The Polish Lowland Sheepdog, also known as the Polish Sheepdog, the Valee Sheepdog, the Lowlands Herder, the Berger Polonais de Vallee, the Polski Owczarek, the Polski Owczarek Nizinny, the Owczarek Nizinny , the Owczarek Polski Nizinny, or simply the PON or the Nizzy, is of unknown origin. It is thought to be related to the Puli and other Eastern European mountain herding breeds. In fact, it is believed to be the link between the corded and long-coated herding dogs from Eastern Europe. It bears a striking resemblance to the Bearded Collie, and they probably share a common ancestry.
Mature males should stand 18 to 20 inches at the withers; females should stand 17 to 19 inches at the withers. The adults of this breed typically weigh between 35 and 50 pounds. This is a double-coated breed, whose entire body is covered with a shaggy and fairly straight coat. A breed characteristic is bushy eyebrows that cover the eyes. All coat colors are acceptable, the most common being white with either black, gray or sandy patches
This is an unusually gentle sheepherding breed. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog uses its eyes and only a few gentle shoulder nudges to manage the movements of the flocks. In the early part of the 16th century, Polish sailors brought a male and two females to Scotland, where they were traded for a ram and a ewe. That trio of PONs introduced the shaggy sheepherding dogs to the British Isles. With time, those dogs contributed to
In their native Poland, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is called the Polski Owczarek Nizinny or PON. These dogs were bred to be sturdy herding dogs who were tasked with thinking independently as they moved and protected herds of sheep. The modern PON is still an independent thinker. He likes to decide for himself how to do things and makes his own decisions about whether or not he will accept a visitor into his home. PONs
In Poland, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is called the Polski Owczarek Nizinny or PON, for short. Breed Enthusiasts in the US have adopted the nickname PON for the breed. PONs are compact, medium-sized, muscular dogs with a thick, fluffy coat that hangs all over the body and covers the eyes. All colors are acceptable and the most common are white with black, gray, chocolate, or sandy patches, and gray with white, or chocolate and
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