FCI-Standard N° 251 / 07. 08. 1998 / GB POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG (Polski Owczarek Nizinny)

TRANSLATION : Mrs. Peggy Davis.

ORIGIN : Poland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 07.08.1998.

UTILIZATION :

Easy to handle, he works like a sheepdog and guard dog. Moved to urban city life, he is a very good companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. :

Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs). Section 1 Sheepdogs. Without working trial

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

The Polish Lowland sheepdog is a dog of medium size, compact, strong, muscular, with a thick long coat. His well groomed coat gives an attractive and interesting appearance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

The proportions of height at withers to length of body is 9 : 10. The ratio length of muzzle to length of skull is 1 : 1 ; yet the muzzle can be a little shorter.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT :

Of a lively but tempered disposition, vigilant, agile, intelligent, perceptive and gifted with a good memory. Resistant to unfavourable climatic conditions.

HEAD :

Medium dimension, proportional, not too heavy. The thick fur on the forehead, the cheeks and the chin give the head a look of being heavier than it really is.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Not excessively broad, slightly rounded. Frontal furrow and occipital protuberance noticeable.

Stop : Well accentuated.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : As darks as possible in relation to the colour of the coat with large nostrils.

Muzzle : Strong, blunt. Nasal bridge straight.

Lips : Fitting well; their edges are of the same colour as the nose.

Jaw/Teeth : Strong jaws. Teeth strong, with scissor or pincer bite.

Eyes : Medium size, oval, not protruding, hazel colour, with lively and piercing look. The rims of the eyelids are dark. Ears : Hanging, set rather high, of medium size, heart-shaped, wide at base; the fore edge is close against the cheeks; very mobile.

NECK :

Of medium length, strong, muscled, without dewlap, carried rather horizontally.

BODY :

Out line : Rather rectangular than square.

Withers :Well accentuated.

Back : Flat, well muscled.

Loin : Broad, well fused.

Croup : Short, slightly truncated.

Chest : Deep, of medium width; ribs quite well sprung, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.

Underline and Belly : Outlining an elegant curve towards the hindquarters part.

TAIL :

Short tail or stumpy-tail, very shortly docked tail. Undocked quite long and very hairy tail. At rest the tail is hanging; if the dog is alert, the tail is gaily curved over the back, never curled or lying on the back. Undocked tail of medium length, carried in different manners.

LIMBS FOREQUARTERS :

Seen in profile and from the front : Vertical and straight. Stance well balanced due to a strong skeleton (bone structure).

Shoulders : Broad, of medium length, oblique, clean cut, very muscular.

Pastern : Slightly slanting in relation to the forearm.

Forefeet : Oval, tight toes, slightly arched pads really hard. Nails short, as dark as possible.

HINDQUARTERS :

Seen from behind: Vertical, well angulated.

Thigh : Broad, well muscled.

Hock : Well developped.

Hind feet : Compact, oval shape.

GAIT/ MOVEMENT :

Easy and ground covering. Walk or trot smooth (whitout much vertical displacement). The dog often ambles when he walks slowly.

SKIN :

Tight fitting, without any folds.

COAT HAIR :

The whole body covered with coarse hair, dense, thick, and profuse; soft undercoat. Straight or slightly wavy hair is acceptable. The hairs falling from the forehead cover the eyes in a characteristic manner.

COLOUR :

All colours and patches are acceptable.

SIZE :

Height at the withers : Males : 45 - 50 cm. Females : 42 - 47 cm. The dog must retain the type of a working dog; consequently his size must not go down below the standard; he must neither be too weak nor delicate

FAULTS :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully