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Polish Lowland Sheepdog

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General
OtherNames		Polski Owczarek Nizinny, commonly abbreviated to PON
Dog Group Kennel Club		Pastoral
Breed Classification		Polish Lowland Sheepdog belong to the pastoral group; they were originally used as sheepdogs and flock protectors, today they are more often family and companion dogs and seen in the show ring.
Cost of Ownership Visit our dog food department
Average Food Cost		£4-7.50
Feeding Requirements		It will cost around £5.00 per week to feed a PON.
Other Expenses		The average price of a puppy is £600 - £700
Average Puppy Price		£500-800
Lifespan		9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size		5
General Physical Description		PONs are strong, muscular, compact dogs who appear alert and lively. Their coats are fairly long, dense and shaggy with a soft under-layer and they do not shed! They have a smooth walk and trot and can be inclined to pace. They are much stronger than the size their body may imply. Physical maturity is reached at about 18 months of age.
Height Min Max Bitch 40cm 46cm Dog 43cm 52cm Weight Min Max Bitch 16kg 18kg Dog 18kg 20kg
Size Category		Medium
Weight Height Range		Bitches measure between 40-46cms at the withers and weigh around 16-18kgs, whilst dogs measure between 43-52cms and weigh around 18-20kgs.
Ailments		Little veterinary research is available on the breed because of the PONs’ relative rarity, and insufficient evidence is available from breeders and vets in Poland. However it would appear that the breed is subject to the common hereditary problems that affect all dogs. That said, the conditions affecting this breed are more individual than breed-specific. It is recommended that the usual precautions of screening for hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy are taken. Some skin inflammation and allergic reactions have been reported, this may well be diet-induced. The PON does not require a high protein diet and such a diet may lead to overheating and obesity problems
Common Ailments
Susceptibility To Illness Pet insurance for dogs resource Pet health and vet advice		Low
Other
History		Written references to medium sized, shaggy Polish sheepdogs date back to the 16th century. These dogs were strong and stocky for their size, very agile, extremely intelligent with excellent memories. They were faithful companions with a natural distrust of strangers, fairly resistant to illness and capable of thriving on low quality diets. In 1514, three dogs were traded by a Polish merchant who had sailed from Gdansk to Scotland and here the breed is said to have contributed to our own Bearded Collie. Just a handful of dogs survived the ravages of World War II but luckily a few Polish breeders managed to trace and register some and set about reviving the breed. Two dogs and one bitch were the key foundation dogs for the breed. The PON now enjoys well-deserved, worldwide recognition.
Intelligence		PONs have incredible memories and are therefore easy to train. They are also happy to do things for their handlers – if they are in the mood. This is a highly-intelligent working breed and the dogs will therefore make decisions for themselves and, because of this, will test the patience of their owners regularly! They will not follow commands blindly.
Show Characteristics		The head should be of medium size but the profuse hair on the forehead, cheeks and chin make it appear larger than it really is. There should be a well-defined stop and the nose is big, with wide nostrils and dark pigmentation. The eyes should be medium-sized, oval-shaped with a lively penetrating gaze and hazel to brown in colour. The ears should be medium-sized, heart-shaped and set moderately high. The jaws are strong with a complete scissor bite, the lips being tightly closed and as dark as possible. The neck is of medium length, strong and muscular. The body should be rectangular with a muscular, level back with distinctively marked withers. The forelegs should be straight with slightly slanting pasterns and the hind legs well angulated with broad and well-muscled thighs. The feet should be oval, slightly arched with tightly fitting toes and hard pads. If the dog has not been born tailless, it is customarily docked. If undocked: any length is acceptable but longer tails should be well covered with hair. The tail set is a continuation of croup and should be carried high and slightly curved over back when alert. It should never be curled over the back. At rest, the tail should hang low. All colours are acceptable.
Country Of Origin		Poland
Famous Examples		Smok z Kordegardy, born 1949, considered as the ‘father’ of the post War PON.
Records Held
Characteristics Visit our dog training aids department
Energy		Medium
Overall Exercise		20 - 40 minutes
Distress Caused if Left Alone		High
Personal Protection		Low
Suitability As Guard Dog		High
Risk of Sheep Worrying		Medium
Tendency to Bark		High
Ease of Transportation		High
Level of Aggression		Low
Compatibility With Other Animals		Medium
Suitable For Children		Medium
General Character And Temperament		PONs are animated, happy and alert. They are lively but self-controlled, watchful and clever; they can also be very stubborn. They are affectionate and very loyal to all the family members but can be wary with strangers although they should never be cowardly or aggressive. They make excellent family pets as they are exemplary with children, dogs and other pets. They will announce visitors at the top of their voices, making them good guard dogs as well. Physical maturity is reached at about 18 months of age.
Grooming Visit our dog grooming department
Coat Length		Medium/Long
Grooming Requirement		Once a week
Trimming
Requires Professional Groomer
Grooming		A thorough grooming must take place at least once a week, with a brush over again in the week to prevent tangles caused from exercise, such as small bits of twig in the coat.
Colour		All colours are seen in this breed, the most usual being white with grey or black patches, or plain grey.
Shedding		None
Suffers From Allergies
Tendency to Cause Allergies