Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Betty Augustowski

       Pol. Ch. Wacpan z Kordegardy was born on March 7, 1979 out of Ustka z Kordegardy by Dran z Zeriby.

      Dr. Hryniewicz, being a veterinarian and breeder, became very interested in her native shepherd dogs. The first two she purchased from shepherds were Kurta and Laska. She then purchased two puppies from Mrs. Kusionowicz, and she was given a bitch from Krakow that bore a remarkable resemblance to the pre-war dogs. It was very likely that she had originated from Ms. Zoltowska’s surviving dogs.

      The Polish Lowland Sheepdogs were exhibited in Bydgoszcz in 1957. Even though there was no breed standard, the preferred type was medium-sized, lively, alert and shaggy-coated with no resemblance to the silky or woolly coat of the Poodle or Maltese. The breed standard was written by Ms. Dubrowinowa and accepted in 1959.

      Dr. Hryniewicz then bred the famous dog Smok z Kordegardy (by Kurta and Laska) who became a true “father of the breed.” The Kordegardy stock was heavily inbred using Smok. Fortunately, this inbreeding resulted in the unification of the breed’s type with no hereditary defects. In 1969 another of her famous dogs was born. His name was Doman z Kordegardy.

      It was not until 1970 that the breed gained wide popularity. Most breeders started with dogs bred by Dr. Hryniewicz. Presently, interest in the breed remains quite strong and stable. Fortunately, the breed has never been so popular as to be spoiled by fashion.

       The well-known dog Doman z Kordegardy with famed breeder Dr. Hryniewicz.

       Pol. Ch. Apasz z Bankowcow is a well-known sire whose influence can be seen on dogs in Poland and beyond.

       THE PON IN THE US

      The first Polish Lowland Sheepdogs to enter the US came to long-time Bearded Collie breeder Moira Morrison of New York. The pair, Bundz z Starego Lupkowa and Fajerka z Kordegardy, came from a Polish breeder in January 1979. In 1980, three more puppies followed from Poland to Mrs. Morrison, and other PONs were known to come from Belgium and Germany to other Americans. The author, a proud Polish-American, and her husband acquired their first PON from Mrs. Morrison in 1982, from one of her early liters. This dog was four-month-old Pan Vladek, who was shown by the author at many rare-breed events. Soon thereafter, Mrs. Augustowski imported a European prize-winner from Poland, Krymka z Kordegardy, who arrived in whelp and delivered five puppies to start the author’s Elzbieta kennels.

       Among the first PONs imported into America were Elzbieta’s Pan Vladek (LEFT) and Krymka z Kordegardy.

       P-O-N FOR SHORT

      The acronym “PON” derives from the breed’s Polish name, Polski Owczarek Nizinny, a name which is admittedly difficult to pronounce. Phonetically, it’s pol’-skee ahv-cha’-rek ni-gi’-nee.

       THE OTHER POLE

      The Polish Lowland Sheepdog isn’t the only Pole in the herding dog family. The Polish Tatra Sheepdog, known as the Owczarek Podhalanski, derives from the Podhale region in southern Poland. This giant mountain dog, prized for its bravery and independence, more closely resembles the Great Pyrenees than the PON. In color, the breed is solid white and can weigh up to 150 lbs, standing as tall as 34 inches.

       Ch. Czaber z Wielgowa, bred by Janusz Zerebacki and owned by Andrea Erickson.

      Other imports and breedings put the PON on the map in the US. In its first decade of operation, Elzbieta kennels produced over 200 puppies, some of which won group and Best in Show awards at rare-breed and States Kennel Club shows. In 1987, the American Polish Owczarek Nizinny Club (APONC) was formed as the breed’s official parent club, recognized first by the Polish Kennel Club and the States Kennel Club and later by the leading American dog registry, the American Kennel Club (AKC). In 1995, the author, with the assistance of Marcy Ostrovsky Myerovich, edited The Official Book of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, approved by the APONC, with an authoritative text by three PON experts, the late E. Jane Brown, Dr. Tomasz Borkowski and Dr. Margaret Supronowicz. It took about 20 years for the PON to be accepted into the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class, this occurring in 1999. The breed entered the Herding Group on August 1, 2001 and became eligible for championships.

       Ch. DarBozy Oscar Harrison, bred by Susan Stekoll and owned by Ann and Richard Glazeski.

       Ch. Czaber z Wielgowa taking a Group Four at the AKC/Eukanuba Invitational in 2003. He was the first PON to place in the Group at this prestigious event.

      The author’s American-bred Ch. Elzbieta’s White Zinfandel became the first female AKC champion. She was owned by Merrilee Finch-Cirtwell. The first male PON to achieve his championship was Ch. Furman Konkury, bred by Maria Kozlowska-Koza and owned by Maciej Mieczyk. He was also the first male PON to place in a Group. The first female to place in a Group was Ch. Ponwood’s Fancy Girl, bred and owned by Barbara Bruns and Wolfgang Stamp the same bitch who would win the breed at the 2001 Eukanuba Invitational show. On April 27, 2002, she would become the first PON to win a Best in Show award.

      In February 2002, the PON made its first appearance at the famous Westminster Dog Show in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Fourteen dogs were entered under judge Donald M. Booxbaum, whose choice was Polish Lowland Sheepdog Number 15: Ch. Furman Konkury, the breed’s first AKC champion. The Best of Opposite Sex at this first show was Malina z Gangu Dlugich, bred by Barbara Larska and owned by Dr. Margaret Supronowicz and Karen Wagner.

      Another influential PON from the beginning of the 2000s was Ch. DarBozy Black Tie No Tails, on whom breeder/owner/handler Susan Stekoll has placed AKC, UKC and International championship titles.

       A multiple Best of Breed winner, this is Ch. DarBozy Black Tie No Tails or “Corwin,” breeder/owner/handler Susan Stekoll.

       Ch. Europa Casimer z Elzbieta was the first American champion (States Kennel Club) and first American obedience champion, too. She was bred in America by the author.

      Ch. Czaber z Wielgowa, bred by Janusz Zerebacki and owned by Andrea Erickson, was the first PON to place in the Group at the Eukanuba National Championship show; in 2003, he took Group Four.

      Beyond the conformation ring, the PON has also proven his excellence. Among the most famous and accomplished dogs in the agility world is, Pon z Rosa’s Moseley, bred by Christine Ferraro and owned by Elizabeth and Joseph Evans. She was the first female PON to earn the NA and NAJ titles (in July 1999), the first OA, OAJ, AX, AXJ titles (from September 1999 though July 2000) and the first to qualify for the AKC National Agility Championships in 2002. The first male PON to earn the NA and NAJ titles, Kosciuszko’s Stasiek Borecka Grodec, bred by owner Julia Kennedy-Cochran, did so in August 2000. He was also the first male PON to earn the CD title in obedience in November 1999. The first PON, a female, to earn this title was Ksiezna Kaska, bred by Margie Loewen and owned by Gretchen Barker-Murphy and Gary Murphy, and did so on