A Pumi has a medium-length, double-layered coat that forms "tufts," which are wavy to curly locks on the dog's outer coat. Pumi owners prefer the coat in its natural state, so dogs of this breed don't need a lot of grooming overall. See below for details on properly maintaining the Pumi coat.
Dogs of this breed have medium-length, "tufted" coats that don't require a great deal of care. Overall, Pumi grooming is not overly time-consuming: while the coats are basically non-shedding, they do tend to mat or tangle some, especially when straightened by frequent brushing. So these dogs only need brushing about once a month--and most Pumi enthusiasts wet the coat after brushing and let it air-dry to achieve the Pumi's signature tufts. Proper baths are only necessary every 3-4 months, and haircuts are needed at about the same interval.
Brushing a Pumi is not difficult, and is best done with a pin brush. Go over the coat section by section with the pin brush, moving in the same direction as hair growth; the object is not to straighten the locks, but rather to remove dirt and debris, and to keep the individual tufts from fusing together. After brushing, wet the coat thoroughly with mist from a spray bottle, then let it air-dry. Doing so will allow the curls to look more natural.
Once every third or fourth brushing, many owners say, instead of wetting the coat they give the Pumi a proper bath. When bathing a dog of this breed, you can use either a bathtub or an outdoor kiddie pool and a garden hose. Make sure to use canine shampoo, as the human kind can irritate a dog's skin and make it itchy. Lather well, rinse thoroughly--then, like with brushing, let the coat dry naturally.
The Pumi breed standard states that the ideal coat length for these dogs is 2.5-3 inches--which means a Pumi will generally need a cut every 3-4 months. While trimming the coat at home is possible, breed enthusiasts recommend visiting a professional groomer, who can give the dog both a bath and a trim. Some popular styles for this breed are the modified Puppy Cut (shaved to about two inches all over) and the Teddy Bear Cut (which makes the dog resemble an adorable stuffed animal).
Your Pumi's facial furnishings may also get dirty with food when the dog eats, so you might need to trim that area with scissors once a month or so to help keep it clean.
