UKC Mudi Breed Standard Explained
If you are new to the Mudi Breed Standard, or just curious about why some of the criteria exist, we try and explain this below.
Mudi General Appearance
A medium-sized Hungarian herding dog purposely bred for work. Overall, a well-muscled, moderate-boned, and firm body with spitz-like qualities dog. When viewed from above, it has a wedge-shaped head that tapers towards the nose, with prick ears and almond-shaped eyes. In profile, the Mudi has a topline that slopes very slightly downward from the withers to the croup, and its length is slightly longer than its height. The coat is short, straight, and smooth on the face and front of the legs, to a lengthier wavy or curly coat on the body.
Mudi Character & Temperament
The Mudi has a loose-eyed and upright herding style with intense, powerful, dedicated to duty, and excellent work-all-day endurance.
They are inherently courageous, alert, and may be aloof to strangers, producing an outstanding guard, watch, and alarm dog.
Versatile, playful, and obedient, they enthusiastically participate in multiple dog sports and activities.
Overly aggressive or extremely shy.
Mudi Character & Temperament Explained
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Mudi Gait & Handling
Shown at a trot with short, quick, and lively steps. Good foot timing with a moderate reach and drive to enable instant direction change.
Should not display any clumsiness or rigidity in motion.
In action, the stride is strong, agile, and efficient.
Mudi Gait & Handling Explained
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Mudi Height & Weight
Height at Withers
Height: 15 ½” - 19” (40 - 48 cm) Male
Height: 14 ½” - 18” (37 - 46 cm) Female
Weight is determined by using the below Body Condition Score (BCS) conditions:
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Ribs: Easily palpable, minimal fat covering.
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Waistline: Easily noted, viewed from above.
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Abdomen: Abdominal tuck evident.
Height at withers deviating from above.
Mudi Height & Weight Explained
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Mudi Coat
Shown with a natural coat. The distinctive,
easy-care, and self-cleaning coat requires little grooming.
Coat may form cowlicks or ridges on the body.
The correct coat lengths/types comprise:
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Face: Short, straight, and smooth.
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Front of legs: Short, straight, and smooth.
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Ears: Wavy to curly feathering around ears.
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Body: 1.5” - 3.5” long and wavy to curly.
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Back of front legs: Moderate feathering.
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Back of upper thighs: Moderate feathering.
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Tail: Longer coat with moderate feathering.
Any length/type not listed above as correct.
Smooth or straight coat lying flat on body.
Mudi Coat
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Mudi Colors & Patterns
Correct
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Colors: Black, White, Yellow, Brown, Ash, Ashbrown
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Patterns: Solid and Merle of above. Minimal White Markings of less than 2” on toes or chest.
Faults
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Sable. Tan Points. White Markings of more than 2” on toes or chest.
Very Serious: White Markings occurring outside of the toes or chest.
Disqualifications
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Albinism.
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White and Yellow may hide Merle.
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Black may hide Sable and Tan Points.
Mudi Head
The foxlike head is well proportioned to the body. “Wedge-shaped” when viewed from above. When viewed in profile the skull and muzzle lines form parallel planes. Skull to Muzzle ratio is 4:3.
Expression
Their intelligent, energetic, alert, and playful characteristics combine with the features of
almond-shaped and slightly oblique eyes to
portray a genuine “mischievous” expression.
Skull, Forehead, & Stop
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Occiput: Minimal.
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Skull: Broad between ears with obvious tapering to nose. Forehead slightly arched.
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Brows: Barely developed.
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Stop: Defined.
Muzzle, Nose, & Lips
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Muzzle: Tapered to nose. Straight bridge.
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Nose: Rounded tip, moderately wide nostrils.
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Lips: Tight and clean.
Bite & Teeth
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Mudi Pigmentation of Nose, Lip, & Eye
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Mudi Ears
High-set, prick, and triangular. Height is longer than width at base. Responsive and alert the ears move independently turning, tilting, and lowering.
Dropped, hanging, weak, or tipped ears.
Mudi Eyes
Narrow, almond-shaped, and slightly oblique with tight fitting eye rims. Dark brown is preferred.
Cross-eyed or walleyed.
Mudi Neck, Topline & Body
ü Neck: Medium length, slightly arched.
ü Topline: Straight and slightly sloping.
ü Withers: Slightly pronounced, tapers to neck.
ü Back: In action, the back should be firm.
ü Loin: Firmly joined to back and croup.
ü Croup: Slightly sloping for quick turns.
ü Body: Length from the sternum to buttocks is slightly longer that height at withers. Withers to elbow is slightly longer than elbow to ground.
Ø Any mane should be in proportion to coat length and may be more pronounced in males.
Mudi Forechest & Underline
Oval, slightly curved, and moderate in depth.
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Sternum: Protrudes slightly ahead of point of shoulder.
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Chest: Moderate depth to elbow.
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Ribs: Well sprung and broad to elbow.
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Underline: Moderate tuck-up.
Mudi Feet & Dewclaws
ü Feet: Tight “oval” or spoon shaped feet great for jumping, speed, and endurance.
ü Front Dewclaws: Correct.
ü Rear Dewclaws: Undesirable but not faulted.
Mudi Tail
Any length is correct, Follows the natural line of the croup. In action or when alert, the tail should arch up and over the topline into a sickle/semicircular manner.
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Long and Natural Bobtail (NBT) includes nubs, longer bobs, ½, and ¾.
Tightly curled or “screw tail”.
Mudi Forequarters
Shoulder and upper arm form a 100° to 110° angle with moderate angulation.
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Shoulder: Moderate length, well-fitted to body.
Blades are well laid back at 55° with horizontal. -
Upper Arm: Moderate length and firmly joined. Falls vertical from shoulder.
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Forearm: Elbows well fitted to body. Vertical from side, parallel from front. Carpal joints are strong. Pasterns slightly sloped.
Mudi Hindquarters
Upper and lower thigh have a moderate angulation in balance with the front.
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Upper Thigh: Long and developed.
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Hocks & Pasterns: Vertical from ground, and parallel from the rear.
Cow-hocked and/or bowleg.