Fun Pumi Facts For Kids

Pumi, scientifically known as Canis lupus familiaris, gained a separate identity as a different breed in the 20th century from its relative breed Puli and has gained recognization in the American Kennel Club and full American Kennel Club status in 2016. The Hungarian Pumi is one of the most popular herding dogs.

The life expectancy of these dogs is around 12-14 years.

These dogs have a medium-length, thick and curly coat that requires grooming every two to three months. The ears of this Hungarian Pumi are high-set and alert and are carried semi-erect and thus, these dogs are known for their different ears.

The Pumi dog breed is known for its lively and friendly personality. It is very protective of the owner and their family and thus, is a great watchdog.

Although these dogs make good pets, these dogs are very vocal and thus, need to be given obedience training along with crate training at an appropriate age. This dog has quite a history as it was originally bred to be a herding dog and was considered similar to a sheepdog.

As such, the conservation status is unknown.

It is always advised to adopt or buy these dogs from professional breeders. Before you do, read these facts about the Hungarian herding dog, the Pumi.

For information on more dog breeds, read about the Toy Poodle and Snorkie too.

‍

Pumi Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Pumi?

The Pumi is a Hungarian herding breed of dog.

What class of animal does a Pumi belong to?

The Pumi belongs to the class of mammals.

How many Pumik are there in the world?

There has been no specific number of Pumi dogs in the world.

Where does a Pumi live?

A Pumi is a domesticated dog and thus, a Pumi dog lives in a house with its owners.

What is a Pumi's habitat?

There are no particular habitats of these Pumi dogs as they tend to live at the place of the owner and are known to adapt to apartment living.

Who do Pumik live with?

Pumi dogs live with their owner and their families.

How long does a Pumi live?

The life span of a Pumi dog ranges from 12-14 years.

How do they reproduce?

The reproduction of this dog takes place just like other canines. The copulation includes the male mounting the female from behind and females have different responses based on if they are receptive or not. If the female is receptive, she will be still and hold her tail to the side.

If she is unreceptive, she will sit down, retreat, or just be uncooperative. The gestation period lasts about 63 days and four to six Pumi puppies are born. Newborns are round puppies with a little crimp on their coat.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Pumi dog is unknown.

Pumi Fun Facts

What do Pumik look like?

A Pumi can be of varying gray colors like white or fawn. Sometimes, these dogs are also black.

The adults are usually black to light gray. They have a thick curly coat of medium length. A Pumi has a rough or harsh topcoat and a soft undercoat which helps the dogs to withstand extreme weather.

Grooming of the coat is required every two to four months. A Pumi is a square-looking dog with a light body but looks larger due to its thick coat and narrow head. The eyes of this dog are small, dark, and a bit oblique.

This dog is popular for its ears as its ears are alert, lively, high-set, and are semi-erect. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.

How cute are they?

This dog breed is considered to be very cute due to its fluffy body and its lively nature and ears.

How do they communicate?

The communication takes place as and when trained. It is advised to train these dogs when they are in the puppy stage. These dogs are also known for their loud and sharp barks. These dogs tend to bark when they need attention from their owner.

How big is a Pumi?

The male Pumi height is around 16-18.5 in (40.6-45.7 cm) and the female height is 15-17.5 in (38.1-44.5 cm). These Hungarian herding dogs are considered to be medium-sized dogs.

How fast can a Pumi run?

The exact speed of the Pumi is not known but they are considered to be energetic and agile. They were traditionally a sheepdog from Hungary so it is assumed that they can run fairly quickly.

How much does a Pumi weigh?

A Pumi male weighs around 22-33 lb (10-15 kg) and a female dog weighs around 17-28 lb (8-13 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the male and female of the species but in general, a male is called a dog, and a female is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby Pumi?

A baby Pumi is known as a puppy, as with the babies of all dog breeds.

What do they eat?

The diet and nutrition of the Pumi should be taken care of as recommended by the veterinarian as they can become overweight. They could be given high-quality commercially or home-prepared food. Fresh, clean water should be available at all times as they are highly energetic dogs.

Are they slobbery?

The Pumi is not known to drool too much and is considered to be an average drooler.

Would they make a good pet?

A Pumi is known to be a great pet. This dog is alert, curious, and lively.

This dog also has a friendly personality and is a great watchdog and protective of the family. The dog is loyal and loving towards the family and loves to play and is a motivated and easily trainable dog.

This dog has a fluffy coat and is considered to be a very cute dog. Although, this dog barks loudly and frequently and its herding instinct may lead it to chase cars and small animals and can be suspicious of strangers.

Did you know...

The Pumi received full American Kennel Club recognition in 1936.

This breed emerged in the 17-18th century from the Puli, German Spitz, French briard, and some type of terrier. Initially, it was considered a variation of the Puli and in 1921, it was accepted as a different breed.

The plural of Pumi is Pumik, as it is a Hungarian breed, the plural is used.

The Pumi is sometimes also called a Hungarian herding terrier, although it is not considered a true terrier.

While the terms Puli and Pumi are used interchangeably, there are certain differences between the two and these two breeds are not the same. The coat of the breeds differs. The Pumi and Puli were separated as breeds in the 20th century.

It is believed that the Pumi has some central Asian heritage as they are descended from the herding dogs used by Magyars.

This dog breed was affected by the world wars, as some of them got lost or sick due to lack of food and medical care.

It is best to train them properly at an appropriate age as this dog can be bossy and manipulative.

These dogs were originally bred to be herding dogs and take direction from a shepherd and herd the sheep.

There is a nickname for this dog in Hungarian, Bohoc which means a clown as this dog is happy and a lively one.

This herding dog is known to be very intelligent and has a great memory.

Characteristics and health issues

As these dogs are highly energetic and excited about everything, they tend to keep their owners on their toes. They are a joy to be around as they are very lively but also highly vocal and bark loudly.

Their health is one aspect that needs to be highly taken care of. Despite being a healthy breed, there are certain health issues to be kept in mind.

Many diseases are genetic which means that your dog might be at a risk to inherit these diseases. There are certain general diseases to look for. This herding dog is more likely to have dental infections or diseases than any other pet.

This starts with a tartar build-up which grows further and sometimes may end up with your dog losing its teeth. These breeds are prone to bacterial and viral infections, just like any other animal, like parvo and rabies which could be prevented with vaccinations.

Obesity is very common among these breeds which could further lead to joint problems, heart disease, digestion problems, or back pain. While it feels good to feed your dog, balance and regulation as recommended by the doctor should be ensured.

Parasites are common among a lot of breeds such as ticks, hookworms, roundworms which could be a harm to you and your family members, thus, regular check-ups and tests should be ensured to avoid serious concerns.

A lot of people also go for spray or neuter, which is surgically removing testicles to prevent certain types of cancer and unwanted puppies.

Knee problems are common in this herding dog, where kneecap shifts out of place which could be treated with a normal treatment or sometimes, surgery. Degenerative myelopathy, a neurological disorder that causes weakness or poor nerve functions in the hind legs. Pumis are highly prone to this than other dogs.

Other common diseases include eye problems and elbow and hip dysplasia. Thus, these health issues should be taken care of and kept an eye for in your Pumis.

Getting your own Pumi

Getting your own Pumi, is one big step and responsibility as there are certain things to be kept in mind and commit to but this breed makes it easy with their lively nature and energetic personality.

If you are looking to buy a Pumi dog, it will cost between $2000-$3000 USD. You should make sure that you are buying from a trusted and reputable breeder.

The price will also vary depending on the puppy itself and the breeder. The alternative is to adopt a Pumi for around $300. Ensure that you ask about the dog's history and health before bringing it home so that you are aware of any extra care needed.

Once the dog is home, you just need to make sure that your dog gets enough nutrition and exercise. It is important to brush their teeth and coat. They are low to moderate shedders and grooming every two to three months is necessary. Clean its ears even when it's a puppy.

This breed has a strong herding instinct and thus, it should be leash walked and a fenced yard is a must. Crate and obedience training should be given when young. This dog gets bored with repetitive tasks and thus, you need to be creative with exercise, training, and other activities.

Regular exercise should be ensured as they are highly energetic. Keep an eye on your dog just like a toddler.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including Pekingese, or Shiba Inu.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Pumi coloring pages.