Polish Lowland Sheepdog

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a medium-sized, shaggy herding dog native to Poland. It is widely known as the PON, from its Polish name, Polski Owczarek Nizinny.

History

The breed has been known in Poland in its present form since at least the 13th century. It most likely descends from the Puli, the Tibetan Terrier and other herding dogs, and legend makes it one of the ancestors of the Bearded Collie.

The Second World War almost wiped it out. It was restored mainly through the work of Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz and her dog Smok, whose name means dragon. Smok sired the first ten litters in the 1950s and is the ancestor of every PON alive today. Hryniewicz considered him the ideal of the breed in build and temperament, and the first official standard, accepted by the FCI in 1959, was written from his type.

The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in its Herding Group in 2001.

Appearance

The PON is a muscular dog under a thick double coat. The undercoat is soft and dense; the topcoat is rough and either straight or wavy, but not curly. Any color or pattern is allowed. White, gray and brown are most common, with black, gray or brown markings, and colors often fade as a dog matures. The hair on the head makes it look larger than it is and usually covers the eyes.

Males stand 45 to 50 cm at the withers and females 42 to 47 cm. Males typically weigh 40 to 50 lb (18 to 23 kg) and females 30 to 40 lb (14 to 18 kg). The body is slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of 9 to 10, though the coat makes it look more rectangular. The tail is naturally very short or, in the United States, docked; since most European countries banned docking, many PONs there have tails of various lengths.

Temperament

PONs are stable and self-confident. They have an excellent memory and train well, but may take charge of a weak-willed owner. They adapt to many living conditions and are popular apartment companions in Poland. They take part in agility, obedience, rally, flyball, tracking and herding events.

Care and health

The breed needs a moderate amount of exercise every day. It is generally very healthy, with a life expectancy of about 12 years. Breeding dogs should be checked for hip dysplasia and for eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy. PONs are said to need a low-protein diet.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.