POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG
By Loana J. Shields
H
i! My name is Shad-
ow and I represent
the Polish Lowland
Sheepdog,
often
called a PON because
in Poland I was
known as the Polski Owczarek Nizinny.
It is believed that the earliest of my PON
family came from dogs being bred in Asia.
We were first mentioned in Poland in the
13
th century. It was in the 16th century,
however, when it is believed the breed was
established. Two males and a female were
exchanged with a Polish merchant who
was in Scotland trading sheep, and for a
ram and a ewe he obtained three PONS.
The first PON was shown in Warsaw in
1924.
My family nearly became extinct
during WWII. Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz
came to our rescue when her PON, Smok,
is believed to have been “the father of the
breed” when he was bred to six females,
thus saving the breed. By the late 70s more
PONS were spreading thru various coun-
tries in Europe. They first arrived in the
United States in 1979. Moira Morrison
brought in the first PONS, but it was with
the establishment of Elzbieta Kennels in
1982
by Betty and Kaz Augustowski that
the breed gained popularity. Working with
her husband and three other couples, a par-
ent club was established. By 2001 we were
formally welcomed into the herding group
of AKC. Enough of this history stuff.
As an adult I am a medium-sized, com-
pact, muscular long coated dog who was
bred to both protect and guard my herd.
However, as a puppy you would find me to
be a soft, cuddly ball of fur. While we are
often born dark, we will most often fade
into a lighter color. All colors are accept-
able: black, white, chocolate (only one to
have a brown nose), black and white, cream,
charcoal grey, etc. Spoiling me is easy cuz I
am so cute, but that’s not good for my long
term life as a human family member. I am
extremely intelligent (even can herd with-
out human intervention), loyal, protective,
manipulative and can show a great sense of
humor. I have an excellent memory. Three
months later I can go back to visit and will
remember where that kitten hid last time I
saw it hide from me. While I might remain
“
As an adult I am a medium-sized,
compact, muscular long coated dog
WHO WAS brED tO bOtH PrOtEct
AND GuArD my HErD.”
S
how
S
ight
M
agazine
,
N
ovember
2012 • 273