Polish Hound: breed description, standard, character, home maintenance

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Those who want to learn about the Polish hound will find this article useful. We will consider the breed standards, the nature of the representatives. We will also give advice on the maintenance of such a dog. As the name suggests, the Polish Hound was bred abroad.

The history of the breed and its recognition

Initially, these dogs were bred in Mazovia and the southern regions of the country (Podhale, Bieszczady and others). In literature, the first mention of the breed was found in the thirteenth century. Already in the sixteenth, hunting with hounds became popular with the Polish gentry. In Russia, this breed appeared in 1812, after World War II. Then the officers brought with them various trophies, including Polish hounds.

The reason for the popularity of this breed in our country lies in the fashion for everything foreign. Also contributed to the success of the breed was the development of the gun method of hunting with a hound in the "French manner". For such an occupation, these dogs were convenient in that they were distinguished by their unusual viscosity. If such a dog raised a hare, then he will keep it all day long.

In 1939, many breeds were banned at the second cynological conventionhounds, including the Polish one. During the Second World War, purebred dog breeding in Eastern Europe and Poland was almost destroyed. At that difficult time, the number of hounds was practically lost.

In the second half of the twentieth century, Poland began to recreate the lost species of dogs. When registering the breed in the FCI in 1996, the Polish Hound was rejected. This type of hunting dog was withdrawn from purebred breeding for a long time.

Although hunters still used these dogs for their excellent working qualities. By 1976, there were already 101 dogs of this species.

Seven years later, the Polish Kennel Union prepared the breed standard for the Polish Hound. The first representatives of the breed with a full pedigree were born in 1989. And in 2017, the Polish Hound was recognized by the FCI on a permanent basis.

Head and general view

The dog of this breed is medium in size, compact, lean. She has well developed bones. The height at the withers is about 54-57 cm.

The head of the dog is proportional, with pronounced dry cheekbones. The length of the skull is equal to the length of the muzzle. The nose is black or brown, according to the color. The lips of such dogs are dense, well cover the lower jaw. The corners of the mouth are marked clearly. Teeth are straight, white and strong. These dogs have a scissor bite.

The eyes of the Polish hounds are medium in size, set slightly obliquely. The color is dark, in accordance with the color. Eyelids are tight.

Ears of medium size, triangular in shape, not thick, with roundedtips. They are wide at the base, set rather low, approximately at the level of the outer corner of the eyes. The ears are close to the cheekbones. Their fur is silky and smooth.

Body and tail

The neck of the Polish Hound is muscular, strong, of medium length. The chest is deep, and the abdomen is moderately tucked up. The back of such a dog is straight, with pronounced withers and strong muscles.

Tail of medium thickness. At rest, it has a saber shape. In movement, it is usually located slightly above the back. It is well covered with hair and has a small tassel at the end.

Limbs

The limbs are straight, parallel, muscular and bony. Note that the height at the elbow is approximately half the height of the animal at the withers. The shoulder blade is sloping, long, and the forearms are straight. Strong elbows tightly pressed to the body, pointing down.

The hind limbs of these dogs are parallel, straight. Articulation angles are very pronounced on them. The hips of such dogs are wide, muscular. Note that representatives of the breed do not have dewclaws.

Paws are oval, tightly compressed, large. The nails are usually dark in color and point downwards.

Coat and color of the breed

There is an undercoat. These dogs have a shiny coat. In structure, it is rigid, thick, tightly adjacent to the body. On the head and ears, the hair is slightly shorter. In the description of the Polish Hound breed, the colors must also be indicated. There are three of them: red, brown and tan, black and tan.

Maintenance and Care

After hunting, you should carefully clean the wool from debris and thorns that are stuck in it. Note that it is necessary to comb the Polish Hound daily. You will never need to cut such a dog. Wash it only when necessary. In care, such dogs are unpretentious.

Of course, the Polish hounds need fresh air, great physical activity. Therefore, it is best to keep such dogs in an aviary or in the yard. But since these dogs are quite compact in size, they will be comfortable living in an apartment. But in this case, long walks are required.

During the molting period, special attention should be paid to the coat of the animal. It should be thoroughly combed out with a stiff brush.

Dogs like the Polish Hound have no hereditary mental illnesses. Life expectancy averages 13-14 years.

The behavior of the dog and the character of the Polish hound

These animals are mobile, energetic and fearless. They are not aggressive towards strangers. But they are treated with distrust. Representatives of the breed have excellent watchdog qualities. Dogs of this breed have a characteristic voice with rich intonations.

A distinctive feature is a neat and calm behavior at home. A well-bred dog is gentle with children. In the family circle, the representative of the breed behaves unobtrusively, restrained.

Food

It is very important when compiling the diet of hounds to take into account the fact that they need a high need for protein components. In wintertime, in order to increase the calorie content of the dish, it is worth adding a little animal fat. With a minimum weight, a dog of this breed should consume about 350 grams of meat per day. If it has the maximum allowable weight for this type, then you will need to increase the amount of product to half a kilogram. You can diversify your diet with low-fat dairy products. In the dog's diet, you need to add some cereals, vegetables and fresh herbs.

Training of representatives of the breed

Training a dog is only for a person who has strong leadership qualities. Strictness in education is important. But don't forget about encouragement and praise. Polish hounds strive to please their master. Therefore, they willingly study, achieve high results in training. They show excellent results in running and frisbee competitions. When the trainer shows unjustified cruelty, the dog will show open disobedience.

Use

Representatives of the breed are used for hunting foxes, hares and wild boars in winter. Such dogs find wounded animals on the blood trail.

It is believed that the Polish hound should start searching for a wounded animal without giving a voice. Having caught up with the boar, the dog tries to keep it until the hunter approaches. Working tests are being carried out on a blood trail and a captive boar.