Pdhale Polish Shepherd Dog

History, origin & features

The Podhale Polish Shepherd Dog was, as its other name (Tatra Shepherd Dog) indicates, used to protect sheep herds in the Tatra Mountains, straddling present-day Poland and Slovakia. The breed's origins go back a very long way: the first representatives of the breed are thought to have appeared as early as the 14th century, after various crosses between the Hungarian Kuvasz Shepherd and the Tibetan Shepherd, among others. Valiant in the face of predators threatening their flocks, Polish Shepherd Dogs have demonstrated their courage and protective instincts not only to shepherds, but also in the home, where they have gradually established themselves as outstanding guardians and companions. Podhale Polish Shepherd Dogs are large, sturdily built, imposing and compact. Powerful and mobile, they resemble the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Like the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Podhales are large and covered with a thick white coat. Hair: long, abundant, straight and hard-textured on neck, trunk and tail. Shorter on head, muzzle, front of forelegs and bottom of hind legs. Topcoat with abundant undercoat.
Color: uniformly white.
Head: lean, well proportioned to the body, carried moderately high. Slightly convex skull, very slightly pronounced frontal furrow, clearly defined stop.
Ears: moderately long, thick, triangular in shape, well furnished with hair, mobile pinna, set at or slightly above the outer corner of the eye.
Eyes: Medium-sized, slightly slanted, dark brown and very expressive.
Body: elongated (more so in females than in males), massive, rectangular. The withers are clearly defined and broad, the back straight, the loins broad and well attached, the croup oblique and gently sloping, the ribcage deep, the ribs inclined and slightly flattened, the belly very slightly tucked up.
Tail: covered with abundant hair forming a plume, set moderately high, carried over the back when the dog is active.