Revised 1994 FCI Polish Lowland Sheepdog Breed Standard
FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONAIE SECRETARIAT GENERAL 13, Place Albert - B 6530 THUIN (Belg.) Standard FCI N0 251 I 09.02.19% I GB POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG (Polish Owczarek Nizinny)
TRANSLATION : Mrs. Peggy Davis.
ORIGIN : Poland.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF TIE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 28.03.1994.
UTILIZATION:
Easy to handle, he works like a sheepdog and guard dog. Moved to urban city life, he is a very good companion dog. His well groomed coat gives him an attractive and interesting appearance.
FCI CLASSIFICATION:
Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs) Section 1 Sheepdogs Without Working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTIC BEHAVIOUR:
The Polish Lowland sheepdog is a dog of medium size, compact, strong, muscular, with a thick long coat, of a lively but tempered disposition, vigilant, agile, intelligent, perceptive and gifted with a good memory. Resistant to unfavorable climatic conditions.
Males 45 - 50 cm Females 42 - 47 cm Proportion height : body length = 9 :10
TYPE:
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.
HEAD General appearance:
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. Ratio skull: muzzle = 1 : 1, or the muzzle a little shorter. Skull: Not excessively broad, slightly rounded. Frontal furrow and occipital protuberance noticeable.
Stop: Well accentuated.
Nose: Strong, blunt, with large nostrils, as relation to the color of the coat.
Nuzzle: Nasal bridge straight; strong jaws.
Lips: Fitting well; their edges are of the same color as the nose.
Teeth: Strong, with scissors or pincer bite.
Eyes: Medium size, oval, not protruding, hazel color, 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. darks as possible in
NECK:
Of medium length, strong, muscled, without dewlap, carried rather horizontally.
BODY Outline :
Rather rectangular than square.
Withers: Well accentuated.
Back: Flat, well muscled
Loin: Broad, well fused.
Rump: Short, slightly truncated.
Thoracic cage: Deep, of medium width; ribs quite well sprung, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.
Belly: Outlining an elegant curve towards the hindquarters part.
TAIL:
Short by nature, shortened or docked. In those countries where the law bans docking, a long tail Is not considered as a fault.
FOREOUARTERS:
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.
Feet: Oval, tight toes, slightly arched, pads really hard.
Nails short, as dark as possible.
HINDQUARTERS Seen from behind:
Vertical, well angulated.
Thighs: Broad, well muscled.
Hocks: Well developed.
Feet: Compact, oval shape.
MOVEMENT/GAIT:
Easy and ground covering. Walk or trot smooth (without much vertical displacement). The dog often ambles when he walks slowly.
SKIN:
Tight fitting, without any folds.
COAT:
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.
COLOR:
All colors and patches are acceptable.
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 descended Into the scrotum.