Icelandic Sheepdog (Imp) | Breeds A to Z

Breed characteristics

Size: Medium
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
Size of home: Small house
Grooming: Once a week
Coat length: Medium
Sheds: Yes
Lifespan: Over 10 years
Vulnerable native breed: No
Town or country: Country
Size of garden: Small/ medium garden

Although dogs resembling the Hungarian Mudi have existed in Hungary since the 18th century, the breed was only formally recognised in 1936. The Mudi is an active and intelligent dog, easily identified by its distinctive wavy or curly coat, pricked ears, and keen expression. It is known for its versatility and enthusiasm for work, thriving on outdoor activity and taking naturally to herding tasks.

Like many herding breeds, the Mudi is vocal, alert, and courageous. Loyal and affectionate with their families, they form strong bonds with their owners and can make excellent companions in the right home. While relatively low maintenance in terms of grooming, they do require an outlet for their energy and intelligence. The Mudi is best suited to an experienced owner who can provide the stimulation, structure and purpose this spirited breed needs to stay physically fit and mentally fulfilled.

Images for this breed

Pastoral breed group

The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.

Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

TBC

Other colour/s

TBC

Non-breed-standard colours

TBC

Whether you're considering buying a Hungarian Mudi (Imp) puppy or breeding from your dog, it's important to understand the health issues that may affect the breed and how they can be managed or avoided.

Pre-breeding Health Screening

At this time this breed does not have any recommended pre-breeding health screening in place, however breeders and puppy buyers should check frequently as this may change once new evidence and research becomes available

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed or Activity Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

DNA Testing Services

We don’t currently offer a breed-specific DNA testing package for this breed, but we have a wide selection of individual DNA tests available. To find out more and view our full selection, click here.

Breed Health & Conservation Plan

The Breed Health and Conservation Plans

Our breed health and conservations plans (BHCPs) use evidence and data to help us understand the health issues found in each pedigree dog breed. These plans help breeders and owners identify health and welfare problems and use information, health tests and health schemes to avoid passing on those problems to future puppies. They also support and provide breeders with tools and specialist expertise to help manage genetic diversity, understand the impacts of close breeding, and find the best ways to preserve the population of their breed.

If you would like to seek access to the full report, please contact our health team.

Health (The Kennel Club)

More about health

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email

Health (The Kennel Club)

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.