Let's talk Polish Hunting Dogs
With their lithe physicality and easy-going manner, the Polish Hunting Dog measures up to be a marvelous dog in so many ways. This little-known breed is best for a rural setting, with years as a field sport dog in their background. The Polish Hunting Dog is a large dog with a highly developed athleticism but is not built for extreme conditions. Known to be brave and stable, their intelligence is another boon to a breed that easily wins over potential owners as it has prior ones.Official name: Polish Hunting Dog
Other names: Gończy Polski
Origins: Poland
| Drooling tendencies: |
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Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level: |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| Physical activity needs (high, low, medium): | High | Kid-friendly? |
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| Compatibility with other pets: | |
Can stay alone? |
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We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches.
Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour.
Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Male
58 - 64 cm
Height
25 - 32 kg
Weight
Female
51 - 56 cm
Height
20 - 26 kg
Weight
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 to 12 months |
| Adult age | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age | 10 years onwards |
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Get to know the Polish Hunting Dog
All you need to know about the breed
You may mistake them for a Doberman or even the French Beauceron but the one and only Polish Hunting Dog is Poland’s black and tan beauty. By all measures, this is a really pretty dog who will not only grace owners and families with their presence but wow them with their physical prowess as well.
Their compact and very strong, long-limbed body comes from years of being the hunter’s companion. All that running will produce a sleek musculature as well as a very capable and obedient dog with an even-keeled temperament. The Polish Hunting Dog is a focused canine with a job to do, and a stick-to-itiveness that’s a plus for owners.
Despite their being used for hunting for centuries, this is a non-aggressive breed who would rather walk away from a fight than put one up. They are a sensitive sort, and don’t take well to change or a ruckus in the household. The Polish Hunting Dog likes a quiet, stable environment, one where they can bond with their family, whom they enjoy tremendously being around. The Polish Hunting Dog is very easy to train, able to remember and commit to commands quickly, especially from those closest to them.
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2 facts about Polish Hunting Dogs
1. On the force
With their extraordinary sense of smell and an uncanny sense of direction, the Polish Hunting Dog is a favourite of police forces for use in search and rescue, recovery, utility, as well as drug sniffing operations. A more skilled worker would be hard to find!
2. Raising their voice
As long-time hunting breed like the Polish Hunting Dog uses one of the tools in his toolkit to do his job: Their reverberating voice has been used over the years to alert hunters to their location, so the breed - even if in a less-rural setting - will use it to great effect, too. It can be more high-pitched in females dogs as well.
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History of the breed
The history of the Polish Hunting Dog stretches back to the 13th century, the dog reportedly descending from hound, pointer, and mastiff breeds, and possibly from the Hound of the Tatars, a dog brought into Europe by the Tatars peoples during the Middle Ages.
Written records found in Poland on the Polish Hunting Dog start in the 16th century when Polish nobility recorded two breeds prevalent there used for hunting purposes, the Polish Brachet and the Polish Hunting Dog. The purebred scenthound was prized by Polish royalty for their tracking abilities and steadfast manner.
Hunting with these types of hounds continued into the 20th century until World War II took its toll on their numbers. In the 1950s, famed Polish dog expert Józef Pawuślwicz made huge efforts to restore the Polish Hunting Dog to their former glory.
The Polish Hunting Dog was recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1966.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Polish Hunting Dogs
1. Ears
Long ears, hanging close to head, rather thin.
2. Body
Medium-sized body, firm and muscular, long legs.
3. Coat
Short and hard close-lying coat.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Polish Hunting Dog
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Caring for your Polish Hunting Dog
Grooming, training and exercise tips
The short and sleek coat of the Polish Hunting Dog is a simple one to groom and will benefit from brushing each week along with a bath only on occasion. As a breed who will spend a good deal of time outdoors, make sure to clean nail pads as well as those nice long ears, both of which can harbor debris. Trim their nails regularly and brush teeth daily - if you can get away with it. Exercise for the Polish Hunting Dog is a snap too. They are true athletes with very high energy so require about three hours of daily activity. This is a dog best suited for a property with lots of open space on which they can roam and run. The breed excels in agility, flyball, and searching competitions. The very docile Polish Hunting Dog is a pleasure to train, with a need to please that makes for an equitable relationship all around. They are gentle dogs who prefer a calm environment so don’t find it difficult to do as they’re told.7/7
All about Polish Hunting Dogs
Poland can proudly boast five different breeds of dog developed right there on their shores: Besides the Polish Hunting Dog, there is the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, the Polish Hound, the Polish Tatra Sheepdog, and the Polish Greyhound.
The Polish Hunting Dog is said to emanate from various hound, pointer, and mastiff breeds, with the earliest records on them dating back to the 16th century describing a medium-sized breed of hound dog used extensively for hunting by the nobility.
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Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/