Pumi

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-14 years
The Pumi is a healthy breed of dog and does not have too many inherited and genetic conditions that can be passed down to him or her. It is important to work with a reputable breeder to ensure that your pup does not have any of the medical conditions. The conditions you need to keep your eye out for include primary lens luxation, hip dysplasia, and degenerative myelopathy.

Primary lens luxation or PLL is a painful inherited eye condition that can occur in your pup. This condition is well known in the breeding industry and parent breeds should be screened for it to ensure it is not passed down to the puppies. PLL will ultimately lead to blindness in your dog.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that causes pain in your pup’s hip joint. This condition occurs when the hip socket or joint is improperly formed. This genetic condition is often affected by the environmental factors around your pup and can be quite crippling. In fact, arthritis may form in the joints as well.

Lastly, your pup may have degenerative myelopathy which is a progressive disease that affects the spinal cord in older dogs. This condition does not normally present itself until somewhere between 8 and 14 years of age. Your pup will often drag his or her feet and may wobble when they walk.

The Pumi has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years

Temperament & Train-ability

The Pumi is known to be an affectionate dog that loves his or her family as much as possible. While your pup is friendly with you and those in your circle, he or she is wary of strangers and may act reserved. It is important to introduce new people to your pup before they simply come into your home.

This breed is known to be very vocal and will bark a lot whether at a strange noise, strangers, or to get your attention. This breed can make an excellent watchdog due to their vocalization and their protective nature.

This breed is quite energetic and loves to play inside and outside. You need to provide this breed with exercise and you will find that he or she is content being outside. Since this breed likes to play outdoors, it is recommended that you live in a home and have access to a yard.

The Pumi does well with children and other pets and loves to play fetch and engage in fun, rowdy play. You may find though, that your pup tries to herd your family, and this is not acceptable behavior. It needs to be nipped in the bud right away.

Training is considered to be easy with this breed, but you need to be consistent because this breed is known to have a stubborn side to him. Since this pup was bred to be a herder, you may notice that he or she tries to dominate you. You need to be alpha and assert yourself as the leader, so that your puppy will follow suit.

When it comes to training, you need to continue to work at it and be patient as your pup learns new commands. Remember, positive reinforcement such as treats or praise can work wonders.

Grooming

The Pumi has moderate grooming needs that will require some of your attention. You need to pay attention to your pup’s coat and brush it once per day to remove any tangles and debris that may become trapped.

Your Pumi will need to head to the groomer every three months to have his or her coat clipped and trimmed. You do not want to miss these appointments, as your pup’s coat can become uncontrollable quickly.

This breed does not shed a lot, which makes him or her a good option for those who are allergic to dogs or their dander. You may need to trim up the hair around your pup’s mouth and face occasionally. This can be done with groomer’s scissors and some patience.

Your pup does not need to be bathed unless it is really needed. When you do shampoo your pup, you want to make sure to choose a mild shampoo that will not strip the oils from his or her skin.

You also need to clean your pup’s ears once per week to prevent ear infections and you should trim your pup’s nails once per month to prevent overgrowth.

Diet

The Pumi eats an average of 1.5 cups to 2 cups of dry food per day. You want to feed your pup a high-quality brand of dog food, especially since he or she is very active. The best diet for your pup will meet his or her nutritional requirements, contain a lot of protein, and be made up of whole foods and not chemicals or by-products.
 

Find A Pumi Breeder

Pumi Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Pumi

Cost

A Pumi puppy will cost you approximately $900. This price may go up or down depending on the breeder you choose, the season and whether this breed is in demand, and the sex of the puppy you choose.

In addition to the cost of the puppy, you want to factor in the costs for vaccines, preventative medicines, any surgical procedures needed, vet checkups, food, and supplies. This can cost you anywhere between $500 to $1,500 additionally per year.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Pumi is a good choice if you are looking for a pup who is energetic and full of life. This breed does well in homes with yards and is easy to get along with. You will find that this breed does try to assert himself or herself as alpha, so as an owner, you must be confident and let them know that you are the leader. Training is easy, but you may run into a dominance or stubborn roadblock from time to time. Overall, this breed is affectionate and will protect your family as needed. This breed ranks a 3.

 

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