Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Polish Lowland Sheepdog by Pleple2000
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a medium sized, muscular and agile working dog. He has a long, shaggy coat which usually covers his eyes, making an interesting appearance. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog’s lineage is from Poland – possibly as far back as the thirteenth century where it is believed he is descended from the Puli and the Huns herding dog.

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog was created to guard and herd, but today he is most often used as a companion and family pet.

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog was imported to the United States in the 1980s. The American Kennel Club officially recognized this breed in the Herding Group in 2001 making it their 147th breed.

Height: The height at withers for an adult male Polish Lowland Sheepdog is between 18 – 20 inches (45.7 – 50.8) and for bitches 17 – 19 inches (43.2 – 48.3 cm). At withers, the proportions of height to length of the body is 9:10.

Weight: The weight of a Polish Lowland Sheepdog can be anywhere between 35 – 50 pounds (16 – 23 kg).

Coat Type: The Polish Lowland Sheepdog has a very thick double coat. The outer coat is coarse, long and shaggy and the undercoat is dense and soft. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog’s coat should be given a thorough brushing (at minimum) once a week. A bath is needed at least once a month. The PON is a non-shedder.

Color: All colors are acceptable for the Polish Lowland Sheepdog’s coat. The most common colors are white, gray, and brown with black, gray, or brown markings.

Temperament: The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is very clever and confident. This breed makes a wonderful companion and is also great with children who have been with him since an early age. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is playful, but children should not provoke, tease or rough play. Early socialization to both dogs and people is very important. The owner must always be firm, consistent and in charge. If the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is left to believe he is the ‘pack leader’ – behavior problems are likely and he will try to dominate his master. This breed is good tempered, stable and very adaptable. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a working dog that needs daily exercise such as a brisk walks, jogging or playing fetch. This is a breed which needs to be kept physically and mentally active. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog has an excellent memory.

Health Concerns: The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a very hardy breed – there are no specific heredity health concerns. The average life span of a Polish Lowland Sheepdog is between 12 – 14 years.

Special Interest:
• The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is also known as Polski Owczarek Nizinny and for short – PON.
• The Polish Lowland Sheepdog almost became extinct during WWII, however, Dr. Danuta Hryeniewicz along with other dog fanciers were able to revive the breed.

Classifications:
AKC: Herding Group
ANKC: Working – Group 5
CKC: Herding – Group 7
FCI: Group 1 Section 1 Sheepdogs
KC: Pastoral
NZKC: Working
UKC: Herding

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