collated by Thomas Sander

The Piebald (Tarka) Mudi

A while ago, I started presenting the colours of the Mudis one by one on the site. (This is still waiting to be completed I couldn’t finish writing them…)

We know that there are standard and non-standard Mudi colours, recently several popular colours have been accepted by the kennel club.

However, there are quite a few more that are less well-known, but interesting colour variants. I would definitely like to introduce these, because they can affect you with the power of novelty.

Such unaccepted colour variants are for example the “Maszkos Fakó” (Masked pale), “Mézeslábú” (Honey footed), “Ordas” (Wolf-coloured), “Fekete cser” (Black tan), Trikolor (Tricolour) or “Tarka” (Piebald).

*** Maybe the English equivalent of the names of the colour variants I wrote is not correct, I tried to look for something similar.

Today I brought a couple of photos of a Mudi of a colour that I have never met in person. This “Tarka” / Piebald colour type, which is by no means a newly bred colour – I have already seen such black and white Mudis lying next to the shepherd in a 100-year-old photo.

A contrasting two-coloured coat gives the Mudi dog an interesting appearance, that’s for sure. Unusual, but if you watch the attached video made 13 years ago, you can see the unmistakable and typical Mudi movements and behaviour. So, inside this “jinjang costumes”, there is definitely an original Hungarian Mudi dog lurking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-_EHWSA39M

The Wolf-coloured (Ordas) Mudi

Today I brought again some photos of an unusual Mudi colour and its individuals. The colour of the “Wolf-coloured” (Ordas) is outside of the currently accepted standard colours, so it is not recommended for further breeding, or more precisely, it cannot be bred according to the rules.

I do not write about genetics and gene pairs in the absence of authentic information; as Hungarian breeders say: “rarely, but in some litters, this colour also splits out”.

Of course, this colour is not a newly bred colour variant either. Several Mudi puppies were born and are born with wolf colour, but they fell victim to the colour-based selection of the breeder (shepherd) – which is still present today, even if invisibly.

They are not even included in the statistics, as only “born alive” and finally registered individuals were recorded. Thus, it was almost impossible to meet an adult Mudi with a “colour defect”.

Apart from their unusual colour, these Wolf-coloured Mudis have the same characteristics as their “normal-coloured” counterparts, and their herding instinct is no less.

The Honey-legged (mézeslábú) Mudi

Today I would like to introduce you to another non-standard Mudi colour. This is called “honey-legged” in Hungary (mézeslábú), I think this is officially one of the really spectacular versions of “Black and tan” -I hope the experts in our group will correct me if I write nonsense.

This can be said to be a fairly rare Mudi colour, usually known from German Shepherds, Dobermanns or Rottweilers. The main colour is solid black but nice honey yellow appears as pips above the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle extending to the cheeks, as pips on the cheeks, on the front of the neck just below the head, as two triangular patches on the front of the chest, on the lower legs and feet.

Many claim that this colour variation is the result of mating with German Shepherd Dogs – breed mixing – in the Mudi breed.

All of you have probably been asked this question by other dog walkers: “Is this a miniature German Shepherd?” I wonder what these people would say and think when they saw such a honey-legged Mudi? 

The “Maszkos Fakó” (Masked Pale) Mudi

Today’s non-standard Mudi colour variant is Masked Pale (Maszkos fakó) (- this is also a variation of Black and Tan).

The mention of this extremely rare Mudi colour variant usually leads to heated arguments among Mudi breeders. Some see their existence as a mockery of the Mudi breed, others say so the Masked Pale is an ancient, very characteristic colour variant of the herding Hungarian shepherd dog breeds.

The Em gene on the E locus is responsible for the black mask, as a result, the coat around the muzzle and ears is studded with black hairs.

By definition, this stitching is not visible in the case of a black Mudi, the effect of the Em gene can only be effective in the case of a lighter coat colour, which is usually the Fawn (yellow).

Double Merle – A Striking Pattern That Can Cause Lifelong Suffering

There’s a colour pattern that, at first glance, seems truly unique. Light-coated, often with bright blue eyes – many people think: “What a rare beauty!”
This is the double merle, also known as MM (homozygous merle).

But what most don’t realize is that this isn’t just a rare colour – it’s the result of a serious genetic condition, often leading to deafness, blindness, and a range of health problems.

How does double merle happen?

The merle pattern is caused by a genetic mutation. If only one parent carries the merle gene, the puppies may have a beautiful marbled coat – these are the “regular” merles.
But if two merle-patterned dogs are bred together, about 25% of the puppies will be double merle, meaning they inherit two copies of the merle gene.

What problems come with it? Double merle dogs often:

• are born deaf (partially or completely),
• are blind or have severe vision impairments,
• have extremely light, pigment-deficient skin, making them vulnerable to sun and skin issues,
• and may even show neurological or behavioural challenges.

The most tragic part? These conditions are irreversible. The puppy will live with them for life – and all of this is completely preventable through responsible breeding.

And here’s the tricky part: hidden merles exist!

Some Mudis carry the merle gene without showing any visible pattern. This is especially common in lighter-coloured dogs (like yellow or fawn).
If such a dog is unknowingly bred to a visible merle, the same risk of double merle puppies arises – completely unintentionally.

What can we do as Mudi owners?

This isn’t just a breeder’s responsibility – every Mudi owner should be aware:

 Avoid breeding your dog unless you’re confident in their genetic background.
 If you’re considering mating your dog or choosing a puppy, ask about merle gene testing.
 Don’t choose a puppy just for its looks – ask about genetic health and responsible practices.
 Support breeders who put health first, not just unusual colours.

Double merle is not a “rare colour” – it’s a preventable condition that can seriously affect a dog’s quality of life.