Mudi vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Mudi vs Mal-Shi - Breed ComparisonMal-Shi is originated from United States but Mudi is originated from Hungary. Mal-Shi may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than Mudi. Mal-Shi may weigh 7 kg / 15 pounds lesser than Mudi. Both Mal-Shi and Mudi has almost same life span. Mal-Shi may have less litter size than Mudi. Both Mal-Shi and Mudi requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Companion dog
Herding dogs
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United States
Hungary
Height Male:
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
38 - 47 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
34 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
8 - 14 kg
17 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 7 kg
6 - 16 pounds
6 - 11 kg
13 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 5
5 - 10
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
Malti Tzu
Hungarian Mudi Canis Ovilis Fenyesi
Colors Available:
white and apricot, brown., black and white, White
marbled color, gray, , striped, black, bro spotted, stained
Coat:
Long, silky, wavy
curly, dense
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

mal shiSmall and pretty, the Mal-shi is a new crossbreed dog which originated in the United States and only recently - in the 1990s.

There hasn’t been much interest shown in developing this small dog into an independent breed, so most of these dogs are regarded as crosses from the two parent breeds – the Maltese Poodle and the ShihTzu.

Known as a designer dog he was also bred to be a low shedder. No breed clubs for this dog have been established and there are no breed standards either.

mudiSometime between the 4th and 6th centuries, the Great Migration – a variety of dogs came to live in the Carpathian Mountains on the Great Hungarian Plain. This migration period brought sheepdogs and herders brought by shepherds. These dogs were of two sizes both small and large. The smaller ones were bred together – Pumi, Puli, and Mudi. Because of this, these breeds share the same history, with the Mundi being the oldest of them all.

The Mundi was finally separated from the other breeds about 1930 when Dr. Deszo Fenyesi began to breed them. It was in 1966 when the F.C.I. finally approved the standard for the breed. Still then as today, there were not many breeders developing the Mudi. They are working dogs – farm dogs – herders, guard dogs and ratters. He is also known as a tracker, with the majority of the breed living in Hungary.

As the Mudi was bred separately from the Pumi and the Puli, differences between the breeds became clear. Many Mudi are born with a stump or no tail at all. The Mudi is not a great dog for the first timer. He is stubborn, assertive and needs a lot of socialization and exercise. In 2004 breeders in the United States created the Mudi Club of America to preserve the breed and foster responsible ownership. This is a clever, active and keen breed, very loyal to his family but wary of strangers. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2006.

In Hungary, these are still a breed of herding dogs capable of running 500 sheep at a time. They are versatile, courageous, intelligent and agile. They are great in obedience trials, agility, and flyball. In Finland and the United States, they also work as search and rescue dogs.

Description

mal shi puppy - descriptionThe Mal-Shi is a small dog standing at around 25–30 cm in height and weighing between 3 and 7kg. As a designer dog he has a low-shedding coat of many colors – white, black and white, white and apricot and brown.

The coat is usually soft and silky and slightly wavy and it can grow long if left untrimmed. Most people take their pets to a professional groomer to be cut.

The skull of the dog is domed, he has small ears which can be half-erect and half-floppy.The tail is long and fairly feathery. Sometimes the dog inherits the underdeveloped tear duct of the Maltese and then there is that usual tear-staining around the eyes.

Temperament:

THE Mal-Si is such a cute little dog, making him a splendid pet for children and he is more than happy to be cuddled and petted. Small and active, he is adaptable and will live easily in the city or the countryside, as his exercise needs aren’t that demanding. He basically requires a walk each day and will love some ball games both inside and outdoors.

He is an extrovert and also an entertainer, and his amicable nature allows him to get along with other pets in the home. However, contrary to what he looks like, he is a bold dog, social and also intelligent, making him easy to train.

It is to any owner’s advantage to have a little dog like this trained and socialized, even though he is so good natured. He makes a great therapy dog too. When the Mal-Shi is at home he’s an affectionate, loving dog who just wants to spend time in the company of his human family.

As a companion dog, he won’t do well when left for hours on end on his own. Dogs are social creatures, and they can battle with separation anxiety when left alone for too long. Every dog owner needs to think of this before investing in a dog.

mudi puppy - descriptionThis is a medium size dog with an almost square profile. They have erect ears on wedge-shaped heads. He is not a strong boned but medium boned. That square profile is based in large part on their very square stance. Their muzzle is about half the length of their head and they have what is considered a “dare devil” expression in their dark, almond-shaped eyes. The color of the eyes is important and must match with the color of the dog or the standard is not met.

Merle fur – brown, brown speckled, blue eyes.

Brown or gray-brown fur – Brown eyes

Gray fur – gray eyes

What is not acceptable is having yellow eyes and black fur; pink eyes and white fur. The lips, eye rims, and nose must all have the same pigmentation. This should be black in all but the brown and brown-grey dogs. These dogs have brown noses, eye rims, and lips. The tail can be almost anything from full to bob. All are considered to be natural lengths for a Mudi.

Their coat is self-cleaning and won’t mat. It is on the long side. In fact, a short, flat, smooth coat is a disqualification from the standard. The color of the coat ranges from white to brown to gray, gray-brown, merle, golden, cream and white. Very little markings of any kind are usual.

Characteristics

mal shi dog - characteristicsThe Maltese Shih Tzu is an attractive little dog who is guaranteed to make you a splendid pet. Those who have owned both Maltese and Maltese Shih Tzu will tell you that the temperament of this dog is more amicable than that of the Maltese.

With his amicable nature, he is willing to be everyone’s friend, and he makes a particularly good choice for elderly people.

Being such a people-dog, the Maltese Shih Tzu's greatest joy comes from being petted and taken notice of by his human family. He can’t bear to be left for long periods of time. Like any other dog, he will require training and socialization, requiring a firm, balanced, consistent, fair owner.

Cheerful and good-natured, when he is loved to the moon and back, this little dog promises to make you and exceptional best friend.

Children friendliness

mudi dog - characteristicsYes, they are great with children and love being a part of a large family or “pack”.

Special talents

They are extremely versatile and great at herding and guarding.

Adaptability

They are adaptable if you are. They don’t need to live in the country, but they need space to run and play.

Learning ability

They are highly intelligent but a little stubborn. Their ability to learn is high but you have to be the boss.

Health Problems

mal shi puppies - health problemsThe Maltese Shih Tzu is a robust little dog, and with good care he can live to be anything between 10 to 15 years of age.

There are some health issues you want to be aware of with this particular dog breed.

Respiratory Problems:

Your little canine friend can have respiratory problems because of him being a flat-faced breed. Known as brachycephalic dogs, these dogs can have breathing difficulties. They are usually fine when resting, but during exercise or if they become too hot, they battle with breathing. It makes them more prone to heatstroke, so it is important to keep dogs like this cool and calm.

Patellar Luxation:

This is actually a common problem in small dogs - dislocation of a bone at a joint. Patellar luxation is when the knee joint slides in and out of place, causing pain.

White Dog Shaker Syndrome:

This is a disease which is seen in the Shih Tzu and Maltese. Symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and tremors. These can continue all day. The illness is worse during times of stress and there may even be difficulty with walking. The cause is unknown but he will certainly need to get to the vet.

mudi puppies - health problemsThe Mudi does face several of the problems that medium to large dogs often face and some eye issues as well.

  • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia can cause arthritis and lameness.
  • Patellar Luxation (knee cap slippage) can also cause lameness.
  • Potential variety of eye issues.
  • Thyroiditis – an autoimmune deficiency.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

mal shi dogs - caringThe Mal-Shi is a small dog and will require eating two small meals a day. An adult Mal-Shi will eat according to his age, size and activity levels.The quality of the dog food you buy will make a huge difference to his wellbeing. The better quality foods – those without preservatives, colorants and fillers will ensure good health and longevity for your pet.

Don’t just give him dry kibble every time – mix in some chopped up cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Remember that some vegetables like onion can be bad for your pet.

Dogs love simplicity, and feeding your dog these simple foods will ensure you don’t battle with upset stomachs. Make sure you always have a bowl of fresh, cool water available for your pet.

General:

Trim his nails when they get long and don’t wear down naturally.

Check his ears for redness, itchiness and discharge which could indicate an ear infection.

If you have him professionally groomed, you will still need to brush him twice a week. It’s also your time to check him over for ticks and fleas and any unusual lumps.

Feeding the puppy

mudi dogs - caringThe Mudi needs a high quality, medium breed puppy dry food and should be fed 3 or 4 times a day for a total of 1 and ½ to 2 cups.

Feeding the adult

The adult should be fed at least twice a day with an adult medium breed high-quality dry dog food. Don’t overfeed as the breed can have a tendency toward obesity.

Points for Good Health

They have great stamina and agility.

Games and Exercises

This is a working dog and like most herding dogs, they need a job and a lot of activity. Long walks every day and either a large yard or visits to a dog park. Involve them in herding activities or Barn Hunt if you can. Playing is their way of working when they are not herding real animals. So, if you want this breed, be sure you have time for playing with them. They are great at agility, flyball, obedience, frisbee trials, tracking and of course herding

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Mudi vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  3. Mudi vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
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  5. Mudi vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Mudi vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Mudi vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Mudi vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Mudi vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Mudi vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Mudi vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Mudi vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Mudi vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Mudi vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Mudi vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Mudi vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Mudi vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Mudi vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Mudi vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Mudi vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Mudi vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Mudi vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Mudi vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Mudi vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Mudi vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Mal-Shi vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Mal-Shi vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Mal-Shi vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Mal-Shi vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Mal-Shi vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Mal-Shi vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Mal-Shi vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Mal-Shi vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Mal-Shi vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Mal-Shi vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Mal-Shi vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Mal-Shi vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Mal-Shi vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Mal-Shi vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Mal-Shi vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Mal-Shi vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Mal-Shi vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Mal-Shi vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Mal-Shi vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Mal-Shi vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Mal-Shi vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Mal-Shi vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Mal-Shi vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Mal-Shi vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Mal-Shi vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison