| Polish Lowland Sheepdogs: the most honest dog breed review you'll ever find. Information about Polish Lowland Sheepdog personality and behavior. |
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My book, Your Purebred Puppy: A Buyer's Guide (published by Henry Holt & Co.), includes a full-page profile of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, including these excerpts:
"The AKC Standard calls him "lively but self-controlled, clever and perceptive and endowed with an excellent memory."
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog, sometimes nicknamed PON after his Polish name "Polish Owczark Nizinny") is a vigorous working dog. Strong and durable, athletic and agile, he requires daily exercise and does best with active owners.
Mental stimulation in the form of obedience, agility, herding, or watching over his home is even more important to this highly intelligent breed.
When these needs are met, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is calm and stable and settles down happily indoors.
Somewhat aloof and suspicious of strangers, he makes a vigilant watchdog. In fact, socialization must be early and thorough so that his watchfulness does not become either skittishness or sharpness.
Most Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are dominant with other dogs, especially of the same sex. Those with a high prey drive are not reliable around little creatures that run or flutter.
Like most herding breeds, the PON often pokes or pushes people and other animals in an attempt to gather them or move them along.
These confident dogs were bred to think independently and make their own decisions, and they will do exactly that unless you take charge and establish the rules. They are persistent problem-solvers ("If I can't get what I want this way, maybe I can get it this way.") and can be dominant and manipulative.
The shaggy Polish Lowland Sheepdog is not for the immaculate household. Mud, snow, and leaves cling to his tousled coat, and his beard collects water and food remnants and can become matted and smelly."
History
The first Polish breed to be introduced to the United States, the PON is descended from the Hungarian Puli and16th-century Hun herding breeds.
Size
17-20 inches and 30-50 lbs |
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Polish Lowland Sheepdogs
What's good about 'em
What's bad about 'em
- There are energetic Sheepdogs, and placid Sheepdogs.
- Hard-headed Sheepdogs, and sweet-natured Sheepdogs.
- Serious Sheepdogs, and good-natured goofballs.
- Introverted Sheepdogs, and Sheepdogs who love everyone.
| If you acquire a Polish Lowland Sheepdog puppy, you can't know for sure what he or she will grow up to be like. Because a good number of purebred puppies do NOT grow up to conform to the "norm." |
Now let's look at some common characteristics for this breed...
- Is medium-sized, shaggy, and natural-looking
- Is an enthusiastic working dog, strong and durable, athletic and agile -- thrives on vigorous exercise and challenging activities
- Is calm indoors (with enough exercise)
- Makes a vigilant watchdog
A Polish Lowland Sheepdog may be right for you.
| If you don't want to deal with... |
- Vigorous exercise requirements
- Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough
- Suspiciousness toward strangers when not socialized enough
- Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts
- Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge
- Chasing and nipping at things that move: children, joggers, other animals, bikes, cars
- Lots of brushing and combing
- Shedding
- "Shaggy dog syndrome," i.e. debris clinging to the coat, water soaking into the beard and dripping on your floors
- Waiting lists (hard to find) and a high price tag
A Polish Lowland Sheepdog may not be right for you.
| If I were considering a Polish Lowland Sheepdog... |
My major concerns would be:
- Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy and do interesting things. Otherwise they will become rambunctious and bored -- which they usually express by destructive chewing.
| If you simply want a pet for your family, and don't have the time or inclination to take your dog running or hiking or biking, or to get involved in herding, or agility (obstacle course), or advanced obedience, or tracking, or a similar canine activity, I do not recommend this breed. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs were never intended to be simply household pets. Their working behaviors (chasing, nipping, poking, pushing) are inappropriate in a normal household setting. Trying to suppress these "hardwired" behaviors, without providing alternate outlets for their energy, can be difficult. |
- Providing enough socialization. Standoffish by nature, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness, which is difficult to live with and could even lead to defensive biting.
- Animal aggression. Some Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are dominant or aggressive toward other dogs of the same sex. Some have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures.
- Stubbornness. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are not Golden Retrievers. The best PONs are versatile working dogs, capable of learning a great deal, but they can be stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
- Grooming. Without frequent brushing, Polish Lowland Sheepdogs become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy.
- Shedding. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs definitely shed, though some of the shed hair gets caught in the long coat rather than ending up on your floor. Thus, frequent brushing is essential not only for keeping the coat mat-free, but for removing shed hair.
- "Shaggy dog syndrome." Like all shaggy dogs, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a messy dog. Leaves, mud, snow, fecal matter, and other debris cling to his rough coat and ends up all over your house. When he drinks, his beard absorbs water, which drips on your floors when he walks away. When he eats, his beard absorbs food so that when he sniffs your face or presses his head against your leg, YOU end up dirty, too. Big shaggy dogs are not suited to fastidious housekeepers.
- Finding one and paying the price. In the United States, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog can be hard to find, and some breeders are charging $1000 and up.
| If you're considering an adult Polish Lowland Sheepdog... |
There are plenty of adult Polish Lowland Sheepdogs who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics. If you find such an adult, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you.
When you acquire a puppy, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important. But when you acquire an adult, you're acquiring what he already IS.
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Copyright © 2000-2006 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced without the permission of the author. |
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