At a glance the quick version
Weights from Wikipedia; neither the FCI nor the AKC standard sets a weight.
Coat and looks how to spot one
wavy to slightly curly medium coat
Short, sleek hair on the face and front of the legs contrasts with a shiny, wavy or lightly curled coat of roughly 3-7 cm over the rest of the body, with some feathering on the forelegs, thighs and tail.13
Personality what they are like
Lively, brave and always ready for a task, the Mudi is bright and adaptable without being nervous or aggressive. It is naturally a little reserved with strangers, which makes it a good watchdog, and it is devoted to protecting its home and family.134
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High energy: it needs long daily walks plus active work or sport. It excels at herding, agility, obedience, rally, flyball and tracking.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The wavy coat is fairly easy care; a regular brush through keeps it tidy and shiny.31
Home where they are happiest
Happiest in an active home with safe space to run freely, ideally with a job to do.2
Company who they like around
Bonds strongly with its family and likes to be involved in daily life and work.43
The story where it all began
The Mudi took shape in Hungary during the 18th and 19th centuries, probably from crosses between Hungarian herding dogs and prick-eared German herders. Dr Dezső Fényes first described it as a distinct breed in 1936, and after numbers fell sharply following World War II it was rebuilt and gained FCI and later AKC recognition.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The Mudi was first described as a separate breed in 1936 by Dr Dezső Fényes.2
- 2
Its merle colouring has a Hungarian name, 'cifra'.1
- 3
It joined the AKC's Herding Group as a fully recognised breed in January 2022.2
- 4
Mudis compete in a wide range of sports, from agility and flyball to Schutzhund and tracking.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 238, Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs; current standard dated 25.09.2023. Wikipedia gives 1966 for FCI recognition.1
- AKC
- Fully recognised 5 January 2022 (Herding Group); current standard approved 12 May 2025, effective 4 August 2025.3
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Recognition announced 12 June 2025, effective 1 July 2025, according to Wikipedia.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Mudi. 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 support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 238 Mudi fci.beused for recognition, history, height, coat, colours, temperament
- Wikipedia: Mudi en.wikipedia.orgused for weight, lifespan, recognition years, history, activities
- AKC Mudi breed standard images.akc.orgused for height, coat, colours, temperament, recognition dates
- AKC: Mudi akc.orgused for temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.