Pumi is not plural for the word puma. It’s a dog. If you don’t know anything about the Pumi, then you’ve come to the right place. It’s Woof Wednesday and we’re here to give you some fast facts on this adorable dog. Read on.

1 – Ancestors

Until early in the 20^th Century, the Pumi were thought to be the same breed as two other Hungarian herding dogs, the Puli and the Muli.

It’s believed the Pumi came about from the scandalous (well, not really…)breeding of a Puli and a German or French terrior, giving the Pumi its square shape and long head. But it’s an adorable dog with a curly coat that doesn’t shed.

2 – To Bark, Or Not To Bark

This is a vocal dog, because the herding instinct is strongly ingrained in its genes. Herding dogs bark to help guide sheep and they will bark as strangers and intruders (and possibly suspicious looking shadows) to alert their owners.

It’s important to train your Pumi to let them know when it’s appropriate to bark, otherwise you may have a lot of annoyed neighbors (okay, they probably deserve to be annoyed…wait, did I just say that?).

3 – Small Dog, Big Personality

This is not a quiet lapdog who likes to sit about looking pretty. This little dog has lots of energy, loves to play Frisbee and run about. In fact the Pumi loves being given tasks and will invent them when there aren’t any to do.

They are a smart dog who can be stubborn and tricky – they’ll work out ways to get around your rules and get away with it. But this doesn’t mean they’re a problem dog. They’re not. They don’t fight, they get along with other dogs and even cats. Which says a lot about a certain black cat who may or may not be sitting in a cardboard box (what is it with cats and boxes??), who also actively dislikes other animals…

4 – Tricks & Jobs

The Pumi is active. They love to learn tricks and take part of different activities, especially the show variety. In fact they’re great at dancing, obstacle jumping, obedience, agility and post zig-zagging. Let’s just say, better than me. Which isn’t right.

But they can work, too (just like me? Hmmm). There’s one dog in Europe who works as a security guard dog. which is pretty amazing, and probably slightly insane. Others show great aptitude for tracking, and their herding instinct is so ingrained in their genes that most pass herding instinct tests without ever having seen a sheep before. Some actually work as stock dogs in the US.

Also, let’s face it, the Pumi is cute as all hell. I mean don’t you want to just grab him and huggle and snuggle him? I thought so. Wait, where was I? Oh, yes… And that’s the Pumi.

Seriously, the Pumi is an awesome dog.  Go, Pumi!!!