03/02/2024
The North American Mudi Alliance (NAMA) is pleased to announce an updated United Kennel Club (UKC) Mudi Breed Standard. We also are providing an easier-to-read version that has bullets, tables, and a stack diagram for easier understanding of the standard.
UKC Mudi Breed Standard:https://www.ukcdogs.com/docs/breeds/mudi.pdf
NAMA Mudi Breed Standard Web Page: https://www.northamericanmudialliance.com/mudi-standard
NAMA Easy-to-read Version: NAMA Easy-to-read PDF
Overall changes included more description in some sections, simplifying the many descriptions, combining information into the correct sections, and, if possible, bulleted descriptions instead of full sentences to be more like a checklist.
We changed some inaccurate descriptions as follows:
• Changed approximate square language to slightly longer than the height.
• Removed actual dog weights to use a Body Conditioning Score.
• Removed slate nails, as Merles may not have all slate nails.
• Removed domed head as most judges think of Cocker Spaniels as a domed head.
• Added Sable & Tan Points as a Fault, after NAMA members voted. (We are providing some background below on the research we accomplished and presented when we requested members vote on Colors and Patterns)
Coat Color & Pattern Overview:
The club's Standard committee has spent time and effort researching the history and current DNA samplings in relation to the Mudi dog breed. Both results show that other coat patterns did and do exist. Pattern traits that currently exist in today's Mudi have been hidden by coat color or pattern, and some have been incorrectly marked as black or merle on registration and pedigrees when, in fact, they are sable or tan points.
Coat Color & Pattern DNA Context:
Current DNA research sampling has provided us with the information that ~9% of Mudi carry the Sable pattern, and ~12% carry the Tan Points pattern. In 2022, Embark added the Tan Points, which has provided us with additional pattern information.
