Pumi
普米犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Pumi is a compact, curly-coated Hungarian herder with two-thirds-erect ears and a whimsical expression, developed to move flocks along the narrow roads of western Hungary. Beneath the corkscrew curls is a lean, tireless, very intelligent working dog: the parent club warns that it needs enormous amounts of exercise, attention and mental work, dislikes being left alone for long, and is not a dog for the inexperienced. Pumik are vocal by nature, and the coat, which barely sheds, needs combing every few weeks.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 38–47cm |
| Weight | 10–15kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: herding FCI: 1 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord condition of older dogs, is reported in the breed; a DNA test identifies risk. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy / neurological DNA-tested conditions
Inherited neurological conditions are reported in the breed and DNA tests exist for some. Ask your breeder which tests were done.
Glaucoma
Primary lens luxation (PLL) has been reported in the breed and the parent club requires a PLL DNA test for its CHIC health certificate. Ask your breeder about PLL status and your vet urgently if an eye becomes cloudy, red or painful.
Behaviour
A thinking dog that must have a job
The AKC describes the Pumi as very intelligent and energetic, needing regular exercise and mental stimulation; it is agile, climbs over and under things and likes high vantage points, and will demand chase-and-fetch games with tennis balls and discs. As a "thinking dog" that assesses every new situation, it needs early socialisation; it learns quickly and works willingly without being obsessive, and because Pumik enjoy using their voices, barking should not be reinforced.
Not for the inexperienced
The parent club says the Pumi is a highly sensitive, intelligent dog that will exploit an inconsistent handler and is not a good choice for someone with little dog experience; it needs a strong but fair, consistent and very loving home, enormous amounts of exercise, attention and mental stimulation, and a task around the house. Pumik dislike being left alone for long, are vocal (but can switch it off when they see the point), and are naturally wary of strangers, so socialisation must continue from a young age.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 5/5 (very high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Pumi
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Pumi (Herding Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Hungarian Pumi
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Pumi (standard no. 56, group 1)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's "Is a Pumi the dog for you?" page is candid: expect a dog with its own agenda that turns decisions into negotiations, that draws attention from strangers on every walk while being wary of them, and that needs an owner who wants an active partnership rather than a quiet, low-maintenance pet. People who prefer solitude or minimal engagement are told to look elsewhere.”
— Hungarian Pumi Club of America — Is a Pumi the dog for you? via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Pumi — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Pumi — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Hungarian Pumi — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Pumi — FCI standard no. 56 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Pumi Health — Hungarian Pumi Club of America — Hungarian Pumi Club of America (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Is a Pumi the dog for you? — Hungarian Pumi Club of America — Hungarian Pumi Club of America (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.