Breed Standard for the Hungarian Puli

GENERAL APPEARANCE Sturdy, muscular, wiry, with fine bone. Whole covered with long (according to age), profuse corded coat. Long hair overshadows eyes like an umbrella. Viewed from the side, trunk and limbs should present square figure.
CHARACTERISTICS Herding dog, medium sized, nimble and extremely intelligent.
TEMPERAMENT Lively, wary of strangers, but not displaying nervousness or unprovoked aggression.
HEAD AND SKULL Disregarding hair, head small and fine with slightly domed skull. From the front it appears round, from the side almost elliptical. Muzzle one-third length of head, with well defined stop, not snipey but bluntly rounded. Arches of eye socket well defined nose relatively large and black, eye rims and flews black in all colours.
EYES Medium size, dark brown with lively expression.
EARS Set slightly below level of skull, V-shaped, pendant, of medium size, covered with long hair. Length of ears about half length of head. Ears do not appear noticeable, even when alert.
MOUTH Roof uniformly dark or variegated with deep pigmented spots on dark base. Flews tight and black. Tongue bright red. Jaws and teeth strong with perfect scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NECK Set at an angle of 45 degrees to horizontal, of medium length, tight skinned and muscular. When fully coated, neck appears to merge with body.
FOREQUATERS Shoulders well laid. Elbows tight. Forelegs straight and muscular, and viewed from any angle, vertical.
BODY Withers slightly higher than level of back, which is of medium length. Loin short and broad, belly slightly tucked up. Ribs deep, ribcage broadening from behind elbows and well sprung. Rump short and slightly sloping but this is not obvious because of tightly curled tail.
HINDQUARTERS Strong, and well muscled. Pelvis forming and angle of 90 degrees with thighbone. Well bent stifle. Hocks set fairly low. When viewed from the rear, the legs should be parallel, with feet turning neither in nor out. Wide pelvis desirable , especially in bitches.
FEET Short, round, tight. Hindfeet slightly longer then forefeet. Nails strong, black or slate grey. Pads springy, dark grey in colour.
TAIL Medium length, curled tightly over rump-loin area: long hair of tail mixes indistinguishably with similar hair of rump so that the tail does not appear separate.
GAIT/MOVEMENT Stride not far-reaching. Gallop short. Typical movement short-stepping, very quick, in harmony with lively disposition. Movement never heavy, lethargic or lumbering.
COAT Correct proportion of top and undercoat creates, naturally, the desired cords. Matting and felting to be avoided, and a combed coat is as undesirable as a neglected one. Coat generally longest on hind quarters, shortest on head and feet. Some dogs will grow a floor-length coat.
COLOUR Acceptable colours, black, rusty black, white and various shades of grey and apricot. Black sometimes appears weathered, rusty, or with slight intermingling of white hairs. Grey and apricot in all their shades may have an intermingling of black or white hairs, with or without black mask, ear tips and tail tip. The overall appearance of all variants must be that of a solid colour. A white spot on chest of not more than 5 cms (2ins) is permissible. A few white hairs on feet also permissible. Body skin should be well pigmented and slate grey in colour, especially in blacks and greys.
SIZE Height: Dogs: 40 - 44 cms (16 - 17 ins.); bitches: 37 - 41 cms (14 - 16 ins.). Weight: dogs: 13-15 Kgs (28 - 33 lbs); bitches: 10 - 13 Kgs (22 - 28 lbs.).
FAULTS ANY departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.