Official Standard of the Mudi General

Appearance: The Mudi is an extremely versatile, intelligent, alert, agile all purpose Hungarian farm dog. The Mudi has courage, a trait useful for working the most stubborn livestock. The breed is a loyal protector of property and family members without being overly aggressive. The Mudi is sometimes used for flushing out wild boar in Hungary. The Mudi is medium in size and moderate in conformation. The profile is nearly square with a slightly sloping topline from withers to croup. The head is wedge shaped with erect ears. The coat is short and straight on the face and front of the legs. The rest of the body is covered by a coat that is very wavy to curly, growing to a length of up to approximately 3 inches.

Size, Proportion, Substance: The Mudi is medium boned. The height from the withers to the ground is nearly equal to the body length from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttocks. The depth of the brisket is slightly less than half of the height at the withers. The Mudi should stand squarely on all fours and when viewed from the side, the topline, front legs and back legs should closely approximate a square.

Size - Dogs are from 16 inches to 18½ inches, ideal 17½ inches, bitches from 15 inches to 17½ inches, ideal 16½ inches. Disqualification - Dogs less than 15½ inches and over 19 inches, and bitches less than 14½ inches and over 18 inches.

Weight - Ideal weight in dogs is 24 pounds to 29 pounds and in bitches 18 pounds to 24 pounds.

Head: The head is wedge shaped when viewed from the top with sufficient fill under the eyes to make a smooth wedge line from ear to nose. The length of the muzzle is slightly less than half of the total length of the head creating a wedge shape when viewed from the side. The stop is defined but not obvious.

Expression - The Mudi expression is alert, lively and intelligent.

Eyes - The eyes are almond shaped and set slightly oblique thus giving the Mudi a "dare devil" expression. The eyes should be as dark as possible. The following variations are permitted: Merle patterned dogs can have solid brown, blue, or brown speckled with blue eye(s). Brown, gray and gray-brown dogs can have lighter brown eyes. Yellow and white colored dogs can have dark brown, lighter brown, blue, or brown speckled with blue eye(s). Rims of lids are tight, close-fitting to the eyeball and completely pigmented. Brown and gray-brown dogs have brown pigmentation and gray dogs have gray pigmentation. Yellow and white dogs may have black, brown or gray pigmentation. Disqualification - Yellow eyes in black dogs. Pink (albino) eyes in white dogs. Incomplete or pink pigmentation of the eye rims.

Ears - The Mudi ears are high set, fully erect and covered with abundant hair reaching beyond the edges of the ear leather. The ears are triangular and only slightly taller than the width at the base. The ears are very mobile and alert, able to move independently in reaction to any stimulation. Disqualification - Drop or semi- pricked ears.

Skull - The skull and forehead are slightly domed. The occiput and brows are only slightly apparent.

Muzzle - The muzzle is strong with the bridge of the nose straight and tapering to a blunt end at the nose. The lips are tight and the lip pigment corresponds with the pigment of the nose and eye rims. Whiskers shall be present.

Nose - The nose is rounded in front with moderately wide nostrils. The bridge is straight. The nose color is black with the following exceptions: Brown and gray-brown dogs have brown noses. Gray dogs have gray noses. Yellow and white colored dogs may have black, brown or gray noses. The nose pigmentation is solid. Fault - Discolored areas. Disqualification - Pink or spotted nose.

Bite – Full dentition preferred. Scissors bite preferred, level bite acceptable. Fault - One or more missing teeth are a serious fault. Disqualification - Over or undershot mouth, wry mouth. 

Topline and Body: Neck - Neck is of medium length in proportion to the body, placed slightly high on the shoulders, slightly arched and is well-muscled. The skin at the throat is tight, dry, and without a dewlap. Topline - Withers are slightly higher with the topline slightly sloping towards the croup.











Body - The body is smooth and tight with hard, but not bulging muscles. Forechest is slightly curved, the point of the sternum only slightly protruding. The chest is moderate in depth with ribs that are slightly sprung that extends back to a slight tuck-up. The back is short, straight, and taut. The loin is short, straight, and firmly coupled. The croup is slightly sloped, and of medium breadth. The tail follows the natural line of the croup.

Tail - Tails come in all natural lengths including a natural bob. When alert and during active movement all tail lengths can be carried higher than the topline. A full length tail can be carried over the back in a loose, semi-circular fashion. When relaxed all tail lengths may hang below the topline. The tail is abundantly coated; the hair on the underside can be 4 to 5 inches long. No tail length is preferred over any other length. Docking of tail is undesirable but is not regarded as a fault. Fault - A tightly curled tail or “pigs-tail” should be faulted. Notice the dog's tail. Mudi have a tail that may be of any length, including a bobtail. Regardless of what length the dog's tail is, when they are actively moving and alert, they may carry their tail higher than their topline. A dog that has a tail that is full-length may carry it over their back in a semi-circular, loose way. The tail may be lower than the topline when the dog is relaxed.

Forequarters: The shoulders are moderately angulated, with long, well-knit shoulder blades and an upper arm matching in length. The angle formed between the shoulder blade and upper arm should be 100 to 110 degrees. The elbows are tucked firmly against the brisket. The legs are long and straight, with medium bone. The pastern is very slightly sloped. Feet are compact, oval in shape; pads deep and strong, toes moderately arched and close. The nails are strong and preferably black or slate gray. Front dewclaws are desirable.

Hindquarters: The hindquarters are well-developed and muscular, and in balance with the forequarters having moderate angulation. The upper thigh is thick and strong, with a long, strong lower thigh. The hocks are short, vertical, and parallel to each other. A vertical line drawn from the point of buttocks down to the ground almost touches the front of the rear toes when viewed from the side. Hind feet same as the forefeet. Rear dewclaws are not desirable. Coat:

Face and front of legs are covered by short, straight and smooth hair. On other parts of the body, the coat is uniformly very wavy to curly, dense and about 1 inch to 3 inches long. At some spots, cow-licks and ridges are formed. The coat is longer on the back of the forearms and the upper thighs, where it forms pronounced featherings. The tail is abundantly coated; the hair on the underside may be as much as 4 inches to 5 inches long. The unique nature of the easy care, self cleaning Mudi coat is reliant on having enough texture to its coat that it does not mat. The Mudi is presented in a natural coat, never appearing sculpted, wooly, fluffed nor blown dry so as to obscure the natural curls and texture of the coat. Disqualification - Short, smooth, flat coat on the whole body; long hair on the face. Color:

Allowed colors are: Black – all over with no shading. Brown – color can range from a light brown to chocolate with lighter shades of brown on the breeches and underbelly. Gray - all over with no shading. Gray-brown – color is a dilute of brown (Isabella) with lighter shades on the breeches and underbelly. Yellow and white – color can range from white to a near-white cream to a darker shade approaching golden with lighter shades on the breeches and underbelly. The merle pattern may be present with any color. No color is preferred over any other color and there is no preference of the solid vs. merle pattern. Minimal white markings are tolerated but not desired on any color or pattern; this includes a white patch on the chest less than 2 inches in diameter and small white markings on the toes. Fault - Any white markings more extensive than the foregoing are a serious fault. Allowable light shadings are not to be confused with white markings. Disqualification - Wolf gray (agouti - alternating bands of color along each hair shaft), black and tan, albino (pure white with pale pink skin and pink eyes) or any other color or marking not listed.






















Gait: Action is true, free, supple and tireless, exhibiting facility of movement rather than hard driving action. The trot is not long striding yet covers the ground with a minimum of effort. The capability of quick and sudden movement is essential.

Temperament: The Mudi is alert, energetic, intelligent, biddable, adaptable and always enthusiastic about any job that needs to be done. The Mudi is sensibly suspicious and therefore an excellent watchdog.

Faults: Any deviation from the foregoing should be considered a fault, the seriousness of the fault depending upon the extent of the deviation. Disqualificiations: Dogs less than 15 ½ inches and over 19 inches, and bitches less than 14 ½ inches and over 18 inches. Yellow eyes in black dogs. Pink (albino) eyes in white dogs. Incomplete or pink pigmentation of the eye rims. Drop or semi-pricked ears. Pink or spotted nose. Over or undershot mouth, wry mouth. Short, smooth, flat coat on the whole body; long hair on the face. Wolf gray (agouti - alternating bands of color along each hair shaft), black and tan, albino (pure white with pale pink skin and pink eyes) or any other color or markings not listed.
Referenced AKC:
Approved October 9, 2017 Effective July 1, 2018

Herding style: Mudi are drivers and use the bark to move the stock. In herding they are upright, loose-eyed.  They were made to move large flocks and do “chores” like penning, sorting, etc. They work close to the stock and will grow bored with repetitive exercises that don’t have a clear goal.