05/14/2025
Meet Figment aka Fig the number 1 Pumi in the country. Fig comes to Bayside to keep in tip top shape to take on the show ring and prove he is the best of the best. Below is some breed info as well as some of Fig himself.
Pumi (in Hungarian, the plural form is pumik) is a medium-small breed of sheep dog from Hungary. They are capable herding dogs, able to gather and work close to farm stock, particularly sheep, to keep them under control. Pumik have an extended, tapered muzzle with prominent ears, and a tail curled over their back, and are sometimes described as having a whimsical expression. The double coat (black, white, grey, or fawn) has a mix of wavy and curly hair.
The Pumi is considered to have arisen from the cross-breeding of Hungarian Puli with French and German herding dogs from the 17th century onwards. The international breed standard was approved in 1935. The Pumi became an officially recognised breed in the US in 2011 and in the UK in 2015. There are over 2,000 Pumis registered in Hungary, with notable populations in Finland and Sweden and small but growing numbers of registrations in the US, UK and Germany.
Some refer to the Pumi as the "Hungarian herding terrier" because it has some terrier-like attributes such as quick movement, alert temperament, and a quadratic, lean and muscular body type.
Description
Appearance
The coat is curly, thick, and of medium length
Pumis are medium-sized dogs that can be in varying shades of grey, white, or fawn (known as 'fako' in Hungary). Grey Pumis are the most common,[5] born black, and ranging from almost black to light grey in adulthood. Puppies usually start greying at six to eight weeks old and the shade progressively lightens. The final shade is predicted by the colour of the parents.[6] Other accepted colours are black, white, and cream to red with a darker mask, known as fawn with mask.[1] An analysis of 1023 Pumi puppies carried out in 2009 by the University of Debrecen found that 56% were born black turning grey, 14% were black, 13% white, 11% grey, and 4% are fawn-coloured. Brown, mottled or blue-merle-coloured puppies are born occasionally.[5]
The thick coat is curly and of medium length approximately 4â7 cm (1.6â2.8 in) long[1] and consisting of a harsh topcoat and soft undercoat,[6] which provides good insulation and enables the dog to tolerate extremes of weather.[7] The coat grows constantly (similar to that of the Poodle) and, if grooming is not maintained, it may start matting. The adult coat begins to grow at about nine months of age, and has little to no shedding.[8][2] The coat is maintained by combing every few weeks, and trimming every two to four months.[9] The Pumi is known for its alert and lively ears, which are high-set and carried semi-erect and with longer hair than the body.[10]
The Pumi is a square, light-bodied dog which looks somewhat larger because of its thick coat with a long, narrow head. The muzzle is 45% of the length of the head, which is of equal length to the neck. The stop is barely noticeable, and the skull is flat when seen from the side. The eyes are small, dark, and slightly oblique. Movements are lively and energetic as is the Pumi itself.[6][1]
Male Pumis stand 41 to 47 cm (16 to 19 in) at the withers and weigh 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb); bi***es are 38 to 44 cm (15 to 17 in) and weigh 8 to 13 kg (18 to 29 lb).[11]
Temperament
Pumis can be very protective of its own family
The Pumi is alert, lively, expressive, bold, a little suspicious of strangers, but never overly aggressive or shy, somewhat vocal and always ready for action.[1][2] They can be very protective of their own families. Early socialisation is important.[12]
