Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Betty Augustowski

       The first American-bred World Champion was Elzbieta’s White Zinfandel, winning his Puerto Rican championship at the World Dog Show in San Juan in 1997.

      The PON’s innate intelligence, agility and desire to please will continue to earn the breed many distinctions in the dog sport, whether it’s winning Group placements or advanced titles in agility, obedience, flyball, rally obedience or herding tests.

       THE BREED IN THE UK

      The Polish Lowland Sheepdog arrived in the UK in 1985 when Mrs. Megan Butler (Megsflocks) imported six puppies, which were purchased from Mr. Zenon Mossakowski in Belgium. The provisional Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club was formed, holding its inaugural meeting on December 1, 1985 at the Cadmore End Village Hall.

      Meanwhile, The Kennel Club had accepted the breed and, along with all other newly imported breeds, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog was placed on the import register. The PON’s first appearance at a Championship Show was in 1986; this was at the National Working Breeds Dog Society Show. Six dogs were shown under the import register classes, the judge being Mrs. Brenda Banbury. The breed has the distinction of being the first breed to be shown under this provision.

      Later the same year, six more dogs were imported and the first litter was born in the UK from a bitch that was imported in whelp and produced five puppies. The bitch was later returned to her homeland.

      In 1987 Mrs. Butler recorded the first UK-bred litter. In 1988 nine more imports arrived. Seven were registered by the Megsflocks kennels; one went to the Nedraw and the other to the Otterdream kennels.

      A vintage year was 1989, which saw 12 more imports with 5 to the Megsflocks kennels, 3 to the Jeddup kennels and 1 each to the Dorianblue, Nedraw, Padworth and Navereux kennels. A year later, two more imports arrived; one went to the Esterjay kennels and the other to the Mybeards kennels. November was a sad time for Megan Butler and the Megsflocks kennels, however, as Alik Kurner Izba passed away. He was the foundation on which the breed was laid in the UK.

       PURE-BRED PURPOSE

      Given the vast range of the world’s 400 or so pure breeds of dog, it’s fair to say that domestic dogs are the most versatile animal in the kingdom. From the tiny 1-pound lap dog to the 200-pound guard dog, dogs have adapted to every need and whim of their human masters. Humans have selectively bred dogs to alter physical attributes like size, color, leg length, mass and skull diameter in order to suit our own needs and fancies. Dogs serve humans not only as companions and guardians but also as hunters, exterminators, shepherds, rescuers, messengers, warriors, babysitters and more!

       Polish and International Champion Doman z Kordegardy with breeder Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz.

      In 1991 the Polish Lowland Sheepdog was transferred from the import register to the main register of The Kennel Club and the Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club was granted status, thus removing the word “provisional” from its title. In the same year, Windsor scheduled the first breed classes at a Championship Show, and Southampton also scheduled the breed for the first time at an Open Show.

      Yet another groundbreaking year for the breed was 1992, as it was the first time that the breed was exhibited at Crufts, with a total of 59 (29 dogs and 30 bitches). The distinguished judge was Mr. David Samuels. The Best of Breed was Mrs. S. Ainsley’s Antrosu Andrez. Best of Opposite Sex was Megsflocks Candlelit Flirt at Mybeards, owned by Mrs. D. Mottram. This same year also saw 120 PONs registered, which, to date, is the highest number in any one year.

      A red-letter day for the breed was Sunday, October 24, 1993, when the club held its first Open Show at Baggington Village Hall. The judge was Ms. Ruth Scott. The entry for the show turned out to be what is still, to date, a record entry for the club’s Open Show: 104 entries, with only 6 absentees on the day. The Best of Breed was Mybeards Flambeau of Valleyhouse, owned by Mrs. J. Wragg, and Best of Opposite Sex was Mybeards Enchantment at Rusclare, owned by Mrs. M. R. Rushby.

       World Champion and International Champion Radosz z Psiego Raju is a Best in Show-winning dog.

      Of the two imports in 1996, one went to Mrs. S. Ainsley and the other to Mrs. M. R. Rushby. The next milestone for the breed was the announcement that the breed was to be given Challenge Certificates (CCs) in 1997. Six sets of CCs were awarded, the first of which was awarded at the prestigious Crufts Dog Show.

      The judge, Mrs. Megan Butler, made principal winners Best of Breed and Bitch Challenge Certificate Mrs. Mottram’s home-bred Mybeards Wizzin, and the Dog Challenge Certificate winner was Elkin’s Akola Ebony.

      The club’s inaugural Championship Show was held at Hasland Village Hall, Chesterfield on Sunday, October 15. As with the club’s first Open Show in 1993, Ms. Ruth Scott was given the honor of judging the entries. The Dog Challenge Certificate was won by Mrs. D. Mottram’s Mybeards Pioneer, and the Bitch Challenge Certificate and Best of Breed was Mr. Kiely’s Mybeards Sophie.

      The breed’s first UK champion was Mrs. D. Mottram’s home-bred dog Mybeards Pioneer, born in 1990 out of Jonasz de Halkaza in Megsflocks/Hovahalls Freya of Mybeards. By awarding Pioneer his status, Ruth Scott made history by being the person to judge the club’s inaugural Open Show, the club’s inaugural Championship Show and making up the breed’s first champion, a hard act to follow.

       The first British champions were (LEFT to RIGHT) Ch. Mybeards Sophie and Ch. Mybeards Pioneer, shown here winning at the Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club Championship Show in 1997. The judge was Ruth Scott.

      Three more imports arrived in 1997. The first chocolate import was jointly owned by Mrs. Ainsley and Mrs. Rushby, the second was jointly owned by Ms. T. Cousins and Mrs. K. Owen and the third went to Mybeards. Later in the same year, a litter of four chocolate puppies belonging to Mrs. Mottram was born in quarantine; their mother later returned home.

      The formation of an alternative breed club, The Southern Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club, occurred in 1999. As with all new clubs, it needed to consolidate itself before it could approach The Kennel Club for ratification. By 2000, almost 700 dogs had been cataloged.

      The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is lively but self-controlled, clever and perceptive and endowed with an excellent memory. His herding and working abilities are attributed to his intense desire to please. Even when not used as a herding or working dog, the PON is a magnificent companion that can adapt to any lifestyle. He is extremely loyal to his owners but usually aloof and suspicious of strangers.

      Since the PON is capable of herding a small flock of sheep without a shepherd, he can make his own decisions. It is recommended that new owners understand this, and they must establish who is the master early in the relationship. The PON is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a highly intelligent animal that can keep your life interesting, continue reading.

       Can dogs smile? No doubt the PON can! Has any dog ever been more happy to flash a winning grin than the Polish Lowland Sheepdog?

      Simply reading about the characteristics of the PON cannot give you a real sense of exactly what it’s like to live with this wonderful canine. Now that I, the author, have lived with the breed for some 20 years and have witnessed examples of their intelligence, I am going to tell