Important Information About the The Polish Lowland Sheepdog

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog comes from Poland just like the name suggests, and it has remained literally unchanged since the 13th century. It is believed that this breed comes from the Polish and the herding dogs that belonged to the Huns.

In 1514, a man bought some sheep in Scotland and along with the sheep, he also got six of these dogs to help move them. A Scottish shepherd was so amazed at the dogs' abilities in herding, that he traded a ram and two ewes for three dogs, a male and two females. It was these dogs that helped to make the Scottish herding breeds.

This breed almost went extinct during World War 2. It was kept alive through the work of one woman named Dr. Danuta Hryeniewicz and her dog Smok. He fathered the first ten litters of this breed in the 1950s.

This dog is medium-sized and has a rugged, country look and a nice, athletic build. It has a long, shaggy double coat which can be found in many colors, but the most common ones are white, gray, or brown with black, gray, or brown markings.

The average height for males is 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20 inches) and for females is 42 to 47 cm (17 to 19 inches). The average weight for males is 40 to 50 lb and for females is 30 to 40 lb. Its body is slightly longer than taller, and the height to length ratio is 9:10.

This is an intelligent animal that loves its family and is very devoted to them. Always happy and eager to please, this dog will probably not do too well if it did not have its family's attention and affection. Not paying attention to this dog would result in an unhappy and destructive individual.

This dog needs a family that is active and willing to spend a lot of time with it. It needs lots of exercise because of its high energy and stamina that needs to be let out. It has high intelligence and an excellent memory.

It is easy to train and is a quick learner. It can be stubborn at times if it thinks that you are not doing something right. This breed does better with people who have some experience with raising dogs.

This breed is a good watchdog and guard dog. It is better to raise the dog with small children from its puppyhood. It can be dominant and sometimes even aggressive towards other dogs. Do not trust it around small, flighty animals because it has a high prey drive.

With bigger submissive animals, it does much better if properly socialized. It is a little reserved around strangers. It can dominate an owner who is not confident and assertive. It has excellent herding abilities and may try to herd people or animals.

When it comes to grooming, this dog is not that difficult to take care of. Simply brush out the coat one or twice a week to keep it in top condition. You can even get the coat clipped every couple of months, which keeps the dog looking sharp and helps with general maintenance as well. It is a mild shedder.

This breed lives for 10-12 years. It is generally healthy, but some dogs may suffer from hip dysplasia or progressive retinal atrophy. This breed requires a diet that is low in protein.

Overall, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog makes a good pet, a wonderful companion, and an excellent guard dog.