Polish Shepherd Dogs: breed description, feeding and care

Polish shepherds are considered the best helpers to work in the herd, watchmen and devoted friends. In addition, this breed of dog is characterized by small size, smart eyes with a penetrating gaze and beautiful coat. Due to their complaisant nature, they get along well with other pets, but their maintenance requires some care and proper nutrition.

Polish Shepherd belongs to a special type of dogs that are not adapted for life in the house and apartment. Such dogs are best kept outdoors, as they like to spend most of their time outdoors. It should be noted that for these beauties chain or aviary is not suitable. Such shepherds adapt perfectly to any living conditions, withstand extreme cold and sultry heat.

This breed was officially approved in 1998. Its representatives are distinguished by average growth, thick, long hair, muscularity and high activity. On average, the growth of males is from 45 to 50 cm, bitches - from 42 to 47 cm. The main features in the character of the lowland shepherds is discernment, vigilance, obedience and quick learning. In addition, the breed is famous great memory.

The head in dogs is proportional to the dimensions of the body, but it does not look massive.Since there is abundant hair on the chin, front of the head and cheekbones, the head of the animal visually seems larger. The frontal groove and occipital tubercle are markedly expressed, so the transition to the muzzle is clearly visible. The ears of the pet are heart-shaped, they are hanging, set high and slightly wide at the base. The size of the ears is average, but their lower part reaches the cheekbones of the animal.

The withers of the shepherd dogs of this breed are well defined, the neck is high set, without suspension, muscular. The chest is deep, of medium width. The ribs are rounded, the back is characterized by developed muscles, it is even. The legs of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog are oval, set upright and straight, their nails are short and the pads are strong. The movements of the animal are light, during a calm step they resemble dancing.

The first representatives of this breed appeared in the 17th century in Podhale. There are also references that white shepherd dogs were bred from Tibetan mastiffs in East Asia, their species was later crossed with “Caucasians” and “Mongols”. Exact descriptions of the Podhalyan breed were provided by W. Wieland in 1938, he called them “mountain shepherds”. After some time, the dogs that live in the Carpathians and the Tatras were crossed with the Hungarian kuvas, and at the beginning of the 20th century the so-called Tatra breed appeared.

Podhalyan Shepherd dogs are considered the main representatives of large shepherd breeds, the main purpose of which is to protect and protect people, livestock from predatory animals. In addition, such shepherds can perform other functions: to direct and keep the herd in one place, to find lost animals in the steppes and mountains.

As for the external descriptions, then dogs of this breed are medium in size and compact physique. They look hardy and strong. The fur is white, thick and short. The growth of bitches at the withers is not more than 75 cm, males - from 65 to 70 cm. The Podhalyan shepherd is similar to the Hungarian kuvas, the Maremma-Abruck shepherd and Chuvach. This is due to the presence of a common gene with the ancestors of these breeds.

The head of the dogs is proportional to the body, the skull is slightly rounded, the muzzle with a wide nose bridge, which gradually narrows to the black nose. As a rule, the length of the muzzle slightly exceeds the length of the skull or is equal to it. Dark rims are present on the lips, the teeth are strong and have either a straight or scissor bite. Eyes are set obliquely, they are small, expressive and differ in dark brown color. Ears of a triangular shape, overgrown with thick hair, set a little higher than the outer corner of the eyes.

The neck of shepherd dogs is medium-long, muscular, without suspension, there is a plentiful "mane" on it. The body is stretched, massive. The back and withers are well defined, even. The ribs are flat, the stomach is matched, the chest is deep. The tail of the shepherd dog is not long, during the excitement or interest it rises, and in a state of calm it is usually omitted.

Forelegs parallel straight and smooth, muscular. If you look at the hind legs, you can notice moderate angles on them. The pads are oval, dark in color, stiff, nails strong and blunt. As for the wool, it is short on the front and back of the legs, head and face.But the whole body and neck are covered with a beautiful and long (straight or wavy) hair, with a fluffy “collar” clearly standing out on the neck, and distinct hairs visible on the hips.

The Polish Shepherd is considered the most popular breed among dog breeders, but it is quite rare and is most often found in America and the Netherlands. To date, it has become possible to purchase puppies of this breed both in many kennels of European countries, and from individuals who are breeding dogs. At the same time, the price of puppies can be different, it all depends on the thoroughbredness of the parents.

Since one of the most common diseases of this breed of shepherd dog is hip dysplasia, it is important to make sure that the puppy has not inherited it from its parents. To do this, puppy sellers must provide X-ray photographs of parents taken by "father and mother" at the age of one. In addition, the baby's parents must have certificates of completion of courses for obedience to OKD.

Mother of babies should have normal fatness, look healthy and be active. When choosing a puppy, it is also considered an assessment of the conditions of its maintenance, the quality of feeding. Pets should spend a lot of time in the fresh air and be constantly in free movement. This will provide dogs with the proper development of their musculoskeletal system.

Starting from the age of 2 months, the babies of the Polish Shepherd Dog meet all breed standards, so during their purchase you should pay attention to the format of the body, ears set, bite and strength of the paws. In addition, purebred representatives of the breed have a special puppy card and brand.

It is recommended to buy a baby exclusively in specialized nurseries with a personal veterinary passportwhich should have vaccination notes. As for the chip, it is only required for transporting the animal to other countries.

Polish Shepherd belongs to the type of dogs that are not intended for breeding at home. They require constant presence on the street and perfectly adapt to any climatic conditions of the region. therefore if you plan to purchase this dog for keeping in an apartment or a house, it is better to abandon such an undertaking. Under such conditions, the animal will not receive the necessary physical activity, especially puppies.

The Polish Shepherd Dog should receive moderate exercise, and in addition to walking in the yard, it must be given access to run outside. Great benefits for the dog bring not only long walks in the fresh air, but also swimming.

As for the care, it is not considered difficult, however, procedures important for the dog should not be neglected.

• Regular combing and bathing. This is necessary so that the wool retains an attractive and neat appearance. Despite the fact that snow-white wool is prone to self-cleaning, the pet may fall out in the mud during outdoor games. During the molt, the shepherd should be combed profusely, it is best to do this daily.

• Ear Inspection. Auricles must be cleaned at least once a week.

• Claw cutting. As necessary, the claws are trimmed to the desired length. This is done if they do not have time to grind on their own.

The Polish Shepherd feeds on portions according to its size, while trying to save on the quality of products is impossible.To feed a pet, the owner can independently choose the type of food: give preference to ready-made dry food or home-made food.

The diet is based on the activity, size, age and physiological characteristics of the dog. If you choose ready-made feeds, then it is best to opt for premium products. Feed should be appropriate for the size of the breed and the age of the pet.

In some cases, according to the recommendations of the veterinarian, you can add mineral elements and vitamins, they are especially important during puppy growth. When feeding a shepherd, you must pay attention to the fact that the food does not cause her allergic reactions. In addition, you should not give the dog large portions.

Polish shepherds, irrespective of breed, are perfectly adapted for life in the open air, in this they are similar to native dogs. In addition, such shepherds in the wild can quickly find food and engage in combat with wolves, where they will always win.

As for keeping a dog with human participation, it requires compulsory education and training. Thanks to this, the dog will not lose its protective abilities. Dogs of this breed are quite smart and they don’t have a “digging” mania, therefore releasing a pet for a walk in the garden, you can be calm that the flower beds and the garden will remain intact.

Polish shepherds get along well not only with all family members, but also with other animals in the house. Even without special trainings, the dog can be safely left with the child. She will never touch the baby, and in case of attacks by strangers she will protect him. From such beauties excellent nannies are obtained. During the upbringing of a pet, one should not be rude, dogs of this species cannot tolerate it. They also do not like coercion, so if it is wrong to behave with a dog, she will show strong obstinacy.

It is advisable to start training from an early age, you need to do it at ease and easily, having previously established a confidential contact with the pet. Since dogs have innate guard skills, there is no need to train them.

Polish shepherds of all breeds are suspicious of strangers and strangers and may show discontent or aggression towards them. Even while doing their own thing or just playing, they will constantly watch the “strangers”. The pet starts to use its teeth only in extreme cases, while he does this instantly, without warning, barking. To avoid undesirable situations, the dog should be trained in teams such as "You can’t!" and "Fu!"

Classes with the puppy must be carried out in a playful way, allotting short periods of time to this. If the baby has an innate talent, it needs to be disclosed - a good shepherd and guard can turn out from a shepherd. The only thing the dog of this breed is not adapted to (psychologically and physically) is to participate in various sports and perform circus tricks.

Before you name a Polish shepherd, you should correctly choose her nickname, given the meaning of the name. The nickname is laid in the character of the pet and gives it a special charisma. The most popular nicknames for boys of the Polish Shepherd include: Byte, Castro, Cruz, Stalker and Beethoven.In addition, many pet owners prefer such astrological and mystical nicknames as Kant, Neptune, Sirius, Altair. This year, the following nicknames for boys are in fashion:

• Ford
• Horace;
• Scythian;
• Socrates;
• Baron
• Best;
• Carat;
• Zat;
• Tyson;
• Ralph.

For a girl choosing a nickname, it is advisable to consider not only the size of the dog, but also the color of her coat. Most often, the owners of Polish shepherds give them the nicknames of flowers or famous movie characters. It can be Venus, Sherry, Harp, Uma, Penelope, Lama, Avrika, Monroe. The most common nicknames for girls are:

• Leah
• Pilma;
• Margo
• Tina;
• Emma;
• Nura;
• Rosie
• Ora;
• Frida;
• Ilda.

It should be remembered that puppies usually get used to their nickname in a few days. To speed up this process, the pet should be constantly called by name during games and when executing commands.

See how to keep Polish Shepherds in the next video.