Polish Lowland Sheepdog

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a stocky, medium sized herding dog with a long shaggy coat. It is also called the "Polish Owczarek Nizinny"� or "PON."� As its name suggests, its modern form developed in Poland by the 13th century, but it is likely descended from ancient herding dogs. The PON is a talented herder, but also functions as a livestock guardian. This breed is fiercely protective of its flock or its family and home. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog has a muscular build, and thick-set legs. Its tail is either naturally bobbed, or is cut short. Its ears are set high on the head, are heart-shaped and droop. Its coat is comprised of two thick layers: the profuse outer coat is made of long, wiry guard hairs that serve to protect the dog from harsh weather. The undercoat is dense and woolly and serves to insulate the dog. The coat hangs over its face and is particularly heavy around its forehead, chin, neck and legs; this gives the dog the illusion of having a disproportionately large head. The coat may be of any color, but the more common are white with either gray, sand, black or brown; chocolate; or gray. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog stands 16 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is believed to descend from the ancient corded herding dog of the nomadic Huns of the Hungarian plains the same dog from which the Hungarian Puli likely comes. It is said that some of the blood of the Tibetan Terrier, and that of the Llasa Apso were given to the Hungarian herder to create the PON. By the high Middle Ages the PON was being used in Poland to herd, and to guard both livestock and peasants. In the year 1514 a Polish merchant called Kazimierz Grabski sailed a ship from Gdansk north to Scotland, to trade grain for Scottish sheep. He took along five Polish Lowland Sheepdogs, knowing that they would come in handy when it came time to move the sheep aboard. When he arrived in Scotland, the local farmers were impressed by his herding dogs, and one offered to trade a fine Scottish ram if he could keep two of the dogs. After some haggling a deal was struck: a ram and a ewe, for one male and two female dogs. The story goes that the three Polish Lowland Sheepdogs stayed there in Scotland and were crossed with local herding dogs to create the foundation for the Bearded Collie. As it did for so many of the European breeds, the second world war nearly drove the Polish Lowland Sheepdog to extinction. A Polish doctor, Danuta Hryniewicz, used her dog Smok (meaning "dragon"�) to almost singlehandedly restore the breed. The first ten litters after the war were sired by Smok, and so he is said to be the ancestor of all PONs today. Dr. Hryniewicz helped to establish a club and a studbook, and a standard was written using Smok as the model. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1959. An American called Betty Augustowski, past president of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club of America, recalls meeting Dr. Hryniewicz once in Poland. The PON was fast gaining ground in the decades after the war, and Dr. Hryniewicz expressed dismay that the breed was recognized everywhere but in America. Augustowski promised her that in her lifetime, the PON would gain AKC recognition, and in 2001 that dream was realized. It was cause for some celebration in Poland, which took pride in the PON which was by then such a national symbol that it appeared on a postage stamp. Today there are many PONs in Poland and around Europe. Many of those are working dogs, but not a few are living as housepets. In Poland apartments are common, and the Polish Lowland Sheepdog's manageable size allows it to make a successful apartment dog with proper exercise. The PON is like other herding dogs in that it needs daily exercise and mental stimulation. With moderate daily workouts such as a game of frisbee or a long brisk walk, this dog makes a great housepet, and a good watchdog. The long coat needs brushing several times per week to prevent painful mats from forming. Baths are also needed occasionally, and the coat should be a least partly blow-dried. The The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a low shedder and is a often a good choice for a household in which family members suffer from allergies to animals. This breed is naturally very hardy and healthy. Breeding stock should always be checked for hip soundness and any genetic eye abnormalities before being used for breeding. The PON should be monitored in warm weather for signs of overheating, and be kept out of sunlight and given plenty of fresh air and fresh water.The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is an active, energetic, fun-loving dog. Like many a herding breed, it is intelligent and capable of problem-solving and working independently. It likes to be involved with its human pack in whatever activity is important. It will not do well being left alone for long periods of time; this can lead to boredom and destructive behavior. The PON is usually great with other dogs as long as they are non-dominant, and this breed is generally good with smaller household pets, although it may try to herd them.The Polish Lowland Sheepdog requires early consistent training and a strong human leader. It is a clever, willful dog that will take over the household if not taught boundaries from an early age. The PON is naturally suspicious of strangers. It will bark to warn the household of an approaching visitor. This breed is intensely loyal and gentle with family members, and it is particularly fond of children. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are gaining steady popularity in the United States, and the owner will enjoy participating with the dog in agility and obedience competitions and herding trials. The PON can also make an excellent therapy dog.

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