Kellie Verrelli, co-breeder of Akekal Mudis and Shepherds Kennel with Beth Bochardt, wasn’t always a Mudi breeder. Verrelli, who lives near Nashville, Tennessee, notes that her breeding journey actually began with Scottish Terriers after she and her husband got their first Scottie in 1995.
Currently the owner of four Scottish Terriers and two Mudis, Verrelli typically breeds when she’s ready for a new puppy, and enjoys the collaborative effort of working with another breeder to co-breed a litter.
From Scotties to Mudis
She got started as a dog breeder because she loved Scottish Terriers — and she wanted to prove someone wrong. “Somebody told me, ‘you can’t do anything with a Scottish Terrier,’ and that’s all they needed to say. I decided I’m going to prove them wrong, and I did.” She really liked her Scotties, and thought breeding them would be a great way to have more. “They were both breed champions. I wanted another working dog, and I liked the dogs that I had, so that’s kind of how I started.” They welcomed their first Scottie litter in 2000, and since then, typically breed one of their female dogs when they are between four and six years old.
Getting involved with Mudis was a happy accident. “When Mudis were just trying to get established in the AKC, there was an ‘oops’ litter where somebody bred a mother and father, and were trying to get them into a sports home,” Verrelli says. “I got offered him, and he was adorable. I got him in 2009, and we did really good together.”
When she started looking for her next dog, she thought about the breed, and decided to get another Mudi. “I was kind of like, you know what? I like this breed, I like this color, I like what he looks like, I like everything about him. So I decided.” Mudis became a fully AKC-recognized breed in 2022, as part of the Herding Group. They continue to be a rare breed, with an estimated few thousand worldwide, mainly in Hungary and Finland.
She got a female Mudi named “Alkony” from Germany. From there, she began breeding her female Mudis, as well as competing with them in various sports, including AKC Rally, agility, scent work, and barn hunt. She competed with Alkony’s daughter, “Moon,” at the 2024 AKC RACH Invitational in Orlando, Florida. Verrelli says that Mudis are great sport dogs, because they’re very smart and love to be given a task. “Moon, for example, is a really good working dog,” Verrelli says. “She’s quiet and calm and a little intense.”
Breeding Companions
Even with her Scotties, Verrelli always loved participating in agility. Her first Scottish Terrier, only nine inches at the withers, was jumping 12-inch jumps, and had a successful career, even in the early days of the sport. Verrelli and her Mudi, “Moon,” competed at the 2024 AKC Agility Invitational. They also do AKC Rally together, starting when Moon was just over a year old.
Verrelli emphasizes her purpose for breeding Mudis and Scotties. “First and foremost, my dogs are my pets, but we breed for working companions,” she says. Verrelli at one point got a Golden Retriever that was badly bred, and it taught her a lot about healthy breeding and health testing. “For a dog to be good in any athletic sport, they must be conformationally correct and mentally able to deal with many situations that occur in the world.”
A Unique Breed
Verrelli has become so passionate about the breed that she is now also the Treasurer of the Mudi Club of America. But they’re not for everyone. “Mudis are sensitive to the environment and peoples energy,” she says. “They can also show more guarding instinct and can sometimes be more wary of strangers.”
While Verrelli says that some people mistake Mudis for smaller Border Collies, they are very different breeds. “They both have a lot of energy, but Mudis tend to be louder, using their voice instead of “eye” in their herding style. I always know when someone or something comes onto our farm!”
She also says that Mudis are more independent. “Specific traits in the parents will show up in the puppies too. So when I decided I wished to breed my Mudi, I looked for a stud who had traits in which she was less strong.” This combination went on to create well-balanced, healthy puppies.
Is a Mudi Right for You?
She always asked potentially puppy-buyers what their plans are with their Mudi. Verrelli says that Mudis may not always prefer the activity that the owners want to do, and may not simply go along with it if they don’t like it. Alkony, for example, still likes scent work, but doesn’t enjoy environments where there is lots of noise or yelling. “She’s very, very sensitive, so it bothered her a lot,” Verrelli says.
Verrelli specifically looks to match her puppies with owners who want a life-long companion, not just a dog for a specific sport. “New owners should have experience with herding dogs, particularly ones that can be noisy,” she says. “They should also be willing to be patient, since these dogs can take a while to mature.” She urges puppy-seekers to ask plenty of questions, and stay in touch with their breeders.
Encouraging Others to Breed
There are many things that Verrelli loves about breeding dogs, especially Mudis. “I love watching the [puppies’] personalities develop and teaching them to grow,” she says. “Puppies are like sponges, they learn everything! Even many, many years later, those traits can still be with them.”
Verrelli says that research is one of the most important things novice breeders — and any breeders — can do, especially for co-breeding. “Check out multiple dogs, don’t just look at those from one kennel,” she says.
Environment also makes a big difference. Dogs that are bred for conformation might do well in that environment, but may not do as well on a farm or with a family. “It all depends. One breeder may do a lot more to socialize their dogs, but it shouldn’t stop there.”
Mentorship is another big component of breeding, Verrelli finds. Getting guidance from someone who shares similar ideas as you do can only help you become a better breeder. Verrelli says that mentorship can even be an opportunity to co-breed a litter together.
Most importantly, she says to continue educating yourself about the breed, but also training dogs in general. “Even after 25 years of training and breeding, I still find myself learning about dogs almost every day.”