PON puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. They are affectionate, fun-loving medium sized dogs that have been around for a very long time, being one of the most ancient of all Polish breeds. They do not answer well to harsh correction or any sort of heavy handed training methods, but they do respond extremely well to positive reinforcement which always brings the best out of these intelligent and quick-witted dogs, especially when there are high value rewards involved being careful not to give too many which could end up with a dog putting on too much weight. Plan to bathe them every month or so. When these needs are met, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is calm and stable and settles down happily indoors. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog (PON) was introduced into the UK in 1985 by Megan Irwing who’s kennel club affix is Megsflocks, Megan also founded the PLS Club. This can lead to them being destructive around the home which is a dog's way of relieving any stress they are feeling and a way to keep themselves entertained which includes barking incessantly. They are in fact, a lot more robust than their body size might first suggest. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog as their name suggests is native to Poland where they have always been highly prized working dogs. More traits and characteristics of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives: Older PONs don't need to be given the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog, but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. This is particularly important because if not well socialised, a PON can be a little aggressive towards other dogs they meet that they don't already know. See All of Michele's Best-Selling Dog Books, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, Homemade Dog Food Delivered To Your House, Puppy Training Schedule: What To Teach, and When, Solve Behavior Problems By Teaching Your Dog To Respect You, Is an enthusiastic working dog who thrives on vigorous exercise and challenging activities, Destructiveness when bored or not exercised enough, Suspiciousness toward strangers when not socialized enough, Potential aggression toward other animals, Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge, Lots of brushing and combing (or clipping the coat short), "Shaggy dog syndrome," i.e. A few months later, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club was formed in the United Kingdom, and because of the Club’s wide promotion, the breed got more and more well-known. Pets4homes always recommends that potential owners check out a breed's intelligence and their specific energy needs before making their final decision so their dog's needs fit in well with their lifestyle. A Polish Lowland Sheepdog may not be right for you. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise, so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. As a rough guide, an adult dog can be fed the following amounts every day: If you are looking to buy a Polish Lowland Sheepdog, you would need to register your interest with breeders and agree to being put on a waiting list because very few puppies are bred and registered with The Kennel Club every year. Megan has … It is a good idea to start when they are young, getting them used to bathing, brushing and drying. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden, so they can really let off steam. Apart from purchasing a puppy or dog, there are other expenses that need to be factored into owning and caring for them correctly. Polish Lowland Sheepdogs don't shed much, but their long, thick hair requires brushing every day to prevent matting and tangling. In general, PONs are a very healthy breed. Their shoulders are well laid back and muscular with dogs having straight front legs that slant slightly at the pastern. Mental stimulation in the form of advanced obedience classes, agility classes, or herding livestock, is even more important to this intelligent breed. PONs are excellent natural watchdogs although this is not to say a dog would not be quick off the mark to let an owner know when there are strangers about although they would rarely do this aggressively, preferring to stand their ground and bark. and can be dominant and manipulative. Some breeds are not tolerant of children at all, whilst other are exceptionally good around children of all ages and will tolerate being pulled about, they put up with noisy environments when kids shout, scream and chase around like toddlers and younger children often do. You might want to consider brushing for a few minutes every day, getting your PON accustomed to lying still. PONs have a nice furrow from their stops that go right to their occiputs and well-defined stops. One of the offspring produced went on to be Best of Breed at Crufts, namely Megsflocks Candlelit Flirt of Mybeards. The key to successfully training a Polish Lowland Sheepdog is to make their training as interesting as possible and to avoid too much repetition. He descends from the herding dogs of the Huns and the Puli. Herding dogs were bred to be tough, robust and very intelligent. Not a good breed for a novice owner. In short, prevention is often easier than cure with ear infections. With this said, puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. It also helps establish a “pecking order” and who the alpha dog is in a household. Just because a dog is extremely intelligent does not mean they are easy to live with because like the Border Collie, they can be very demanding when it comes to the amount of exercise and mental stimulation they need to be truly well-balanced, happy dogs when they live in a home environment. Pets4Homes rates the "Polish Lowland Sheepdog " breed as 3 out of 5 for "Grooming Needs". Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old, but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. Shaggy dogs are not suited to fastidious housekeepers! PONs are never happier than when they are given something to do which is why they are so amenable to learning new things. They have quite rectangular bodies when seen from the side and nice deep briskets with moderately well sprung ribs. They have strong jaws with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. PONs that exhibit basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials. About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. Medium and large size breeds are often better suited to families with children, although it's important to note that not all breeds tolerate being roughly handled by younger kids. When it comes to their coat, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog boasts a long, shaggy, dense and thick top coat and a much softer, dense undercoat. PONs are better suited to people who lead active, outdoor lives and who would like to have a tireless, courageous canine companion at their side. When the dog drinks, his beard absorbs water, which drips on your floors when he walks away. Under Kennel Club rules, a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. A lot of working breeds were bred to be independent thinkers capable of doing their job on their own when needed. If you get a PON puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too. Pets4Homes also recommends that no dog be left alone at home for more than 4 hours at a time. However, any interaction between toddlers and a dog should always be well supervised by an adult to make sure playtime does not get too boisterous which could end up with someone being knocked over and hurt, especially when dogs are still very young.