The Polish Lowland Sheepdog (commonly referred to as the PON in reference to his Polish name) is used more today as companion dogs than for herding sheep.
Appearance:
Body: Short, compact, rectangular, and well-muscled, with well-developed bones, deep chest, and broad back.
Coat: Long, dense, thick, and shaggy outer coat, with a soft, dense undercoat.
Color: White with black, grey, or sandy markings, gray with white markings, or chocolate.
Ears: Heart-shaped, high set, and hang close to the head.
Eyes: Medium size, brown or hazel color, and oval-shaped.
Feet: Oval, dense, and compact; forefeet are larger than rear feet.
Head: Medium size and strong with a moderately broad, slightly domed skull, straight muzzle, large brown or black nose, and forehead covered with thick hair.
Legs: Forelegs are straight, heavily boned, and set into well laid back, well-muscle shoulders. Hindquarters strong, muscular, and well-boned.
Neck: Strong, wide, and well-muscled.
Size:
Weight: 30 – 35 pounds
Height: 17 – 20 inches
Tail: Short, low set, and docked.
Behavior
- Recommended for experienced dog handlers
- Recommended for an active, athletic type owner
Once used extensively for herding and guarding sheep, The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is currently used more as a companion dog.
He is active, fearless, and athletic, highly perceptive and intelligent, has an exceptional memory, is very hard working, has a desire to please his owner, and makes a reliable companion. He is also stubborn and can be difficult to handle.
He is an independently-minded and self-assured dog who will quickly take charge if not handled by a strong leader capable of providing continuous training and socialization.
Obedience training should be firm but positive with vocal correction of errors, treat-type rewards, and lots of praise for a job well done.
AKC Standard says, “He is stable and self confident. He needs a dominant master and consistent training from the time he is very young. If this is not provided, he will tend to dominate the master.”
What You Should Know
The PON is a voracious eater. He is not one to monitor is food intake. If you give him a treat, he’s going to eat it regardless of how full he already is.
Don’t feed him just because he whines or gives you the classic sad puppy eyes look. If you keep feeding him, he will quickly become overweight.
Give him the amount needed for his age and size and no more. Snacks and treats should already be included in this calculation.
The PON is highly protective of his family. As such, the way he acts towards strangers is a bit cold or hostile. If you have guests over, don’t expect him to say hi to the guests.
You will have to socialize him, especially at an early age, so that he will be more open to all kinds of people and other animals.
The PON requires a lot of grooming. Unsurprisingly, seeing how much hair he has, you should expect to spend a lot of time and effort grooming your dog.
If you feel like you can’t handle this, then take him to a dog groomer or don’t get a PON as a pet in the first place.