Polish Lowland Sheepdog: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Hypoallergenic: Yes
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Temperament: Self-confidence, Lively, Agile, Intelligent, Even Tempered, Perceptive
Weight: Male: 14–23 kg, Female: 14–18 kg
Height: Male: 45–50 cm, Female: 42–47 cm
Colors: Black, Blue Belton, Tri-color, Brown, Beige

PON for short - presents himself as a reliable guardian and protector, but he does not display any aggressive behavior. On the contrary, the former herding dog is an excellent family dog, who understands himself excellent with children. Within the family, he chooses his pack leader, whom he shows himself to be loyal to. He excels with intelligence, perseverance and an excellent memory, this allows a versatile education. As a rule, he does not show any pronounced hunting behavior, although his hatching instinct is typically very pronounced. In order to have a balanced character, the PON wants and must be sufficiently occupied.

The origin of polish lowland sheepdog is not clear. It is believed that Asian dog breeds such as the Tibetan Spaniel or the Tibetterrier are among his ancestors. The first written mention of the breed can be found in Krzysztof Kluk's "Handbook of Zoology" from 1779. However, it can be assumed that it is a far older breed of dog. Already from the 13th century, there are reports about the PON very similar to seeing dogs. He is also considered a direct ancestor of the Bobtail. The purebred breeding of the PON, however, did not begin until the beginning of the 20th century by the sisters Wanda and Rosa Zoltrowska and Maris Czetwerryska-Grocholska. In 1924, polish lowland sheepdog was shown for the first time at an exhibition in Warsaw.

The withers height of a full-size dog is according to FCI standard at 45 to 50 cm, that of a bitch at 42 to 47 cm. The height of the body should not be lower than this, as the Polski Owczarek Nizinny must be of the type of a working dog.

As with all typical herding breeds, the polish lowland sheepdog pays particular attention to the character. For this reason, all colors and stains are allowed in the coat color. The coat itself is abundant all over the body and of rough, thick structure, with plenty of soft undercoats. The hair falling from the forehead form the characteristic long pony, which reaches over the eyes.

The polish lowland sheepdog is a medium-sized, low-necked herding dog with a strong and muscular physique. The withers are strongly emphasized, followed by a straight, strong back. The broad loin turns into a short truncated croup, from which emerges a long rod with strong feathering. However, medium-long rods or even stubby rods can occur. The tail is typically carried hanging, only when excited, it is cheerfully raised above the back. According to the standard, however, it must never rest on your back or be rolled.

The head is relatively large due to the bushy hair on the chin, cheeks, and forehead. The skull is slightly arched with a well-pronounced stop. His oval eyes show a vivid and penetrating expression but often remain hidden at first sight due to the pronounced pony. The ears are set high and formed as a hanging ear. 

The fore and hindquarters are strongly built, which gives the polish lowland sheepdog a good grip. The paws are well closed and oval with hard bales and short dark claws.

The Polish lowland sheepdog is a confident dog who needs a loving and clear leadership. With early, consistent education, he can develop his character optimally and become a balanced, pleasant dog. For this reason the Polski Owczarek Nizinny is not a beginner dog. Properly trained and busy, however, he is ideally suited as a family and companion dog, who gets on well with children and plays with them very persistently and joyfully. He proves to be extremely dutiful and conscientiously realizes his task as a watchdog. He reports strangers reliably and without signs of aggressiveness.

He is strongly related to one person and will appear reserved to strangers first. If the relationship between dog and owner is right, education is relatively easy. His high level of intelligence and his excellent memory let him quickly understand what he has to do and what to do. In addition, his strong will to work and the great need to please ensure that he can be trained to an excellent companion dog. Although he is resistant to any climatic conditions, but since he has a strong bond with humans as a former herding dog, a kennel attitude for this sensitive dog would be completely unsuitable.

The original task of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog was the watch and guard work. There he was considered an easily manageable dog with a strong will to work. However, as this area of responsibility has declined sharply, today it is often used as a reliable companion dog. Due to his innate agility, he is also suitable for many dog sports such as obedience, agility or dog dancing. These occupations are an excellent alternative to hat work because he can demonstrate his stamina and intelligence and can do something together with his caregiver. Furthermore, he finds his use as a disabled companion dog and was able to prove in various rescue dog teams already in many ways. However, thanks to the strict breeding society,