Polish Lowland Sheepdog - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
The exact ancestry of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is not completely clear, but it is believed that these dogs are descendants of Tibetan Terriers, Hungarian Pulis which migrated with Huns to Poland and some local Polish herding dogs. This is pretty old dog breed and they are present in Poland at least since the 13th century. Later in 16th century, these dogs were brought to Scotland on the ships of Polish traders and there is possibility, that they became a piece of the genetic puzzle that formed the Bearded Collie.
2) Smok
Second world war was devastating for Polish people, but also for all the dogs living in Poland. During this war, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog almost went extinct and only few dozens of purebred PONs survived. Luckily, Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz owned one of those survivors named Smok and she decided to restore the breed! And she was succesfull. Smok sired the first ten litters of PONs in the 1950s and all the Polish Lowland Sheepdogs we have today can trace its history back to him.
3) Sheepdog
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is, well a sheepdog and it was used for herding for centuries, which formed the dog personality. To be good at herding, the dog must be very smart, but also independent, loyal, pretty confident and it should have higher stamina. And that is exactly, what Polish Lowland Sheepdog is. They can also be used for protecting the stock, since they do have a natural protective instinct.
4) Companion
Of course, today, many Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are living as companion pets. They make good companions, because these dogs are totally devoted and loyal to its owner and they love their whole family. They are also known to be very good with kids, but you should always supervise the dog with a very young child. They can also live with other dogs or pets in the family, especially if they are socialized together from the puppyhood. Due to its naturally protective nature, they can be alert and suspicious towards strangers and they most often alert you by barking if stranger is approaching to your home. On the other hand, they should never be agressive without a reason.
5) Exercise
It is important to say, that this is not a dog for everyone, mostly due to their high energy and exercise needs. These are working dogs who love to work with people. If they are not used for herding, than you just must také them on several daily walks accompanied with some fun training session or playtime. Because they love working, they make great adept for various dog sports, such as agility or herding trials. Without enough exercise, they can develop some unwanted behaviour such as excessive barking or chewing.
6) Training
I mentioned earlier, that this is highly active breed and it indeed is, but because of their very independent nature and stubborness, they are not pushovers to train and the training can be challanging. They need firm, and absolutely consistent and patient trainer. They do understand new commands quickly, but it seems they always think twice, before doing anything.
7) Size
The Polish lowland Sheepdog is a muscular and athletic breed with very thick and dense coat. The average height is between 17-20 inch, which is 42-50 cm and weight is usually between 30-50 pounds, which is 13-23 kg. The females are natraully little bit smaller than males.
8) Coat and color
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog has a long, shaggy dense topcoat and a soft, thick undercoat. This dense coat protects the dog from harsh climate and enables them to work even in bad weather without any problems. Typically the coat is covering the eyes and is very shaggy around the head. Interesting fact is, that puppies are commonly born in darker color, which is fading as the dog reach the adulthood. You can find this breed in many colors and patterns, commonly in combination of white with black, sandy or grey, but they can also be all white, all black or black and tan.
9) Maintenance
As you can imagine, this dog needs some grooming. The coat should be brushed daily to prevent matting and to keep it in good condition and healthy. Other than that, you should left the coat natural as it is and you should never shave it. Just like with all dogs, you should also regularly check their eyes, ears, teeth and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.
10) Health
Usually, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a very healthy breed with average lifespan between 12-15 years. Just like all dogs, they can suffer from some health issues, like hip dysplasia, diabetes or progressive retinal atrophy, but none of those is very common with this breed.