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Living with the Mudi Temperament: 4 Traits Owners Love

The Mudi temperament is one full of life. He’s a high-energy, fun-loving dog that will light up whatever room he enters. It also helps that he’s one of the smartest dog breeds in the entire dog community, which makes him highly trainable.

These Mudi traits make him an excellent companion for a person with an active lifestyle. And he could be a delight for someone in need of non-aggressive watchdog. It’s qualities like these that him such a sought after commodity in some circles.

But his high-energy personality could be quite overwhelming, and his vigilance could be slightly annoying for some owners. As a result, you must determine which side you fall on before you decide on getting a Mudi.

The Mudi Temperament & Personality

From the discussion of the Mudi temperament below, you’ll start to understand why he’s an ideal fit. But it’ll also showcase the reasons he isn’t an excellent fit for first-time owners and people living in city areas.

1. Active & Playful

The Mudi temperament is one full of energy. This little guy is always in search of new ways to find physical stimulation and considers playing his favorite pastime; therefore, he’s the perfect fit for someone with an active lifestyle.

You can take him on a walk, hike, run, or even teach him to play Frisbee. All these activities are things he would love and could do wonders in fulfilling the Mudi exercise needs. But if you don’t give him enough action, he will seek it out himself.

In doing so, he can become very mischievous and find himself creating a lot of trouble. Even at the Mudi’s height, it’s essential you don’t underestimate his jumping ability either as it’s quite impressive. It’s why he’s so skillful at agility courses.

And since a backyard is a necessity with this breed, it’s best you have at least a six-foot fence; it will do more than enough to stop him from jumping over it.

2. Fearless & Protective

Even though the Mudi size is quite small for a dog, he will be fearless in taking on larger predators. You can imagine this tendency is quite problematic when he comes in contact with larger animals such as bears.

But in terms of being a defender of your home, his fearlessness can be a useful deterrent against intruders. He will not hesitate to alert you when danger presents itself; however, he will not attack unless he confirms it’s genuinely a threat.

As a result, the Mudi is the perfect guard dog as he won’t violently escalate a situation unless necessary. This fearlessness comes from his willingness to protect the people he sees as his flock.

It also makes him shy around strangers, and it’s not uncommon for him to bark when one is approaching. But after several introductions, he will soon accept them and become friendly.

Their protective nature does make them frequent barkers, which can be somewhat annoying. But like most negative Mudi behaviors, this trait is something you control by teaching them a stop command.

3. Intelligent

The Mudi temperament features a level of intelligence that is only rivaled by the Border Collie. This high level of smarts allows him to learn quickly. He’s capable of absorbing any command you might want him to learn.

But this intelligence also can be a burden for a dog owner. It requires a level of mental stimulation that you don’t often see in dog breeds. And if he doesn’t get it, he’ll find other ways to challenge his mind.

These other ways aren’t something you like to experience and are often stress-inducing: barking at every passerby or digging up the backyard are favorite activities for the Mudi. Due to this, it’s essential you keep challenging him training wise.

Given the various commands and activities that suit him, it shouldn’t be too difficult. But it will be time-consuming and could be overwhelming for a first-time owner.

4. Affectionate & Loving

Known for loving his owner more than anything, the Mudi temperament is one with an affectionate and loving side. You can expect him to form bonds with the whole family; however, he develops a significant relationship with the person he sees as his handler.

And you can tell who this person is rather quickly because he won’t leave their side. He finds it necessary to always be by your side just in case you might need him. As a result, privacy is a foreign concept to him.

We also should note that because of their small size Mudi could be good with children. But you should still watch their interactions with them though as he might become wary depending on the kid’s aggressiveness.

A Brief Look at the Mudi History

The first thing you need to understand about the Mudi’s history is it's somewhat mysterious. His origins remain an enigma for dog breed experts around the world. But what we do know is a man named Dr. Dezso Fenyes first recognized him in 1936 within Hungary.

During this time, he was used by shepherds for herding flocks and picked up the nickname the “driver dog.”  His herding ability has made many experts theorize he’s related to the other Hungarian herding breeds: the Pumi and the Puli.

Shortly after being discovered in 1936, Mudis were almost completely wiped out thanks to World War II. But there were a few who survived the war, and the breed started to thrive once again.

The Mudi even managed to get acknowledged by the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) in 1966. The United Kennel Club took a little bit longer to recognize him but ultimately followed suit in 2006.

The Mudi Appearance

Given their high-activity level, it’s no surprise that the Mudi has an athletic physique. He’s a well-built medium sized dog who’s eager to enjoy any physical activity. You can expect a Mudi weight to hover anywhere between 18 and 29 pounds.

His topline will have a noticeable slope leading down his back. His ears will stand at attention on the top of his head. This area of his body and legs will have a shorter smoother fur than the rest of his coat; a longer almost curly coat will cover everywhere else.

His coat will be longest on the backside of his front legs and upper thighs, which will have noticeable feathering.

Regarding the available Mudi colors, you’ll have an option of picking between a few choices: white, fawn, ash, black, blue merle, and brown.

It’s essential we note that Mudi can only have a small portion of his coat be white. This white area will typically be on his toes or chest. Since his fur can be messy, it’s not uncommon for him to have cow-licks or knots in his coat.

Training the Mudi

If you use the right techniques, the Mudi temperament makes him a delight to train. Due to this, it’s imperative you use positive methods rather than harsh ones. If you do use harsh tactics, it’ll only make them shy and unresponsive to your commands.

Owners often find success with a treat-based reward system as he loves treats and will do anything for them. It also essential you understand that potty training can be an issue for this breed; therefore, you must stay vigilant about his potty signals to avoid bathroom accidents.

But once you get the basics down, you can move onto the more fun commands. He’s particularly well-suited for work in dog sports such as obedience or agility course. His high level of activity makes him a good candidate for search and rescue work as well.

In other words, there’s very little you can’t reasonably expect to train them. And since they’re eager to please their owners, it can be quite fun for you as well.

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

For help with training your Mudi dog your should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

The Mudi Grooming

If you want a dog with low-maintenance requirements, the Mudi would be a good option for you. His coat is capable of repelling dirt, which means bathing isn’t a frequent need; an as-needed approach will be fine.

In other words, his baths should take place only when he has become dirty or picks up a nasty smell. It’s best to use a vet recommended shampoo when you do bathe him: it’ll protect his skin and coat.

He does require a weekly brushing thanks to his shedding, which happens seasonally. During these brushing sessions, a bristle brush should do the trick. You can switch to a steel brush when his fur might be suffering from some severe mats or tangles.

His other grooming requirements fall under what we consider basic care: trim his nails every few weeks, brush his teeth weekly, and check his ears for build ups regularly. One special note about these basic care requirements is the Mudi hates getting his nails clipped.

As a result, a nail grinder would be a better option than your typical nail clipper with this breed.

Relevant Mudi Health Issues

This breed is a healthy one generally speaking. The Mudi lifespan is even quite a bit higher than your typical dog at 12 to 14 years. But there are some health issues you have to be aware of as a Mudi owner:

You can keep most of these conditions in check by keeping up with your regular vet visits. A visitation about your dog’s health is always an excellent idea to ensure your dog remains in good shape.

There are other things you can do to help your Mudi dog avoid some of these conditions, however. Ensuring their parents have all the right certifications and evaluations would be a good start; therefore, having an open dialogue with your breeder is an essential step of being a dog owner.

These breeders should have the following paperwork, and it’s a must you ensure that they do:

  • OFA evaluation and certification for Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA evaluation and certification for Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye examination by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist

If your breeder doesn’t have this paperwork, it’s best to find a different breeder. After all, these certifications and evaluations are standard procedure for any good breeder. Not having them is one of the most significant warning signs something isn’t quite right.

Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different or your Mudi. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely Affe from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 14 yrs+ without pain and suffering.

Finding Your Mudi

If everything about the Mudi temperament seems to mesh with your household, there’s one more decision you must make: adopt or buy. But with either choice, it could be hard to find a Mudi in the US, as he’s a rare breed.

At this point, it’s all becomes about what your preference is as a prospective owner.

Mudi For Sale

Finding reputable Mudi breeders will be a tough task, but not impossible when you know where to look. Your search should always start with the ever-reliable American Kennel Club. This site will track down breeders who operate under their guidelines and recommend them to you.

But sometimes, this club can have a lack of results. If this situation happens, you should try looking into the Mudi Club of America: it maintains a list of reputable breeders at all times. And all of them adhere to the strict breeding guidelines the club provides.

There are also sites like Puppyfinder.com, which will give you a list of the nearest Mudi puppies. But the breeders on these sites don’t have to follow specific breeding guidelines; therefore, you must stay vigilant.

You should honestly stay vigilant about any breeders you might come across. Buying a puppy is a delicate situation and making sure everything feels right should be a high priority. As a result, it’s crucial you look out for warning signs of a bad breeder.

A few of these would be things like numerous litters, unsanitary breeding facilities, able to buy a puppy online via credit card, etc. You should also ensure the puppy you intend on buying has the right certifications and evaluations necessary for their breed.

It’s little things like these factors that will determine whether or not your buying experience is a good one. And if your breeder exhibits any of these warning signs, don’t hesitate to dump them immediately.

But once you do find the right breeder, it’s essential you understand the amount of money you’re looking at spending. In most cases, a Mudi puppy price will vary between $800 and $1000 depending on certain factors such as bloodlines.   

Mudi For Adoption

Adopting a Mudi is also an acceptable choice, but the amount of adoptable Mudis can be scarce. You’ll have to rely on sites like Adoptapet.com or puppyfinder.com as there aren’t any Mudi rescue organizations within the US.

These sites will alert you to the nearest adoptable Mudi and give you the contact information. You can also always go down to your local shelter or humane society. It’s rather unlikely a Mudi will be there, but it never hurts to at least look.

And you can give them your contact information to ensure you get a phone call when one does come through. But regardless of whom you adopt your Mudi from, you should ask them some questions before bringing him home.

It’s crucial you ask as many background questions as possible about his previous situation, medical issues, temperament, etc. The answers will give you an idea of what you’re getting yourself into as a prospective owner.

After all, dogs that end up in a shelter or rescue are often coming from neglectful situations. Understanding everything about that environment could make his transition into your house a much smoother one.

If you feel comfortable with the answers given, an adoptable Mudi puppy price usually hovers around $300. This figure covers things like medical cost, room/board, food, and other expenses the organization paid during the dog’s stay.

Conclusion: Is the Mudi the Right Dog For You?

If you’re looking for a high-energy, smaller dog, the Mudi temperament could be an excellent option for you. He’d love to accompany you during your run and will give plenty of affection when you’re winding down at home.

But if you’re living in a city area and looking for a low-energy dog, a Mudi isn’t the right pick. He will aggravate you with his troublemaking tendencies and constant need for physical stimulation. It’s also best for first-time owners to avoid getting this dog as well.