about us
welcome to selenite!
i’m carissa johnson, the breeder behind selenite mudi, located in the small town of locust grove, virginia, usa. we are a retired military family, finally on our last stepping stone for the foreseeable future after moving thousands of miles around the country! we were lucky to have lived in hawaii for about 4 years, and then in north carolina for 5 years while my husband served in the marine corps.
mudis caught my interest many years ago, and after meeting the breed for the first time in 2019, i knew it was fate. i’ve always been drawn to herding breeds, especially australian cattle dogs. growing up, i was very involved in my local 4h dog club with my cocker spaniel, daisy, and later my first australian cattle dog, enzo. being involved in 4h shaped my love and appreciation for dog sports and showing.
i have been in the veterinary medicine field for nearly 9 years, and i thoroughly enjoy my career working with animals! i couldn’t picture myself in any other line of work. when not working, my time is, of course, spent with my pack of 8 dogs, including 5 mudis, 2 australian cattle dogs, and 1 beauceron (plus one foster mudi)! we spend a lot of time hiking, training and doing sports/shows on the weekends.
our breeding philosophy
Color ≠ Quality
first and foremost, it is important to understand that color is at the very bottom of our priority list. We do not plan breedings based on puppy color possibilities, nor do we place puppies into homes based solely on color preference. While coat color can certainly be appreciated, it should never outweigh the qualities that truly matter in preserving and improving the breed.
Stable Minds Matter
Temperament is another major focus of our program. We strive to produce Mudis that are confident, stable, clear-headed, and capable of functioning successfully both as working dogs and companions. A sound temperament is just as important as physical health and structure, and we place significant emphasis on producing dogs that can thrive in a variety of environments while retaining the intelligence, drive, and resilience that define the breed.
Function
At the core of our breeding program is a deep commitment to preserving the defining characteristic of the Mudi: versatility. The Mudi is an intelligent, athletic, capable working breed that was bred as a multipurpose tool. We believe preserving these qualities is essential not only for the future of the breed, but for honoring the history and function that make the Mudi unique.
Strengths, Weaknesses
Our breeding decisions are guided by careful evaluation, honesty, and responsibility. Every dog possesses strengths and weaknesses, and we believe ethical breeding requires recognizing both in your breeding stock. Rather than breeding for convenience, trends, or personal preference alone, we focus on pairing dogs whose traits complement one another in ways that strengthen and improve the breed as a whole.
health & structure
Health and breed integrity are non-negotiable in our program. All breeding dogs must successfully complete appropriate health testing before being considered for breeding. Likewise, dogs that do not meet the breed standard are not included in our program. We believe maintaining proper structure, type, movement, and working ability is critical to preserving the Mudi as it was intended to be.
importance of diversity
Beyond individual dogs, we are deeply mindful of the breed’s long-term future. Protecting genetic diversity is an important priority, and we actively seek to avoid unnecessary bottlenecking of the gene pool. Responsible breeding requires looking beyond the current generation and considering the health and sustainability of the breed for decades to come.
epi risk
We are also committed to reducing the risk of epilepsy within the breed through thoughtful pedigree research, careful selection, and responsible breeding practices. While no breeder can guarantee perfection, we believe transparency, education, and intentional decision-making are essential in working toward healthier future generations.
