Are Mudi Dogs Rare? 3 Reasons Why & Where To Find One! (2024)

A black-and-white Mudi dog with a blurred grassy background.

In 2022 the AKC added the Mudi to its list of officially recognized breeds. While this breed has been entering AKC contests since the early 2000s, it has remained fairly unknown.

Mudi dogs have an interesting history. They are smart and loyal and make ideal family pets.

Are Mudi dogs rare? Mudi dogs are rare. It is believed that there are only a few thousand Mudi dogs in existence. In the United States, there are less than 500. The breed was almost wiped out during WWII, but breeders in Hungary were able to rehabilitate the Mudi with the few survivors.

Mudi dogs are medium-sized dogs that were bred from Hungarian sheepdogs.

They are bred to be working dogs, but due to their adorable appearance and amazing trainability, they are becoming popular show dogs and pets.

If you are thinking about bringing a Mudi dog into your family, continue reading to learn more about them. 

Why Mudi Dogs Are Rare

Mudi dogs are rare because they are a fairly unknown breed, with only a few thousand dogs in existence in the world.

Because the breed has only recently become recognized and is not yet well established, puppies are not readily available. 

Mainly Limited to Hungary

There are estimated to be just a few thousand Mudi dogs in existence, and the majority of them are mainly found in Hungary.

The breed originated from Hungarian sheepdogs who were once only classified by size.

Because the breed was almost eliminated during WWII, it has taken time for rehabilitation to take effect, and the majority of surviving Mudi dogs are in Hungary.

There are only around 450 Mudi dogs in the United States and even fewer in other parts of the world.

Few Breeders

Because Mudi dogs are so rare, there is a limited breeding stock and only a few breeders.

Breeders may only offer puppies once a year, and many need to source breeding stock from other countries.

This takes a lot of time and money, and very few breeders are invested in the process. 

Not Well Known

Mudi dogs have only been purposely bred since the 1930s and weren’t well known until the 60s, though they have existed since at least the 1800s.

The AKC officially recognized the breed in 2022. Because they are not a well-known breed, there have not been a lot of people interested in them nor a need for a lot of different breeders. 

Mudi Dog History

A white mudi dog resting in long grass and weeds.

Mudi dogs originated from Hungarian sheepdogs. It is believed that Mudi occur naturally from crosses of the Puli, Pumi, & German Spitz-type breeds.

At one time, these sheepdogs were only classified by size. 

In the early 1930s, Dr. Deszö Fényesi began purposely breeding these smaller sheepdogs to refine the Mudi breed.

He is credited with naming the breed, though it is unclear why he chose the name Mudi.

Mudis were recognized as an official breed in 1936, but WWII almost saw the breed erased completely.

In the 60s, breeders started to rehabilitate the Mudi from the small number of surviving dogs in Hungary. The rehabilitation efforts were successful, and in 1966 Dr. Zoltan Balassy wrote a new standard for the breed to apply for FCI recognition. 

The FCI approved the breed standard in 1966, but very few breeders chose to breed Mudis.

In 2000, a new breed standard was written that allows for more variability in coat color, which occurs naturally in Mundis.

There are still very few Mudi breeders around the world, and less than 5,000 Mundi exist. The majority of them are still found in Hungary. In 2022 the AKC recognized the Mudi breed.

Where To Find a Mudi

If you want to find a Mudi dog today, it’s best to check with breeders on the AKC Marketplace. There are very few breeders, and only a small number are approved through the AKC.

Some breeders to consider include: 

Related Questions: 

How Much Is a Mudi Puppy?

The price of a Mudi Puppy can vary. In general, they range from $1,000 to $3,000.

Pricing will often depend on the dog’s pedigree, the genetic testing performed on the parents prior to breeding, and the quality of the litter.

As the breed becomes more popular, expect to see changes in the average pricing.

Is a Mudi a Good Dog?

Mudis are very good dogs. They are loyal, energetic, and very smart. They have gentle and friendly temperaments, do well indoors, are very easy to train, and don’t require extensive grooming.

Not only do they make great working dogs, but they also make great pets for any family willing to provide sufficient daily exercise.

Conclusion 

Mudi dogs may not be well known yet, but they are becoming more popular. They have an interesting history, and the breed was able to survive WWII and become recognized by the AKC.

If you think a Mudi may be the dog for you, be sure to research the breed, and only choose puppies from an approved breeder.