PON Standards of the World

ORIGIN: Poland; TRANSLATION: Mrs. Peggy Davis
Date of publication of the original valid standard: 07.08.1998
ORIGIN: USA
Date of publication: (approved 1/1/99) effective 7/1/99
ORIGIN: UK

UTILIZATION: Easy to handle, he works like a sheepdog and guard dog. Moved to urban city life, he is a very good
companion dog.
UTILIZATION: He is stable and self confident. He needs a dominant master and consistent training from the time he is very young. If this is not provided, he will tend to dominate the master. When not used as a herding or working dog, he can be a magnificent companion as he seems to fit into any type of lifestyle. He is extremely loyal, but
somewhat aloof and suspicious of strangers.
UTILIZATION: Easy to train, works as a herding and watch dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
Section 1 Sheepdogs Without working trial.
CLASSIFICATION AKC: Herding Group
Herding Group
CLASSIFICATION: UK Kennel Club, Pastoral Group

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.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium-sized, cobby, strong with a long, thick coat and hanging hair that covers the eyes. The PON's herding and working ability is attributed to an intense desire to please.
Medium-sized, cobby, strong with a long, thick coat and hanging hair that covers the eyes. The PON's herding and working ability is attributed to an intense desire to please.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium size, cobby, strong, muscular, fairly long, thick coat.

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.
PROPORTION: The height-to-length ratio, from withers to tail, is 9:10; ratio of muzzle to skull is 1:1.
PROPORTION: The proportions height to length are 9 -10 making for a cobby appearance; ratio of occiput to stop and stop to nose approximately equal, the muzzle may be fractionally shorter.

TEMPERAMENT : Of a lively but tempered disposition, vigilant, agile, intelligent, perceptive and gifted with a good memory.
TEMPERAMENT: The PON is lively but self-controlled, clever and perceptive and is endowed with an excellent memory.
TEMPERAMENT: Alert, equable, lively but self-controlled, watchful, bright, clever, perceptive with excellent memory.

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.
HEAD: The medium-sized head is in proportion to the body. The profuse hair on the forehead, cheeks and chin make the head to appear larger than it actually is.
The medium-sized head is in proportion to the body. The profuse hair on the forehead, cheeks and chin make the head to appear larger than it actually is.
HEAD: Medium size, proportionate to body, not to heavy, carried moderately low. The profusion of hair on forehead, cheeks and chin makes the head appear larger than it is.

CRANIAL REGION:
SKULL : Not excessively broad, slightly rounded. Frontal furrow and occipital protuberance noticeable.
SKULL: is moderately broad and slightly domed. The forehead furrow and occiput are apparent.
is moderately broad and slightly domed. The forehead furrow and occiput are apparent.
SKULL: is moderately broad, slightly domed, furrow from stop to occiput is apparent when handled.
STOP: Well accentuated.
STOP: The stop has a pronounced indentation, but never as pronounced as a round-skull breed.
The stop has a pronounced indentation, but never as pronounced as a round-skull breed.
STOP: Well defined

FACIAL REGION:
NOSE: As dark as possible in relation to the colour of the coat with large nostrils.
NOSE: should be large and black or brown, depending on the coat color. A pink nose or a nose partially lacking pigment should be penalized.
should be large and black or brown, depending on the coat color. A pink nose or a nose partially lacking pigment should be penalized.
NOSE: blunt with wide opened nostrils and the colour dark as possible.
MUZZLE: Strong, blunt. Nasal bridge straight.
MUZZLE: Not mentioned
MUZZLE: Not mentioned
LIPS: Fitting well; their edges are of the same colour as the nose.
LIPS: Not mentioned
Not mentioned
LIPS: tightly closed and as dark as possible.
JAW/TEETH: Strong jaws. Teeth strong, with scissor or pincer bite.
JAW/TEETH: a full compliment of strong white teeth meet in a scissors or level bite.
a full compliment of strong white teeth meet in a scissors or level bite.
JAW/TEETH: strong with a perfect regular and complete scissor bite i.e.: the upper teeth closing overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaw. Strong and evenly placed teeth.
EYES: Medium size, oval, not protruding, hazel colour, with lively and piercing look. The rims of the eyelids are dark.
EYES: are of medium size and oval. Colors are brown or hazel. The edges of the lids are as dark as possible within the coat color.
EYES: Medium sized oval shaped colour hazel to brown eye rims as dark as possible; close fitting and showing no haw. Medium sized oval shaped colour hazel to brown eye rims as dark as possible; close fitting and showing no haw.
EARS: Hanging, set rather high, of medium size, heart-shaped, wide at base; the fore-edge is close against the cheeks; very mobile.
EARS: are heart-shaped, drop, and set moderately high.
are heart-shaped, drop, and set moderately high.
EARS: Medium sized heart shaped, large at base and set moderately high, drooping with fore-edge close to cheeks.
EXSPRESSION: not mentioned
EXSPRESSION: should be lively with a penetrating gaze.
EXSPRESSION: lively penetrating gaze

NECK : Of medium length, strong, muscled, without dewlap, carried rather horizontally.
NECK: is muscular and strong. It is broad, without dewlap and held horizontally when moving.
is muscular and strong. It is broad, without dewlap and held horizontally when moving.
NECK: Strong, muscular; medium length; without dewlap.

BODY:
OUTLINE: Rather rectangular than square.
OUTLINE: In proportion, the PON is rectangular rather than square.
In proportion, the PON is rectangular rather than square.
OUTLINE: When viewed from the side the body is rectangular rather than square.
WITHERS: Well accentuated.
WITHERS: are well pronounced and broad.
WITHERS: distinctly marked.
BACK: Flat, well muscled
BACK: should be neither too long or too short for proper balance and movement.
should be neither too long or too short for proper balance and movement.
BACK: level muscular
LOIN: Broad, well fused.
LOIN: is well muscled and broad.
is well muscled and broad.
LOIN: broad
CROUP: Short, slightly truncated.
CROUP: is slightly cut, but only to a small degree.
is slightly cut, but only to a small degree.
CROUP: short and slightly sloping.
CHEST: Deep, of medium width; ribs quite well sprung, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.
CHEST: is deep and broad.
is deep and broad.
CHEST: Deep brisket with moderate spring of rib, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.
UNDERLINR AND BELLY: Outlining an elegant curve towards the hindquarters part.
BELLY: The belly is slightly drawn up.
BELLY: slightly drawn up
TOPLINE: not mentioned
TOPLINE: is level
TOPLINE: not mentioned

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.
TAIL: should be short, set low and no longer than two vertebrae. It should not change the shape of the body. Tails are docked on puppies born with long or partial tails.
should be short, set low and no longer than two vertebrae. It should not change the shape of the body. Tails are docked on puppies born with long or partial tails.
TAIL: Customarily docked if not born tail-less.

FOREQUARTERS : Seen in profile and from the front : Vertical and straight. Stance well balanced due to a strong skeleton (bone structure).
FOREQUARTERS: Legs: are straight and vertical, with heavy bone.
FOREQUARTERS: Legs: when viewed from front or side, straight
SHOULDERS: Broad, of medium length, oblique, clean cut, very muscular.
SHOULDERS: The shoulders are heavily muscled, and well laid back at an angle of approximately 45°. A line drawn from the highest point of the shoulder blade to the forward point of articulation approximates a right angle with a line from the forward point of articulation to the point of the elbow.
SHOULDERS: well placed with good lay back, muscular.
PASTERN: Slightly slanting in relation to the forearm.
PASTERN: are flexible without weakness.
are flexible without weakness.
PASTERN: slightly slanting
FOREFEET : Oval, tight toes, slightly arched pads really hard. Nails short, as dark as possible.
FOREFEET: are oval, thick and compact, with the front feet larger than the rear feet.
are oval, thick and compact, with the front feet larger than the rear feet.
FEET: Oval slightly arched but tightly fitting toes, with hard pads, nails dark.

HINDQUARTERS: Seen from behind: vertical, well-angulated.
HINDQUARTERS: Large, heavily boned, and well muscled. Hocks are parallel when viewed from the rear.
Large, heavily boned, and well muscled. Hocks are parallel when viewed from the rear.
HINDQUARTERS: Well angulated with broad and well muscled thigh. From behind legs straight, turning neither in nor out.
THIGH: Broad, well muscled.
THIGH: See above (hindquarters)
See above (hindquarters)
THIGH: well muscled
HOCKS: Well developed. Well developed.
HOCKS: development not mentioned.
development not mentioned.
HOCKS: strong and distinctly angulated.
HIND FEET: Compact, oval shape.
FEET: are oval with tight lightly arched toes. Pads are hard. Nails are dark.
FEET: Oval slightly arched but tightly fitting toes, with hard pads, nails dark. hind dewclaws should be removed.

GAIT/ MOVEMENT: Easy and ground covering. Walk or trot smooth (without much vertical displacement). The dog often ambles when he walks slowly.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: The gait is fluid motion. He is often an ambler. With the correct shoulder angulation, he is capable of swinging his front legs forward with great reach of stride, extending out before his body in a long flat arch. The stride propels the body forward, rather than upward, with less fatigue. When viewed from the front, the legs should move parallel from the elbows to the pasterns. Toeing in is considered natural.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Smooth walking or trotting. Inclined to amble.

SKIN: tight fitting, without any folds.
SKIN: not mentioned.
not mentioned.
SKIN: no loose skin anywhere on body.

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.
HAIR: It is doubled coated. The entire body is covered with a long, dense, shaggy, thick coat that is reasonably straight. The undercoat is soft and dense. Characteristically, long hanging hair covers the eyes. A slight wavy coat is acceptable.
HAIR: Whole body covered with long dense shaggy thick coat of harsh texture with soft undercoat. Long hair covering eyes. Slight wave permissible.

COLOUR : All colours and patches are acceptable.
COLOUR: All coat colors are acceptable. The most common colors are white with either black, gray or sandy patches and gray with white, or chocolate. Most carry a dominant fading factor genetically, which results in puppies being
born darker in coat color than they will appears as adults, with the exception of those puppies born white.
All coat colors are acceptable. The most common colors are white with either black, gray or sandy patches and gray with white, or chocolate. Most carry a dominant fading factor genetically, which results in puppies being
born darker in coat color than they will appears as adults, with the exception of those puppies born white.
COLOUR: All colours acceptable.

SIZE :
HEIGHT AT THE WITHERS :
Males: 45 - 50 cm. (17.7-19.7 inches)
Males: 18 to 20 inches
18 to 20 inches
Males: 43-52 cms (17-20 inches)
Females 42 - 47 cm. (16.5-18.5 inches)
Females: 17 to 19 inches
17 to 19 inches
Females: 40-46 cms (16-18.5 inches).
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.
It is not desirable to diminish the size below the ideal range, thereby making the dog too delicate for a working breed.

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.
FAULTS: long legs, protruding eyes, ears set too high, round head, apple shaped, neck held too high or too narrow, cowhocks, curly coat, lack of undercoat, short coat, toeing out, close rear movement, nervous, cowardly or extreme vicious behavior.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing shall be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to it's degree.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.