Plate 180 · Continental Europe
Pumi
匈牙利波密犬
“Sometimes called Hungary's herding terrier.”
- Origin
- Hungary
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- 17th–18th century; separate standard 1921
- Today
- Herding dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Hungary
A lively, curly-coated Hungarian herding dog with upright, tipped ears; sometimes called the Hungarian herding terrier.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Driving and gathering sheep and other livestock close to the farm.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
It arose from crosses of the Puli with German spitz, French herding dogs and terriers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The name was first recorded in 1815; Emil Raitsits wrote it a separate standard in 1921.
04 · Today
Herding dog · Companion
A herding, sports and companion dog.
Personality
- Energetic
- Lively
- Ready to work
- Alert
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Very energetic and agile; loves high places, balls and discs.
- Grooming
- Comb every three to six weeks, then wet it to let the curls reform.
- Training
- A thinking dog: early socialization and plenty of work.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 12–13 years
- Coat
- Wavy to curly, springy coat; grey, black, white or fawn
Field note
Finland imported its first Pumis in 1972 or 1973 (sources differ); it is now the most popular Hungarian herding breed there.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 1, standard 56), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Herding Group, recognized 2016.
About 2,064 were registered in Hungary in 2015; numbers in the US, UK and Germany are small but growing. AKC registrations: ranked 169 among breeds in 2024.
Sources3 references
- Pumi — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/pumi/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Pumi dog — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumi_dog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Origin from Puli crosses in the 17th–18th centuries, the name (1815), Emil Raitsits's separate standard (1921), populations in Hungary, Finland and Sweden.
- Pumi — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/PUMI-56.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Hungary; Group 1, section "Sheepdogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.