Polish Lowland Sheepdog  

History of The Breed

The Polish Owczarek Nizinny (PON) may have descended from dogs developed in Central Asia.  The first known documentation on this herding dog in Poland dates back to the 15th century.  The early PONS were carefully bred in the eastern and northern districts of Poland.  The PON is indeed a survivor.  His working ability, intense desire to please, and compatible nature have carried him through two global wars. The first written information about the breed is from the 15th century, when Pan (Mr.) K. Grabski sailed from Gdansk in Poland, to Scotland with a shipload of grain to exchange for sheep and wool. On board he had six Polish Lowland Sheepdogs to help with the sheep. A Scottish shepherd admired the way that they worked, and he bartered a ram and a ewe for three of these dogs. These three dogs are believed to be the origins of the Bearded Collie, and the Old English Sheepdog, and other breeds in Great Britain. The records show that medium sized, shaggy, herding dogs existed in the Northern and Eastern regions of Poland for many centuries, being a possible cross of the Hungarian Puli and the ancient Hun Herding Dog. In a painting dated in the 19th century, painted by F. Maslowski, titled "A Shepherd Boy", there is a small, shaggy, bobtailed sheepdog that is obviously a Polish Lowland Sheepdog, (Polski Owczarek Nizinny). In the beginning of the 20th century interest in pure breed livestock swept the world including Poland.  This interest included dogs.  Countess Grocholska and Mesdames Wanda and Rosa Zoltowska started breeding these naturally bobtailed dogs and supplied them for herding and guard duties on their estates. World War I caused great devastation in Poland and a rough census left only 150 of these unique dogs surviving (indigenous to Poland). The breeders somehow started again, even though food was scarce for humans let alone dogs. Then along came World War II and this again placed the breed in jeopardy. With the industrialisation of Poland after the war was over herding dogs were not needed except by those few people who stayed on the land. In 1948 Pani (Mrs.) Dubrowinowa took an interest in the breed with a few other people including Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz, a Polish veterinarian, and later the Polish Kennel Club. In the late 1940's Dr. Hyrniewicz discovered that in all of Poland there were only two dogs and six bitches existing worth breeding from. In 1949 she was allowed to use Kurta and Laska the elderly dogs belonging to a shepherd to produce a litter.  This resulted in a litter of only one puppy who she named Smok z Kordegardy (Dr. Hyrniewicz already had a breeding prefix). This puppy was placed in a working situation for a few years until he matured. She then bought two puppies from Pani Kusionowicz (Dukat and Diuna z Babiejwsi). It was 1955. She also acquired Wiga from a pet home.  These dogs formed the Origins of the famous Kordegardy Polish Lowland Sheepdogs. In 1957 four of these shaggy dogs were exhibited in Bydgoszcz. They were medium in size, lively, and alert, shaggy but not silky or woolly. Pani Dubrowinowa wrote the breed standard in 1959 and it was accepted by the Polish Kennel Club. At this stage the European Dog World began to take an interest.  Breeders in Europe began importing, breeding and showing them.  Mr. and Mrs. Augustowski (Kaz and Betty) imported some of these dogs to the USA and others followed.  Mrs. Megan Butler imported them into the United Kingdom in 1986 and began to introduce them to a very receptive public.  They were imported them into Australia in 1989. There are now estimated to be approximately 700 to 1000 specimen of the breed in the United States.  Acceptance has been wonderful and demand has never been higher. Careful breeding and wise choice of foundation stock (Thank you Betty Augustowski) has produced many World Class Champions and even  more importantly, many beloved family pets.

Characteristics ***  Lively but self-controlled, watchful, bright, clever, perceptive with excellent memory. Easy to train, works as a herding and watch dog.

Temperament ***  Alert, equable.

Eyes ***  Medium size, lively penetrating gaze, oval-shaped. Colour hazel to brown. Eye rims as dark as possible, closely fitting and showing no haw.

Mouth *** Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closing overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Strong and evenly placed teeth. Lips tightly closed and as dark as possible.

Neck ***   Strong, muscular, medium length without dewlap.

Body ***  Rectangular rather than square when viewed from side. Deep brisket with moderate spring of rib, neither flat nor barrel shaped. Withers distinctly marked; back level, muscular, with broad loin. Belly slightly drawn up. Croup short and slightly sloping. Proportions – height to length as 9:10.

Hindquarters ***  Well angulated, with broad and well muscled thigh. From behind, legs straight, turning neither in nor out. Hocks strong and distinctly angled.

Tail ***  Customarily docked.
Docked: Customarily docked if not born tailless or stumpy.
Undocked: Any length acceptable, longer tails well covered with hair. Tail set is a continuation of croup. Carried high and slightly curved over back when alert. Never curled over back. At rest, tail hangs low.

Gait/Movement ***  Smooth walking or trotting. Inclined to amble.

Colour ***  All colours acceptable.

Size ***  Height: dogs: 43-50 cms (17-19 3/4 ins); bitches: 42-47 cms (161/2-181/2 ins).

Note ***  Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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