Pumi Guide: Size, Temperament, Grooming and Adoption
Pumi overview
Described as a lively herding dog of medium build, the Pumi shows its Terrier side mostly in the head, where the foreface is elongated and the ears are semi-prick. The American Kennel Club lists Hungary as the breed's origin and places it in the Herding Group.
Where does the Pumi come from?
The United Kennel Club says the breed took shape in Hungary by crossing the primitive Puli with imported German and French Terrier-type breeds that had prick ears. It has been treated as an independent breed since the beginning of the 20th century. The American Kennel Club recognized the Pumi in 2016, while the United Kennel Club did so in 1996.
How big do Pumi dogs get?
The United Kennel Club gives Pumi height as 16-18.5 inches for males and 15-17.5 inches for females, and the American Kennel Club gives the same ranges. For Pumi weight, the American Kennel Club publishes 27-29 pounds for males and 22-24 pounds for females, while the United Kennel Club gives 22-33 pounds for males and 17-28 pounds for females. The American Kennel Club files the Pumi under its small size category.
Pumi dog temperament and personality
The United Kennel Club describes Pumi dog temperament as bold, active and rather restless, with a tendency to be a little suspicious toward strangers. It adds that the breed is constantly on the alert, looking for action, and can be rather noisy, while shyness is untypical. The American Kennel Club describes the Pumi as energetic, lively and ready to work, and rates family affection at the top of its scale. Its ratings for child compatibility, dog compatibility and stranger openness sit in the middle of the scale, so individual dogs may differ.
Activity needs
The American Kennel Club gives the Pumi its highest rating for both energy and mental enrichment.
Pumi grooming and shedding: do Pumi dogs shed?
The American Kennel Club rates Pumi shedding at the lowest point of its scale and grooming frequency at a low-to-moderate level. The coat is wavy or curly, dense and double, with a strong topcoat and a soft undercoat, according to the United Kennel Club. That standard calls for the body coat to be prepared by hand, allows scissoring of the face and legs, and says the whole body should not be scissored.
Pumi training
The American Kennel Club gives the Pumi its highest trainability rating, alongside its highest rating for mental enrichment.
Pumi dog life expectancy
The American Kennel Club gives a general life expectancy of 12-13 years for the Pumi. A veterinarian can explain what to expect for an individual adult dog.
Pumi adoption
The energy, enrichment and trainability ratings above suggest a Pumi fits households that can offer daily activity and mental work.
AKC breed facts
These are the American Kennel Club’s general facts and 1 to 5 ratings for the Pumi as a breed. General tendencies don’t establish any one dog’s ancestry, personality or health; ask the listing organization about the dog you are considering.
- AKC group
- Herding Group
- AKC recognition year
- 2016
- Height (AKC published)
- 16-18.5 inches (male), 15-17.5 inches (female)
- Weight (AKC published)
- 27-29 pounds (male), 22-24 pounds (female)
- General life expectancy
- 12-13 years
- AKC size category
- Small
AKC general breed ratings (1 to 5)
- Energy: 5 of 5
- Mental enrichment: 5 of 5
- Trainability: 5 of 5
- Grooming frequency: 2 of 5
- Shedding: 1 of 5
- Vocalization: 3 of 5
- Drooling: 2 of 5
- Adaptability: 4 of 5
- Playfulness: 4 of 5
- Watchful or protective tendency: 4 of 5
- Affection toward family: 5 of 5
- Openness toward strangers: 3 of 5
- AKC child compatibility rating: 3 of 5
- AKC dog compatibility rating: 3 of 5
Health screenings AKC lists for the breed
Breeding evaluations AKC names for the breed; they are not a diagnosis or a testing plan for any one dog.
- Patella Evaluation
- Hip Evaluation
- Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) - DNA Test
- Degenerative Myelopathy (Common Variant) (DM) - DNA Test
Source: American Kennel Club breed profile (opens in a new tab), retrieved November 4, 2026 (snapshot akc-2026-11-04).
Written by Lily's Second Chance with AI assistance from the sources listed under References. Facts were checked automatically against those sources on November 9, 2026.
References
- Breed Standards : Pumi | United Kennel Club (UKC) (opens in a new tab), United Kennel Club, checked November 8, 2026
- Pumi - AKC breed profile (snapshot akc-2026-11-04) (opens in a new tab), American Kennel Club, checked November 4, 2026
