Puli vs Pumi

A Puli
Photo: Anita Ritenour
A Pumi
Photo: Frantseï Blè

Side by side

Puli
Pumi
Adult weight
Males 13–15 kg (29–33 lb); females 10–13 kg (22–29 lb)1
Males 10–15 kg (22–33 lb); females 8–13 kg (18–29 lb)2
Height
Males 39–45 cm; females 36–42 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 13.3 years3
No sourced figure
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs1
Sheepdogs & cattledogs2
Coat
Corded coat1
Curly coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
No brushing
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Working
Working

Which suits you

Grooming
The Pumi needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Puli needs no brushing.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Puli: decides for itself; Pumi: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 13 kg (28 lb) for the Puli and 12 kg (25 lb) for the Pumi.
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Puli
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament the Puli is lively, alert and attentive, closely attached to its own people and wary of strangers.

Pumi
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament the Pumi is alert, quick and busy, closely attached to its own people and reserved with strangers. It is a keen watchdog and readily vocal, a trait that suited its working past.

The Puli page →The Pumi page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Puli
Pumi
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Puli
Pumi
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Puli
Pumi
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour5. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home6,7.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 12 kg.
Puli
Pumi
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More comparisons

Compare the Puli with
Komondor vs PuliMudi vs PumiBergamasco Sheepdog vs PuliPembroke Welsh Corgi vs PumiAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·