Don’t look now, but you are looking at a daredevil.

“How you can tell? Because this dog’s eyes are slightly oblique, and, per the Mudi’s AKC breed standard, this eye set gives a Mudi its ‘daredevil’ expression.”

While many breed standards call for oblique—or slightly oblique—eyes, not all of them reward an expression as bold and adventurous as the Mudi’s. So what sets this breed apart? To understand, we first need to explore what oblique eyes actually are.

Put simply, oblique eyes are those in which the outer corners are higher than the inner corners. Some might describe them as being set at a slight angle rather than perfectly horizontal. This feature is influenced by the shape of the skull and eye sockets and is tied to the anatomy of the extraocular muscles—particularly the dorsal oblique muscle—that help control eye movement.

For the Mudi, almond-shaped eyes that are as dark as possible further emphasize this oblique placement. But there’s more at play here than just eye shape. Anyone who has studied art knows that one element’s appearance is influenced by the shapes around it. In this case, the Mudi’s erect, triangular ears frame its face perfectly, providing visual balance to its angular eyes and enhancing their striking expression.

Yet there is one more thing that gives this breed the expression of an adventurer, and it is an intangible quality difficult to quantify: For lack of a better word, this quality is the dog’s soul. One cannot make a dog spirited, intelligent, or lively unless the seeds for those attributes are already there.  Mudis are problem-solvers, and if there isn’t one to resolve, they might make their own challenges to keep themselves mentally stimulated. This may, or may not be “owner-approved.” While this cleverness makes them lively companions, it also requires owners to stay one (or ten) steps ahead of them. Boredom is perhaps the greatest injustice to a Mudi; they thrive when mentally stimulated and engaged in meaningful activity. This people-oriented dog forms strong bonds with its family but also has a zest for life. They truly shine when they are both mentally stimulated and deeply loved.

Image: Mudi by Vau Vau/iStock