Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Betty Augustowski

      

       Physical Characteristics of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      (from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

      Head: Is in proportion to the body.

      Skull: Moderately broad and slightly domed.

      Eyes: Medium size and oval. Colors are brown or hazel.

      Nose: Large and black or brown.

      Jaws: Strong.

      Teeth: A full complement of strong white teeth meet in a scissors or level bite.

      Chest: Deep and broad.

      Forequarters: The shoulders are heavily muscled, and well laid back at an angle of approximately 45°. The legs are straight and vertical, with heavy bone. The pasterns are flexible without weakness. The feet are oval, thick and compact, with the front feet larger than the rear feet.

      Coat: It is doubled coated. The entire body is covered with a long, dense, shaggy, thick coat that is reasonably straight. The undercoat is soft and dense.

      Ears: Heart-shaped, drop and set moderately high.

      Neck: Muscular and strong.

      Topline: Level.

      Back: Neither too long nor too short for proper balance and movement.

      Tail: Short, set low and no longer than two vertebrae.

      Hindquarters: Large, heavily boned, and well muscled. Hocks are parallel when viewed from the rear. Feet are oval with tight arched toes.

      Height: Measured at the withers for an adult dog is 18–20 inches, and 17–19 inches for a bitch.

      Belly: Slightly drawn up.

      Color: All coat colors are acceptable.

      Contents

       History of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Meet the shaggy shepherd dog of Poland, the Polski Owczarek Nizinny, known to us as the PON or Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Prized in its homeland for centuries for its keen intelligence and working abilities, the PON is a relatively recent arrival to the modern dog fancy. Learn about the breed’s development and establishment in Poland, meet important PON breeders and follow the breed into countries outside Poland.

       Characteristics of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Intuition, instinct, cleverness, liveliness—and the list goes on! The PON is both an excellent herding dog and a marvelous companion, not to mention having a trademark winning smile. Acquaint yourself with the breed and its “almost human intelligence” through owners’ amazing accounts of their extraordinary PONs.

       Breed Standard for the Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Learn the requirements of a well-bred Polish Lowland Sheepdog by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

       Your Puppy Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Find out about how to locate a well-bred Polish Lowland Sheepdog puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

       Proper Care of Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Cover the specifics of taking care of your Polish Lowland Sheepdog every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

       Training Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

       Healthcare of Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog

       By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

      Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

       Your Senior Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Know when to consider your Polish Lowland Sheepdog a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years.

       Showing Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here’s how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility and herding events.

       Behavior of Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog

      Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Polish Lowland Sheepdog tick. The following potential problems are addressed: aggression (fear-biting, inter-canine and dominant), separation anxiety, chewing, digging, jumping up,