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The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is lively but self-controlled, clever and perceptive and endowed with an excellent memory. His herding and working abilities are attributed to his intense desire to please. Even when not used as a herding or working dog, the PON is a magnificent companion that can adapt to any lifestyle. He is extremely loyal to his owners but usually aloof and suspicious of strangers.

Since the PON is capable of herding a small flock of sheep without a shepherd, he can make his own decisions. It is recommended that new owners understand this, and they must establish who is the master early in the relationship. The PON is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a highly intelligent animal that can keep your life interesting, continue reading.

Can dogs smile? No doubt the PON can! Has any dog ever been more happy to flash a winning grin than the Polish Lowland Sheepdog?

Simply reading about the characteristics of the PON cannot give you a real sense of exactly what it’s like to live with this wonderful canine. Now that I, the author, have lived with the breed for some 20 years and have witnessed examples of their intelligence, I am going to tell you some true stories. I almost forgot to mention that when you try to correct PONs verbally, they look up at you and smile like chimpanzees. When that happens, I rarely remember the reason why I am correcting them! I never get tired of that winning PON smile.

HEART-HEALTHY

In this modern age of ever-improving cardio-care, no doctor or scientist can dispute the advantages of owning a dog to lower a person’s risk of heart disease. Studies have proven that petting a dog, walking a dog and grooming a dog all show positive results toward lowering your blood pressure. The simple routine of exercising your dog—going outside with the dog and walking, jogging or playing catch—is heart-healthy in and of itself. If you are normally less active than your physician thinks you should be, adopting a dog may be a smart option to improve your own quality of life as well as that of another creature.

The author with the first World Champion bred in America, Elzbieta’s White Zinfandel.

INSTINCTIVE INTELLIGENCE

In 1983 we whelped a litter of five beautiful PON puppies. When they were nine weeks old, Dr. Hryniewicz shipped us two four-month-old pups. One was apricot in color and the other was jet black. All seven of the puppies played, ate and slept together. One day, the temperature soared to 102° F (38-9° C) with 97% humidity. We tried to keep the pups in our air-conditioned home, but they wanted to go outdoors so badly that they just would not cease their crying and barking. We put a large roasting pan of ice cold water under a shaded grape arbor. All of the pups were then carried out to play in the shady area. About 15 minutes later, I heard a sound coming from the puppies like nothing I had ever heard before. I looked out the kitchen window and saw that they were still under the grape arbor, but the nine-week-old pups were in a circle surrounding something. They held their little heads up as wolves would do, but their howl was blood-curdling. I immediately ran out and was shocked to see the new black PON in the middle of this circle. His tongue was hanging out and his eyes were rolled back in his head. We picked him up and put him in cold water, then rushed to the vet. He had had severe heatstroke. The vet told us that if we had been a few minutes later in immersing him in ice water, he would have died. I realized that my nine-week-old puppies had saved the life of Awans, our new black PON. Some may say that it was just natural instinct on their part, but I found it to be the most intelligent thing I had ever witnessed from a canine.

Strizzi’s Stella with Nicolette. PONs make absolutely the most charming of family pets and can tolerate and enjoy rather zealous hugs from their favorite children.

Another example of this breed’s instinctive intelligence and protective nature occurred one morning when our two PONs, Belle and Mutsey, were helping my husband feed the ducks and geese. They were convinced that he could never manage on his own, and at exactly 8 AM would torment him until he got up and went outdoors. Belle would run ahead to show him where the feed was kept, then she would run to the large chain-link fence that separated the pond from the rest of the property. She would bark until all the ducks and geese assembled for their breakfast. Mutsey was quiet and stood by like a supervisor of this very important daily ritual. One angry goose slipped his head through the large open link and grabbed Belle by the nose, refusing to let go. Belle literally screamed, as the bite of a goose is quite painful. Mutsey, the supervisor, walked over and grabbed the goose by the neck. The goose let go of Belle, Mutsey let go of the goose and all was back to normal.

MARVELOUS MEMORY

A farmer living in the Polish countryside had a cow, ducks, geese, a small flock of sheep and, of course, a garden. He was living alone, and with all of this work, he had no time to be a shepherd. He had heard that the PON had a wonderful memory and was a self-herder, so he acquired one. He took the dog and sheep to the pasture, and it only took a few days before the dog would awaken early in the morning and, by himself, take the sheep to the pasture. The farmer was quite happy and was even more surprised when he saw the dog bring the sheep back at the exact time. If the weather turned really bad, the PON would bring them in earlier. The dog even knew when one was missing and would go back to retrieve it. Now this was one happy farmer; however, he had one problem with his dog’s marvelous memory—he could never change pastures!

DELTA SOCIETY

The human-animal bond propels the work of the Delta Society, striving to improve the lives of people and animals. The Pet Partners Program proves that the lives of people and dogs are inextricably linked. The Pet Partners Program, a national registry, trains and screens volunteers for pet therapy in hospices, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. Dog-and-handler teams of Pet Partners volunteer in all 50 states, with nearly 7,000 teams making visits annually. About 900,000 patients, residents and students receive assistance each year. If you and your dog are interested in becoming Pet Partners, contact the Delta Society online at www.deltasociety.org.

INCREDIBLE STORIES

There are so many true stories about the Polish Lowland Sheepdog that are so unbelievable that you can see why Christopher Kluk wrote that they were such clever dogs, having “almost human intelligence.” A female PON even saved a small child from being attacked by a black bear. She managed to attract the bear’s attention by antagonizing him so he would chase her instead of the child. The owners of that PON were so happy that they even left the child in her care, knowing that the dog was a wonderful babysitter. PONs do treat small children as they would a lambkin in their charge. One mother kept correcting her infant for trying to crawl up the stairs. The dog got the idea very quickly and would grab the baby’s diaper to keep him from climbing the stairs!

Dorianblue Teardrop is a much-loved PON who shares an active and entertaining life with her family.

A PON is known to have saved the life of one owner’s mother, who was having a heart attack. The PON did everything possible to get the attention of someone to help her. She succeeded, and the woman lived. PONs dive off diving boards, go sleigh-riding with the children, enjoy pizza with their owner, try to talk to you when they are excited, sit at the helm of their owner’s boat—and that is only the beginning!

DON’T BUY A PON IF…

The following information is inspired by Pam Green’s article of a similar title; here we explore which kind of person makes the ideal owner for the Polish Lowland Sheepdog. There’s no dog lover in the world who can resist the smile of a happy PON. PONs sure are cute little dogs, but they are not for everyone to own: they are a very demanding, and without a dominant master they can easily take control. As a breed they have a few features that some people find charming, but that some people find mildly unpleasant and some people find downright intolerable. So don’t buy a PON if…

YOU ARE ONLY ATTRACTED TO HIS SHAG AND SMILE

The outward appearance of the Polish Lowland Sheepdogs you have seen in the show ring, in magazines, TV and in books is the product of many hours of bathing and grooming. This carefully constructed beauty is fleeting: a few minutes of freedom, romping through the fields or strolling in the rain or digging in the yard restores the more natural look of the PON. The PON’s preference is the “natural look,” and grooming is definitely not one of their favorite activities. You will need to devote time to teach your dog to accept being groomed on a weekly basis. If not, you won’t have the “show ring beauty contestant,” but instead a very matted dog that may need to be shaved down to prevent hardship and pain to the dog including the many hours that are needed to remove the mats. The thick, shaggy PON coat demands regular grooming, not merely to look tolerably nice but also to preserve the health of skin underneath and to detect and remove ticks, foxtails, and other dangerous invaders. For pet grooming, you should expect to spend several hours a week with your charge, keeping the undercoat combed out and clean. In other breeds with similar long, double coats, the dogs rescued by breed club rescue committees almost always show the effects of month of non-grooming. It appears an unwillingness to keep up the coat care is a primary cause of abandonment.

Smile for the camera! Impas and her loving owner.

YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SHARE YOUR HOME AND LIFE WITH YOUR DOG

PONs were bred to share in the work of the farm family and to spend most of their waking hours being with the family. They thrive on companionship and want to be wherever you are. They are happiest living with you in your house and going with you when you go out. While they usually tolerate being left at home by themselves, they should not be relegated to the back yard or a kennel. A puppy exiled from the house is likely to grow up to be unsociable, noisy, unruly and unhappy. He may well develop pastimes such as digging or barking that will displease you and your neighbors. An adult so exiled will be miserable too. If you and your whole family don’t strongly prefer to have your dog’s companionship as much as possible, you should choose a breed less oriented to human companionship. Likewise, if a job or other family obligations prevent you and your family from spending much time with a dog.

This is Tramperus Plast Lexus, “working” in the family yard. The working instinct in the PON is nearly irrepressible!

The PON is no fair-weather friend; if you provide him with all that he requires and deserves, he will pay you back in love and companionship.

YOU DON’T INTEND TO EDUCATE YOUR DOG

Basic obedience and household rules training is not an option for a happy PON and his owner. As an absolute minimum, you must teach him to reliably respond to commands to come, to lie down, to stay and to walk at your side, on or off leash and regardless of temptations. You must also teach him to respect your household rules. Is he allowed on the furniture? Is he allowed to beg at the table? What you and your family members allow or forbid is up to you. But it is critical that you and your family, not the dog, make the rules consistent. PONs without training tend to take over and make their own rules. You must commit yourself to attending a series of weekly lessons at a local obedience club or with a professional trainer and to doing one or two short homework assignments each day.

As commands are learned, they must be integrated into your daily life by being used whenever appropriate and enforced consistently. PON puppies and adults are easy to train. They are eager to please you, intelligent and calm natured with a fairly good attention span. Once a PON has learned something, he tends to retain it well. Your cute, sweet little PON puppy will grow up to be a dog with a highly assertive personality and the determination to get his way. If he has grown up respecting you and your rules, then all his physical and mental strength will work for you. But if he has grown up without rules and guidance from you, surely he will make his own rules and his physical and mental powers will often act in opposition to your needs and desires.

Though nothing can replace time spent with the human family, the companionship of another dog will keep your PON entertained and happy.

The training of your PON cannot be delegated to someone else, e.g., by sending the dog away to obedience school. The relationship and respect are personal between the dog and the individual who does the training. This is true of all dogs to greater or lesser degrees, but definitely to a very great degree in PON. While you may definitely want the help of an experienced trainer to teach you how to train your dog, you must actually train your PON. As each lesson is learned, then the rest of the household (except young children) must also learn the commands and work with the dog, insisting he obey them as well.

If your goals in obedience training are oriented toward success at high-level obedience competition, please realize that the PON is not among the half dozen breeds best suited to such highly polished performance. PONs can certainly excel at such working competitions as agility, obedience, herding and flyball. As a herding dog, he must be able to think, to reason and to make some decisions independently. That decision may not be a long down for five minutes with their owner out of sight.

YOU DON’T HAVE AN ASSERTIVE PERSONALITY

Dogs do not believe in social equality. They live in a social hierarchy led by a pack-leader. The alpha dog is generally benevolent, affectionate and non-bullying toward his subordinates. There is never any doubt in his mind or in theirs that the alpha is the boss and makes the rules. Whatever the breed, if you do not assume the leadership, the dog will do so sooner or later and with more or less unpleasant consequences for the abdicating owner. Like the untrained dog, the pack-leader dog makes his own rules and enforces them against other members of the household by means of a dominant physical posture and a hard-eyed stare, followed by a snarl, then a knockdown blow or a bite.

Breeds differ in tendencies toward social dominance, and individuals within a breed differ considerably as well. The PON as a breed tends to have a socially dominant personality. You cannot afford to let a PON become your boss. You do not need the personality of a Marine boot camp sergeant, but you do have to have the calm, quiet, self-assurance of a successful parent or a grade-school teacher. If you think you might have difficulty asserting yourself calmly and confidently in exercising leadership, then the PON is not for you.

If you assert yourself in the role of boss, you will be surprised at how well behaved you can train your PON to be—even around the sworn enemy.

YOU DON’T VALUE A CALM, LAIDBACK COMPANION

A PON becomes deeply attached and devoted to his own family, but he doesn’t “wear his heart on his sleeve.” Some are noticeably reserved; others are more outgoing, but few adults are exuberantly demonstrative. They like to be near you, usually in the same room, preferably on a comfortable cushion in a corner or under a table, just “keeping you company.” They enjoy conversation, petting and cuddling when you offer it, but they are moderate and not overbearing in coming to you to demand much attention. They are emotionally sensitive to their favorite people: when you are joyful, proud, angry or sad, your PON will immediately perceive himself to be the cause. The relationship can be one of great depth and subtlety: it is a relationship on an adult-to-adult level, although certainly not one devoid of playfulness. As puppies, of course, they will be more dependent, more playful and more demonstrative. In summary, the PON tends to be sober and thoughtful, rather than giddy clowns or sycophants.

If you do not think you can fill the role of pack leader, do not bring a pack of PONs into your life.

YOU ARE A FASTIDIOUS HOUSEKEEPER

The PON’s thick shaggy coat and his love of playing in water and mud combine to make him a highly efficient transporter of dirt into your home, depositing the same on your floors and rugs, and possibly also on your furniture and clothes. One PON coming in from a few minutes outdoors on a rainy day can turn an immaculate house into an instant disaster. Although it is technically true that PONs do not shed, you will find that the grooming process usually results in balls of pulled out hair tumbling their way about your house (unless you deposit the hair directly from the brush or comb into the trash basket). You do not need be a slob or slattern to live happily with a PON, but you do have to have the attitude that your dog’s company means more to you than a perfectly clean and immaculate house. Like children, dogs create a greater or lesser degree of household mess, though most other breeds are less troublesome than the PON to groom and keep clean.

A PON pup loves to have a human “sibling” to grow up with and share everyday adventures.

YOU DISLIKE DAILY EXERCISE

The PON needs exercise to maintain healthy heart and lungs and good muscle tone. Because of his mellow, laid-back, sometimes lazy, disposition, your PON will not give himself enough exercise unless you accompany him or play with him. An adult PON should have a minimum morning outing of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise and a similar outing in the evening. For puppies shorter and more frequent outings are preferred for exercise and housebreaking.

YOU BELIEVE THAT DOGS SHOULD RUN FREE

Whether you live in town or the country, no dog can safely be left to run “free” outside your fenced property without your direct supervision and control. The price of such “freedom” is inevitably injury or death: from dogfights, from cars, from the pound or shelter or from dog-despising (despicable!) citizens. Even though PONs are home-loving and less inclined to roam than many other breeds, an unfenced PON is destined for disaster. Like other breeds developed for livestock herding, most PONs have inherited a substantial amount of herding instinct. This instinct is a strong, slightly modified instinct to chase and capture suitable prey. The unfenced country-living PON will sooner or later discover the neighbor’s livestock. The unfenced city PON is likely to exercise his inherited herding instinct on joggers, bicyclists, stray cats and cars. A thoroughly obedience-trained PON can enjoy the limited and supervised freedom of off-leash walks with you in appropriately chosen environments.

YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO CARE FOR A DOG

The Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are not an inexpensive breed to purchase. Running a careful breeding program, with due regard for temperament, trainability and physical soundness is costly. The “bargain” puppy from a backyard breeder who unselectively mates any two PONs who happen to be of the opposite sex may well prove to be extremely costly in terms of temperament, health and lack of socialization. Whatever the initial cost of your PON, the upkeep will not be cheap. Food is not the only cost of maintaining your PON. Veterinarian costs add up for those routine yearly checkups. Spaying and neutering is another cost that should be calculated. PONs are routinely checked for two conditions, genetic eye diseases and hip dysplasia. Your best insurance against dysplasia is to buy only from a litter bred from OFA-certified parents and, if possible, grandparents. Professional grooming, if you opt for it, is expensive. Professional tools for use at home adds up to a tidy sum, but once purchased will last many dog-lifetimes. Finally, the fees for participation in a series of basic obedience training classes are an essential investment in harmonious living with your dog. Fees are the same for any breed.

At home on the farm or in the city, the versatile PON makes a wonderful addition to anyone’s residence.

YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COMMIT FOR THE LONG HAUL

No dog deserves to be cast out because his owners want to move to a no-pet apartment or because he is no longer a cute puppy or didn’t grow up to be a beauty-contest winner, or because his owners (through lack of leadership and training) have allowed him to become an unruly juvenile delinquent with a repertoire of undesirable behaviors. Select a member of this wonderful breed if, and only if, you can commit to your PON for his whole life, which happily can be 14 to 16 years.