Page 281 - ShowSight - October 2019
P. 281

                Once a Pumi
ALWAYS A PUMI...
DISCLAIMER: The Pumi Is Not For Everyone
BY LASZLO SULYOK & ILDIKO REPASI
photos by Catskill Pumi Kennel and Jozsef Tari
  Pumik are attractive, whimsical creatures. With their “cute ears and funny look” they are real attention getters. It is a breed with an (almost) unbreakable spirit, burn- ing loyalty, and unparalleled work ethic. However, these chivalrous attributes come with a restless, mischievous and vocal terrier type personality. Most Pumik are not the social butterfly types. They don’t do well in small urban dog runs, kenneling out- door, and going on long road shows with handlers in the company of two dozen other dogs where they might be crated for most of the day. They need their handler’s personal attention in the home and on the road. Most importantly, they need daily physical and mental exercise. Pumik don’t take a rain check easily.
It is a breed that often generates drama and emotion. If the Pumi was a literary genre, it would belong to tragicomedy. Because of space restrictions, I am not able to explain the overseas palace intrigues, conflicts, revenges, the flawed heroes and a tragic suicide.
“Canis familiaris ovilis villous terrarius Raitsitsi” aka Pumi is a Hungarian terrier type herding dog. It originates from the Puli, various continental European herding dogs and terriers reaching back to the 18th century. The Pumi has served as an all around farm dog; provided a broad spectrum of vermin control from fight- ing wild boars on the crop fields to catching mice in the barn. He also served as watch dog and most importantly as a herding dog.
 ShowSight Magazine, october 2019 • 279


























































































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