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The country of Poland, located in Central Europe, is a country famous for its natural beauty, great people, amazing food! But did you know the country is also the home of some unique dog breeds? It’s true!
So, we’ve put together a list of Polish dogs breeds for you. Maybe one of these would make a great companion for your family! Let’s get started!
1. Polish Greyhound
The Polish Greyhound, also called the Chart Polski, is a beautiful, sleek, athletic dog breed. These dogs were originally used for hunting deer, wolf, bustard (a type of game bird), fox, and more. These dogs are classified as sighthounds, which means they hunt their prey by sight. The Polish Greyhound is a highly intelligent dog that’s confident and brave.
While the dogs look very similar to Greyhounds, they tend to weigh more and have heavier muscles. However, they do have the long legs and athletic body of the Greyhound. These dogs tend to be highly protective and territorial. They can also be aggressive on occasion. So, this is a dog that’s not well-suited for first-time pet parents.
These dogs are also not the best choice for families that have other pets. However, if the dog has been trained and socialized from a young age, they can get along with other pets.
Chart Polski were first mentioned in Polish records in the 13th century. Because they were originally bred to hunt, Polish Greyhounds have a strong prey drive.
These beautiful dogs were once owned by Polish nobles and royals! So, you can imagine they lived in the lap of luxury and were well cared for.
Polish Greyhounds usually stand between 27 to 42 inches tall and weigh between 60 to 90 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
2. Polish Hunting Dog
The Polish Hunting Dog is a very active dog breed! Also called the Gonczy Polski, these dogs were originally bred to hunt. The breed is classified as a scenthound, which means the dog primarily hunts by scent. Polish Hunting Dogs were bred to hunt large game, including wild boar and deer. That’s work that requires stamina and determination, both attributes the dogs still have today.
Because they’re so active, the Polish Hunting Dog requires plenty of daily exercise. The dogs also do best in a large home that has plenty of yard for them to run in. The dogs excel at catching flying disks, sport tracking, and other dog sports. Just grab your hunting dog supplies, like a high quality dog tracker, and watch as they do what they do best. They’re best with experienced pet parents who know how to train and socialize these active dogs. You must be a consistent, strong pack leader, or this is a dog who will take over!
Polish Hunting Dogs have a strong prey drive, so they’re not the best choice for families that have other pets. The dogs don’t do well with cats, hamsters, rabbits, or other small pets. However, the dogs are great with kids and other dogs.
Polish Hunting Dogs usually stand between 20 to 23 inches tall and weigh between 48 to 57 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.
Grab your archery equipment and your hunting dog to ensure success out in the field!
3. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a medium-sized, long-haired dog that comes from Poland, of course! The Polish name for this dog breed is the Polski Owczarek Nizinny, which literally means Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
This is an older dog breed that may be descended from the Puli, a Hungarian herding dog, and central Asian dogs, including the Tibetan Mastiff, Tibetan Spaniel, and others. It’s thought these dogs were spread when the Huns fought their way through various countries.
The dogs are still very popular in Poland today, though they are not as common in the US. They’re even popular companions for people who live in apartments, as well as those who live and work on farms.
These dogs were originally bred to herd, and they are still very strong herders today. These dogs are independent thinkers who are intelligent. Polish Lowland Dogs are also self-confident and thrive when living with a family. They can be wary of strangers, however.
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are known for their famous memories! They’re smart learn quickly; however, they can also be very stubborn. And if the pet parent is not dominant in the household, this dog will take over and rule the house!
The dogs are extremely energetic and need plenty of exercise. They also have a strong work ethic and love to have a job to do. This Polish dog breed excels at training and agility courses, which are excellent activities for the dogs. They need plenty of physical and mental stimulation.
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are usually good with kids and do well with other pets if they’ve been raised together from a young age. However, the dog may try to herd young children around! This is a dog that likes to keep his pack and herd together and in order!
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs usually stand between 17 to 20 inches tall and weigh between 35 to 55 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
4. Pomeranian Dog
The Pomeranian is a Polish/German dog breed and is the smallest spitz-type dog. They were first bred in the province of Pomerania, in Germany. They are close relatives with the Schipperke, Norwegian Elkhounds, the German Spitz, the American Eskimo Dog, and the Samoyed.
These beautiful dogs are small; however, they have a personality the size of an elephant (or larger!). Pomeranians (also called Poms). The lively dogs were once favored by Queen Victoria; her Poms were some of the first shown in England!
These cute, feisty dogs are highly intelligent and loyal to their families. And they definitely have minds of their own! Poms are always alert and curious about what’s going on around them. However, because they think they’re bigger than they are, Pomeranians are sometimes aggressive with larger dogs and may even attack them. These dogs must be properly trained and socialized from a good age in order to be happy, well-behaved dogs.
Poms come in a wide range of colors, including orange, red, white, cream, blue, brown, or black. However, you may even find Pomeranians that are white with colored markings. These dogs are called parti-colored and usually include black with another color.
These dogs have a long, thick double coat that stands out from their body. And they have a long ruff around the neck and on their chests. While the coats look hard to care for, fortunately, these small dogs have fur that doesn’t much more than regular brushing.
Poms are also famous for their loud barks! They make great watchdogs. However, there are times when they don’t want to stop barking. Here, again, it’s important to understand these dogs need proper training and socializing from a young age.
This dog breed is best suited for older people and people who tend to be busy. They’re also great at living in apartments or homes without a backyard. However, they’re not the best dogs for families with young kids.
Pomeranians usually stand between 7 to 12 inches tall and weigh between 3 to 7 lbs. They have a life expectancy between 12 to 16 years.
5. Polish Hound
Next on our list is the Polish Hound, also called the Ogar Polski. These dogs have been around for many centuries and were originally bred to be hunting dogs. Even so, Polish Hounds have a reputation for being gentle, intelligent, energetic, and eager to please.
It’s thought the dogs were first crossed with indigenous Polish Dogs and the St. Hubert’s Hound. No matter the mix that went into these beautiful dogs, Polish hunters still prize these hounds today!
The breed was almost extinct by WWII; however, it was saved by two colonels who fell in love with these dogs. These dogs are large and athletic, with wide faces. They have slightly wrinkled skin on their faces, similar to other hound dogs. Polish Hounds also have a deep chest, with a slim waist and a low, long tail. They have long ears that are said to be very velvety!
The dogs are extremely affectionate, gentle, and friendly. They love nothing better than to be with their family as much as possible. And they do love attention! Polish Hounds can also be pretty playful, even though they were bred to be hunters. The dogs are calm and do very well with kids.
When it comes to training, Polish Hounds are intelligent dogs, yet they’re still easy to train. They’re eager to please their pet parents. However, they can be stubborn and will not do anything he doesn’t want to do.
One thing to know about these brilliant dogs is that they can be territorial and protective of their families. While they’re rarely aggressive, they may raise the alarm for a stranger or intruder.
Polish Hounds usually stand between 22 and 26 inches and weigh between 44 and 71 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
6. Polish Hunting Spaniel
The Polish Hunting Spaniel is a relatively newer dog breed that comes from Poland. The dogs were first mentioned in the 19th century and were originally bred to hunt.
The Polish Hunting Spaniel is a small, intelligent, highly energetic do. They have a strong prey drive, and love to train in water and difficult terrain. Even so, the dogs are eager to please. They’re also calm and self-controlled little dogs that are easy to train. However, remember these are hunting dogs that have a strong prey drive. These medium-sized hunting dogs still make excellent family companions and are even good with kids.
They also make great watchdogs who will bark if they sense a stranger or anything dangerous nearby. The dogs have compact, athletic bodies and know how to run and deal with challenging terrain. They excel at chasing prey through fields, rushes, bogs, water, meadows, and more.
Polish Hunting Spaniels have a chocolaty-reddish & white colors, with patches of different shades all across their bodies. However, they usually have a white-tipped tail. Their faces look similar to a Cocker Spaniel, but the Polish Hunting Spaniels have longer ears.
Polish Hunting Spaniels usually stand between 16.9 to 19 inches tall and weigh between 26 to 57 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
7. Polish Tatra Sheepdog
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a beautiful dog with a white coat. They look like a white Golden Retriever or a small white bear! The dogs are friendly and gentle and were originally bred to herd and protect cattle.
This is an old dog breed that goes back to the 14th century. They were first bred in the Podhale region in Southern Poland. The dogs are famous for their size and for nudging sheep to go in the right direction. They don’t nip at the heels of sheep like other herding dogs.
During the night, these large, white dogs patrol around their herd and use a loud bark to warn off predators. Polish Tatra Sheepdogs may be gentle; however, they will do what’s necessary to protect their flocks. Even so, they make very loving family companions.
Polish Tatra Sheepdogs are rugged, muscled dogs that have long, white coats to protect them against the weather. Their coats are shaggy and white, yet the dogs have black noses and lips. They’re gorgeous dogs.
When it comes to working, you won’t find a harder worker than the Polish Tatra Sheepdog. They are great with kids and will protect them, the same as the dogs protect their herds. The dogs are slow to anger and are not fast to bite unless it’s absolutely necessary. Even so, these dogs (and all dog breeds) should be supervised when they’re with kids.
These polar white dogs are also very wary of strangers and will bark at anyone he doesn’t know. He does this to warn off anyone who might try to cause mayhem! The dog has a very strong instinct to protect and guard and will do this quite effectively.
Polish Tatra Sheepdogs are very active dogs that require plenty of space and exercise. When it comes to training, these dogs are highly intelligent. They’re also prized for their ability to think and make decisions on their own. This tendency, however, can make the dogs a little stubborn and challenging to train. However, pet parents who use positive reinforcement training methods with plenty of treats and rewards will be able to train their dogs. Just expect some frustration along the way, but stay consistent.
Polish Tatra Sheepdogs usually stand between 24 to 28 inches tall and weigh between 80 to 130 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
Summing It Up
There you have it! Poland is a beautiful country that has brought us some amazing dog breeds! We hope you enjoyed this article and learning about these wonderful dogs from Poland!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
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