Mudi vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Mudi vs Cairn Terrier - Breed ComparisonMudi is originated from Hungary but Cairn Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Mudi may grow 14 cm / 6 inches higher than Cairn Terrier. Mudi may weigh 6 kg / 14 pounds more than Cairn Terrier. Both Mudi and Cairn Terrier has almost same life span. Both Mudi and Cairn Terrier has same litter size. Mudi requires Moderate maintenance. But Cairn Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

mudi - historySometime 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.

cairn terrier - historyThe Cairn Terrier originates in the Scottish Highlands. This feisty little dog was given the name Cairn, as he used to hunt prey between the Scottish cairns. At first the dog was grouped as a ‘Skye Terrier’way back in the 1900s with the Scottish and West Highland White Terrier. Then the different breeds began to be bred separately.

The name Cairn Terrier didn’t appear in print till 1887. It was in 1912 that the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognized the Cairn Terrier.

Description

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.

Temperament:

cairn terrier puppy - descriptionThe small sturdily built working Terrier is intelligent and courageous. Bright-eyed, he is small and active and he just loves to work- and party hard with his human family. You’ll see if you’ve got a ball you want to throw for him, his tail is quivering in anticipation and his ears are erect and alert to any noise. He is smart, independent and courageous.

Coat of Many Colors:

The Cairn Terrier has a tough, weather-resistant coat that can be any color but not white. He has a waterproof double coat – the outer one being wiry while the undercoat is soft. You’ll find the coat in man colours such as grey, black, red and brindle with dark points on the ears and muzzle.

The interesting thing with a Cairn is that when you get a puppy, you can’t be sure what color he will end up being as it changes over the years. The ears are fox-like, small and erect, and the natural medium-to-short tail is held straight out.

Characteristics

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.

cairn terrier dog - characteristicsThe Cairn Terrier is a fearless, jaunty little dog, known for his courageous spirit and inquisitive nature. He may be small, but he is stubborn. He will respond well to training and socialization which will turn him into the most awesome pet for families. He can make a wonderful friend and playmate for children too. Socialization and training ensures he gets on well with other pets in the household too.

He is small and energetic, and therefore not the kind of dog you can ignore in terms of exercise. He’ll need a good walk every day and he just loves to chase a ball as it takes him back to the days when he was used to chasing- and catching mice.

He isn’t your typical lap-dog at all and with the right care he becomes a devoted, loyal and loving companion.

Health Problems

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.

cairn terrier puppies - health problemsThe Cairn Terrier is a robust little dog, and with good care can reach 14 years of age and even older. However, with every dog breed there are some health concerns particular to that breed. With your Cairn Terrier look out for a disease known as Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL).

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL)

Known also as Krabbe Disease, Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a rare but fatal disease. It is caused by a mutation on the dog’s DNA. There is abnormal processing of an enzyme needed for the production of myelin, a substance that protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The dog is weak, it has tremors and isn’t co-ordinated. The Cairn Terrier is a breed of dog more susceptible to GCL.

Bone and joint diseases

Your Cairn Terrier may well suffer with joint diseases. These diseases, such as luxating patella which is about loose knee joints, and hip dysplasia which is a degenerative hip disease, can cause plenty of pain and discomfort for your pet.

Eye Diseases

Glaucoma is an eye disease where there is pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage. Without treatment, there can be damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

Caring The Pet

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

Grooming:

cairn terrier dogs - caringThe Cairn Terrier sheds very little and the coat is easy to groom. Give him a thorough brushing twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Some trimming will be needed as the coat can become shaggy and unruly.

Brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build up that can lead to bacteria, gum disease and possible tooth loss.

Diet:

The Cairn Terrier is small but he is an active dog and therefore needs to be on a high-quality dog food. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure its appropriate to his age, size and activity levels.

He is a small dog so you want to be careful about not letting him become overweight. Try and alternate his commercially manufactured food with some home-made rice, vegetables and meat and also include some raw meat in from time to time. This is of particular importance as chronic skin allergies are common in all terrier breeds. Make sure that there is always a clean bowl of fresh water available to him day and night.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Terrier dog
Origin:
Hungary
United Kingdom
Height Male:
38 - 47 cm
14 - 19 inches
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Height Female:
34 - 43 cm
13 - 17 inches
23 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
8 - 14 kg
17 - 31 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 11 kg
13 - 25 pounds
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
2 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Hungarian Mudi Canis Ovilis Fenyesi
Cairn, Toto Dog
Colors Available:
marbled color, gray, , striped, black, bro spotted, stained
Black, Brindle, Cream, Wheaten, Red, Grey
Coat:
curly, dense
Medium length and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Protective, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Mudi - Breed Comparison
  2. Queensland Heeler vs Mudi - Breed Comparison
  3. Red Heeler vs Mudi - Breed Comparison
  4. Mudi vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  5. Mudi vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  6. Mudi vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  7. Mudi vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Mudi vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  9. Mudi vs Collie - Breed Comparison
  10. Mudi vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  11. Mudi vs Dutch Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  12. Mudi vs Blue Healer - Breed Comparison
  13. Mudi vs English Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  14. Mudi vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  15. Mudi vs Catahoula Cur - Breed Comparison
  16. Mudi vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  17. Mudi vs Catalan Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  18. Mudi vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  19. Mudi vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  20. Mudi vs Appenzell Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  21. Mudi vs German Coolie - Breed Comparison
  22. Mudi vs Bohemian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Mudi vs Croatian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  24. Mudi vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  25. Mudi vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison
  26. Jack Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Miniature Schnauzer vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Cairn Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Cairn Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Cairn Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Cairn Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Cairn Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Cairn Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  34. Cairn Terrier vs Black and Tan Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Cairn Terrier vs Cairland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Rat Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Scottish Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Patterdale Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Norwich Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Norfolk Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. English White Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Parson Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Feist vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Manchester Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Miniature Fox Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Cesky Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Schnorkie vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds