH - The Mudi has a complete dentition meeting in a scissors bite. A level or even bite is undesirable but not faulted.
Fault: Missing teeth.
Very Serious Faults: Undershot, overshot, or wry mouth.
EYES - Narrow, almond-shaped and set slightly oblique. The eyes should be as dark as possible with tight-fitting rims. Black and White dogs should have dark brown eyes, while other colors may have brow, amber, or yellow eyes. Merles may also have blue or Heterochromia.
Disqualification: Cross-eyed or walleyed.
EARS High-set, prick, triangular. The ear height is longer than their width at the base. Responsive and alert, the ears move independently, turning, tilting, and lowering.
Disqualification: Hanging, dropped, or weak ears.

Forequarters

The shoulder and upper arm form a 100-degree to 110-degree angle with moderate angulation. Shoulder: Moderate length, blades are well-fitted and well-laid back at 55 degree with horizontal. Upper Arm: Moderate length and firmly joined. Falls vertically from the shoulder.
FOREARM Elbows are well fitted to the body. Vertical when viewed from the side, parallel when viewed from the front. The carpal joints are strong. Pasterns are strong and slightly sloped.

NECK / TOPLINE / BODY

Neck: Medium length, slightly arched.
Topline: Straight, slopes very slightly downward. Withers: Slightly pronounced tapers to the neck.
Back: In action, firm and supple.
Loin: Firmly joined to back and croup.
Croup: Very slightly sloping.
Body: Length from the sternum to rear is slightly longer than height at withers. Withers to elbow is slightly longer than elbow to ground.

FORECHEST & UNDERLINE

Oval, slightly curved, and moderate in depth.
Sternum: Protrudes slightly ahead of the point of the shoulder.
Chest: Moderate depth.
Ribs: Well-sprung and broad.
Underline: Moderate tuck-up.

FEET

Feet: Tight "oval" or spoon-shaped feet great for jumping, speed, and endurance.
Front Dewclaws: Desired.
Rear Dewclaws: Undesirable but not faulted.

TAIL

Any length is correct and follows the natural line of the croup. In action or alert, the tail should arch up and over the topline in a sickle to a full semicircular shape; the tail or coat may touch the topline. Long and Natural Bobtail (NBT) includes nubs, longer bobs, half, and three-quarter tails.
Fault: Tightly curled or screw tail.

COAT

Shown naturally the easy-care wash-n-show coat requires no trimming or sculpting. The coat may form cowlicks or ridges on areas of the body. The texture may vary from fine to a rougher texture and should not be wiry. The mane should be proportionate to coat length and slightly more pronounced in males.
The correct coat lengths/types comprise:
Face: Short, straight, and smooth.
Front of legs: Short, straight, and smooth.
Ears: Wavy to curly feathering around ears.
Body: 1.5" - 3.5" in length and wavy to curly.
Back of front legs: Moderate feathering.
Back of upper thighs: Moderate feathering.
Tail: Has longer coat with moderate feathering, while shorter NBT tails may have less to none.
Serious Fault: Trimmed or sculpted coat.
Disqualifications: Smooth or straight coat laying flat on the body.

COLOR

Colors: Black, White, Yellow, Brown, Ash, Ashbrown
Patterns: Solid and Merle. Minimal White Markings of less than 2 on the chest or toes.
Fault: Color Patterns: color patterns of sable or tan points. White Markings of more than 2 on the chest or toes.
Serious fault: White Markings occurring outside of the chest or toes.
Disqualification: Albinism.

PIGMENTATION

Nose, Lip, and Eye pigmentation will match and harmonize with coat color. Black dogs will have black pigmentation. White and Yellow dogs will have black, brown, ash, or ashbrown pigmentation. Brown dogs will have brown pigmentation. Ash dogs will have ash pigmentation. Ashbrown dogs will have ashbrown pigmentation. The shade of the pigment may run lighter or darker.
Merles have the same pigmentation as their base color.
Disqualifications:
Nose Leather: Butterfly or pink nose.
Eye Rims: Incomplete pigment or pink rims.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

Ideal height for males is 15.5-19 inches (40-48 cm) at the withers. The ideal height for females is 14.5-18 inches (37-46cm) at the withers.

Weight is determined by using the Body Condition Score (BCS) conditions:

Ribs: Easily palpable with minimal fat covering.
Waistline: Easily noted, viewed from above.
Abdomen: Moderate abdominal tuck evident.
Fault: Height deviating from the above.

GAIT

They are shown at a trot, with quick, lively steps. The Mudi displays good foot timing and a moderate reach and drive. In action, the stride is strong, agile, and efficient. From the front, the elbows have free action from the shoulder. Coming and going, the legs show no tendency to cross or interfere. They should not display any clumsiness or rigidity in motion.

FAULTS

Missing teeth.
Cow-hocked or bowleg.
Tightly curled or screw tail.
Sable or tan points. White Markings of more than 2 on the chest or toes.
Deviation from the height section.

SERIOUS FAULTS

Serious: Undershot, overshot, or wry mouth.
Serious: Trimmed or sculpted coat.
Serious: White Markings occurring outside of the chest or toes.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Cross-eyed or walleyed.
Butterfly or pink nose.
Hanging, dropped, or weak ears.
Smooth or straight coat laying flat on the body.
Eye rims that are pink or with incomplete pigment.