The hindquarters are well angulated but never excessively so. The thigh and the second thigh are of approximately the same length.
Coat: It is doubled coated. The entire body is covered with a long, dense, shaggy, thick coat that is reasonably straight. The undercoat is soft and dense. Characteristically, long hanging hair covers the eyes. A slight wavy coat is acceptable. Faults: A curly coat, lack of undercoat and short coats. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog must be shown naturally—no scissoring is allowed.
Color: All coat colors are acceptable. The most common colors are white with either black, gray or sandy patches and gray with white, or chocolate. Most carry a dominant fading factor genetically, which results in puppies being born darker in coat color than they will appears as adults, with the exception of those puppies born white.
Straight or slightly wavy hair is acceptable. The hairs falling from the forehead cover the eyes in a characteristic manner. All colors and patches are acceptable. The quality of a PON’s coat is much more important than mere length. The PON is a natural dog and any excessive trimming is to be discouraged. However, some trimming is permitted on the back, neck and feet—it may improve the outline of heavy-coated dogs. Coat color is immaterial. Different colors are linked to different coat textures. Generally the best coat texture comes with gray and white/gray color. Black/white coats are usually softer and thinner, sometimes almost silky. Chocolates have woolly and soft coats. Rare jet blacks have extremely soft coats, lacking undercoat.
Gait: The gait is fluid motion. He is often an ambler. With the correct shoulder angulation, he is capable of swinging his front legs forward with great reach of stride, extending out before his body in a long flat arch. The stride propels the body forward, rather than upward, with less fatigue. When viewed from the front, the legs should move parallel from the elbows to the pasterns. Toeing in is considered natural. Fault: Toeing out. The greatest source of his forward drive is derived from good rear angulation. When viewed from behind, the back legs should be parallel to each other and not too close. Fault: Close rear movement.
The PON’s gait should be effortless and efficient, appealing visually to an onlooker.
Temperament: 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. When not used as a herding or working dog, he can be a magnificent companion as he seems to fit into any type of lifestyle. He is extremely loyal, but somewhat aloof and suspicious of strangers. Faults: Nervous, cowardly, or extreme vicious behavior.
Approved January 11, 1999
Effective July 1, 1999
WHERE TO BEGIN
Choosing a breeder is an important first step in your ownership of a Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Fortunately, the majority of PON breeders are devoted to this delightful breed and its continued well-being. By contacting the national breed club, potential new owners should have little problem finding a reputable breeder who doesn’t live on the other side of the country (or in a different country). Further, the American Kennel Club is able to recommend ethical breeders of PONs. While the breed is relatively “rare” in most countries, it is not difficult to find the right dog people if you persist and pursue the right channels. By and large, dog people are very helpful, especially to newcomers to the less popular breeds.
Selecting a PON puppy starts with selecting a breeder and observing the litter.
Potential owners are encouraged to attend dog shows (or trials) to see the PONs in action, to meet the owners and handlers firsthand and to get an idea of what PONs look like outside of a photographer’s lens. Provided you approach the handlers when they are not terribly busy with the dogs, most are more than willing to answer questions, recommend breeders and give advice.
Once you have contacted and met a breeder or two and made your choice about which breeder is best suited to your needs, it’s time to visit the litter. Since the breed is not very numerous, most top breeders have waiting lists. Sometimes new owners have to wait as long as two years for a puppy. If you are really committed to the breeder whom you’ve selected, then you will wait (and hope for an early arrival). If not, you may have to resort to your second- or third-choice breeder.
Ideally you will be able to visit the litter in person. Photographs and video cassettes are helpful, but they cannot compare to actually meeting the litter firsthand. Since you are likely to be choosing a PON as a pet dog and not a show dog, you simply should select a pup that is friendly, attractive and healthy. For the potential show puppy, you will have to be more selective. The bite is a consideration in every breed of dog, so check the bite of your selected puppy to be sure that it is neither overshot nor undershot. This may not be too noticeable on a young puppy but will become more evident as the puppy gets older. Size is a consideration with a show puppy, so do not rescue the runt of the litter if the breeder thinks the dog could grow up to be slightly below the standard.
MAKE A COMMITMENT
Dogs are most assuredly man’s best friend, but they are also a lot of work. When you add a puppy to your family, you also are adding to your daily responsibilities for years to come. Dogs need more than just food, water and a place to sleep. They also require training (which can be ongoing throughout the lifetime of the dog), activity to keep them physically and mentally fit and hands-on attention every day, plus grooming and healthcare. Your life as you now know it may well disappear! Are you prepared for such drastic changes?
SOME DAM ATTITUDE
When selecting a puppy, be certain to meet the dam of the litter. The temperament of the dam is often predictive of the temperament of her puppies. However, dams occasionally are very protective of their young, some to the point of being testy or aggressive with visitors, whom they may view as a danger to their babies. Such attitudes are more common when the pups are very young and still nursing and should not be mistaken for actual aggressive temperament. If possible, visit the dam away from her pups to make friends with her and gain a better understanding of her true personality.
Most PON fanciers would concur that there are no major differences in the sexes when it comes to this breed; both make marvelous pets. Some would proffer that males are more rambunctious and energetic and that adult females tend to be less active than their male counterparts. For a family with children, females may be gentler and more demonstrative. There are no hard and fast rules with PON temperaments, and there can be some variation within the same litter. Seek a calm puppy and you will be assured of a reliable adult companion.
Breeders commonly allow visitors to see their litters by around the fifth or sixth week, and puppies leave for their new homes between the eighth and tenth week. Breeders who permit their puppies to leave early are more interested in your money than in their puppies’ well-being. Puppies need to learn the rules of the pack from their dams, and most dams continue teaching the pups manners and dos and don’ts until
