Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Other names: PON, Valee Sheepdog, Nizinny, PLS

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a breed native to Poland that enjoys considerable popularity in other parts of the world. It is medium-sized and its coat is shaggy; it is a healthy breed that - thanks to selective breeding - comes with no genetic disposition to specific cancers or ailments. The Polish Lowland is popular in the United Kingdom but less so in the United States.
Key facts about the Polish Lowland Sheepdog
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Origins and history
The Polish Lowland is thought to have descended from the Icelandic Sheepdog. Breed experts have suggested that the dog was in existence at the time of Attila the Hun (5th Century AD). In 1514 Polish Lowlands were brought by boat to Scotland. The dog’s popularity in Britain both as a herder and family pet has steadily risen since then. It is still not a commonly seen dog.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Adult size
Female : Between 17 and 19 in
Male : Between 18 and 20 in
Weight
Female : Between 33 and 44 lb
Male : Between 33 and 44 lb
Coat colour
The coat of this dog is most commonly seen of black and white or a mix of black, white, grey or chocolate.
Type of coat
Topcoat is long, dense and shaggy; undercoat is soft and dense. The coat of this dog is abundant over the face and body.
Eye colour
Hazel.
Description
A robust yet compact and elegant-looking dog is the Polish Lowland. The head is slightly rounded, its muzzle strong and blunt. Abundant hair cascades over the dog’s eyes, creating a unique appearance. The top-line is flat leading to a long and well-feathered tail.
Good to know
Tail docking of any breed of dog is illegal in the United Kingdom. If you suspect such a custom continues you should notify the RSPCA or the police. As a consequence of the ban all Polish Lowlands in this country should have long tails.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog
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Compatibility
Price
You will need to pay anything upwards of £600 for a purebred Polish Lowland Sheepdog puppy. It will cost from £70 to £100 per month to keep this dog.
Grooming
Brush this dog every day of the week to prevent its coat from becoming tangled and matted.
Shedding
The Polish Lowland does not shed.
Nutrition of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog
It is always worthwhile to feed a Polish Lowland a high-quality and specially formulated dog food rather than human food. The Polish Lowland’s diet should consist of good amounts of protein and fat.
Health of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Life expectancy
Having been successfully bred for centuries, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is generally healthy and robust.
Strong / robust
A Polish Lowland outdoors will not care what the weather is like. It has a very strong constitution.
Withstand heat
The Polish Lowland tolerates hot weather reasonably well.
Withstand cold
The double coat of the Polish Lowland keeps the dog warm even when it is walking in the snow.
Tendency to put on weight
Weight gain can be a feature of the Polish Lowland. If your dog is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will become obese.
Common illnesses
- Hip dysplasia
- Luxating patella
- Progressive retinal atrophy