Mudi Dog Breed

The Mudi is a herding dog, but they can do so much more. They are easy to train, easy to groom and apparently good for first time dog owners. They are fine with children, are dog-friendly and can live well enough with cats and other non-canine animals. They can be companion animals so long as you are very active. They are best in rural areas or at least in homes with a good amount of extremely secure outdoor space.

Here are some of the things you should know about Mudik if you are planning on adopting one:

PROS

• High energy
• Very playful
• Superb watchdog
• Rather adaptable
• Excellent guard dog
• Learns tricks quickly
• Low grooming needs
• Brilliant shepherd dog
• Few known health issues
• Coat is somewhat self cleaning
• Can work in a vast number of roles
• Made a national treasure in Hungary
• Was featured on a postage stamp in 2004

CONS

• Might dig a lot
• Extremely rare
• Will try to escape
• Not hypoallergenic
• Can jump very high
• May be very territorial
• Very suspicious of strangers
• Can be exceedingly expensive
• Requires a great amount of daily exercise and activity

The Mudi has a laundry list of capabilities as long as the breed's name is short: hunting, pest control, herding, livestock guardian, watchdog, protector, and companion are the main jobs this dog can do. Likewise, there is a lot of Mudi info available for a dog that is so very rare. They are confident, strong and more than clever. They can also take a break now and again and just lie around with you while you read or watch TV.

These dogs can learn a lot, and they can learn very quickly. Some people say they are as smart as Border Collies (which are universally recognized as the smartest dogs on the planet). They know when to hunt when to herd, when to play and when to relax.

The Mudi comes in just about every coat color, and there is also a unique pattern: cifra. This is a blue merle that is unlike any other dog breed (or hybrid) out there. They also have oddly moving ears that swivel like little radar disks.

The mountainous region where this breed was discovered requires a great amount of stamina, energy and agility — all of which Mudik possess in vast reserves. These dogs must have long walks, lots of interactive play and room to run on a daily basis, unless you have them in a rural area when they will work with you on the hunt, in the field or around the farm.

The Mudi is believed to be a dog with remarkably good health. Apparently, there is no survey yet of this breed, but the Mudi Club of America is trying to understand the health profile by working with a health database for dogs, the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC). There are a few known problems, and they seem to have a low incidence rate. If you are one of the few people who have or plan to adopt a Mudi, be sure to register with one or both entities to help build a better overall picture of the breed.

Here are some of the health concerns that Mudik might encounter:

• Epilepsy
• Cataracts
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Patellar luxation

The average lifespan for the Mudi is said to be 13 to 14 years, but there are some in Canada that are said to have lived until they were 17.