The American Mudi Association would like to give recognition to the breeders that breed not for quantity, but quality.  Quality breeding takes into concern the following breed concerns to produce a top quality litter: health, herding instinct, temperament, conformation to standard and a low coefficient of inbreeding.  The qualification requirements for a gold star litter are as follows and must be completed by both sire and dam of the litter to qualify.  Currently this program is available to Mudi breeders in the USA and Hungary.  If your litter meets the 5 Star breeding requirements, please contact the AMA to have your litter given recognition on our website and listed as a qualified litter that is recommended to people looking to buy a Mudi puppy or for stud service from a Gold Star sire.  For a limited time, litters meeting the first 3 requirements of health, instinct and conformation, plus meeting either temperament or COI requirements will be listed as a 4 star litter as well.  Litters meeting all 5 requirements will be listed first.  However any litter that has a higher than 12.0% COI will not be considered for any award benefits.

*1 Health Checks:  Mimimum health test requirements are as follows:

USA:Hip dysplasia screening and CERF eye exam with a passing score for hips of Excellent, Good or Fair from OFA or PennHIP, and a clear eye exam from CERF.

Hungary:  Hip dysplasia screening with a passing score of N, M, or E, by FDB or MKOE (private vet screenings are not considered official and are not eligible).

*2 Herding Instinct:  Completion and passing score of a herding instinct test or a currently working farm or ranch dog in the USA or Hungary.

USA: Tests can be done with ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America), AHBA (American Herding Breed Association) or ATBA (American Tending Breeds Association) presently.

Hungary:  Tests can be taken through various herding breed clubs and sporting associations.

*3 Conformation to Breed Standard:  Completion of this requires a breeding exam in the USA by a vet (with a form provided by the AMA for this) or by a breeding exam in Hungary or sufficient conformation titles or results as required for each country as listed.

USA: Vet certificate which certifies the dog is of correct age, color, full dentition,  correct scissors bite, size, tail shape and carriage and breeding condition with respect to health and structure (form provided by AMA on Vet Certificate page).
OR
A UKC or ARBA Champion title; (or) 3 group wins over competition under 3 different judges in UKC in the open class; (or) 3 excellent awards by 3 judges in ARBA in the open class. (When showing in UKC/ARBA please bring a current Mudi Breed Standard with you for the judges to study.)

Hungary:  Breeding exam pass only as of January 1, 2005 for all dogs.   Conformation show results will no longer be acceptable for any dog or litter in this program.  

*4 Temperament/Character Test:  Completion requires a passing score or test in the USA or Hungary.

USA:  CGC (AKC Canine Good Citizen), TD (Therapy Dog) or ATTS (American Temperament Test Society) test with passed test or score.  The Mudi is eligible to do all these organizations tests.

Hungary:  The MEOE MMK now has an approved Character Test. Please check the MEOE MMK webpage for CT test dates. Also a passing score from the former FDMK club (Fényes Dezsõ Mudi Klub) is acceptable.   The AMA has a list of Character Test Results for previously tested dogs by the former FDMK.

*5 Coefficient of Inbreeding:  Completion of this requires the litter to be at or below a 10.0% COI level on a 10 generation litter pedigree (10 gens back from the litter on each parent).  This percentage was chosen after a recent study was done on the Mudi's average 3 and 4 generation COI levels and realizing the need to remain below the maximum acceptable level of 12.5% (equivalent to a half brother to half sister or grandparent to grandchild mating).  This requirement is for USA and Hungary litters and a COI can be done on any litter by the AMA for free.  Litters going above 12.0% COI will not be considered for any award benefits.

Litters meeting these requirements for both parents will be placed on the AMA website's GOLD STAR LITTERS webpage.  This award is available to any American or Hungarian Mudi breeder, including non AMA member breeders as well, to promote responsible and quality breeding of the Mudi in America. For AMA member breeders, a gold star will be placed next to their kennel's name for every gold star litter produced, on the AMA's Mudi Breeders webpage.  Currently this includes 4 and 5 star litters.

Breeders or owners in the USA and Hungary that have stud dogs available for breeding that meet the following requirements will be allowed to place the name of the stud and his picture on the AMA Gold Star Studs webpage with breeder/owner contact information.  Test/exam results are required to be listed as well.  A Gold Star Stud requirements are as follows: Health - hip, elbow and patella screening and rating with passing results from the same approved registries as the Gold Star Award Program (In Hungary the patella and elbow evaluation is done by approved vets); An initial eye exam after 2 years of age with a clear/free result from an accepted eye specialist (CERF in the USA and an Eye Specialist Veterinarian in Hungary).  Herding instinct test same as required by the Gold Star Award Program.   Conformation to breed standard same as required by the Gold Star Award Program.  Temperament/Character test is required for all studs in all countries by the approved organizations as required in the Gold Star Award Program.  The COI of the stud will not be required to be below 12%, but his COI will be listed.

The AMA reserves the right to require all litters to be Five Star Litters for future listing and to discontinue the listing of Four Star Litters.  The AMA also reserves the right to raise the requirement qualifications.  The AMA hopes that in the future, all countries will have testing available to meet the needs of a quality breeding program in place to make the breeding of Five Star Litters and Gold Star Studs possible.

This AMA breeder /stud award program does not guarantee a healthy or genetic defect free litter or stud and the AMA makes no guarantees or claims of health, genetic defects or diseases for any litter or stud listed or awarded on this website.  Any buyer or breeder is personally responsible to ask for proof of the qualification requirements listed here from the breeder or stud owner for verification of the required qualifications of the litter or stud listed on these pages.  The AMA does not guarantee that the proof of these qualifications is valid, we can only record what has been provided by the breeders and stud owners and what can be found on websites.