| Training | |
| Sensitivity to strangers | |
| Affection for family | |
| Suitable for first-time owners | |
| Ease of grooming | |
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Contents
Polish Greyhound, the name already provides a lot of information, the group it belongs to and its origin, but let’s not be fooled…
We are not talking about the classic sighthound, as we can see, this breed from Poland knows how to stand out. The Polish Greyhound was born and grew up to be used for hunting. In some countries, like England, US, Australia, Ireland, or in Canada, these dogs are seen and appreciated as pets or as dogs for shows in canine exhibitions.
Polish Greyhound: Origins
Specialized in hunting hares, foxes, and great bustards, throughout its history this breed has been used against wolves, always in the same region. It has been represented and described many times since the 18th century, and thanks to this official record, today we can say that it is just like in the past, when it was crossed and beloved by Polish people from the past.
As regards the origin of this breed, the most recognized hypothesis is that it derives from the Saluki greyhounds. This is almost a fact, although the name “Polish Greyhound” would lead us to think in another breed, the English one. But there is no real connection between the 2 dogs.
The Polish Greyhound was crossed when Poland was “the Kingdom of Poland ” in the 18th century, crossbreeding with other dogs from Persia that were brought by merchants who traded several types of goods from the lands of Central Europe, traveling through the lowlands of Sarmatic.
To be precise, the first traces of the Polish Greyhound are even more ancient. They are found in the Piast Dynasty from the 12th century. After reading about this dog breed from that period, it would seem that we are talking about the Polish Lebrel from modern times.
Polish Greyhound: Temperament
From the trot and the look, we are immediately sure that we are in front of an extremely confident dog. It is not a characteristic that varies from one specimen to the other, but it seems pretty typical of the breed, even though of course every Polish Greyhound will exhibit different degrees of determination.
Generally, this breed is often a bit stubborn. The Polish Greyhound is obstinate, especially if it is forced to live in an apartment, a place where minimal coexistence rules must be respected, by both our four-legged friends and us.
One cannot say that the Polish Greyhound is very sociable, it is considered a companion dog. But it is more adequate for discreet people since he is like that too. When it is comfortable, within its own family, then yes: it becomes quite friendly, even sweet, not to mention available it is towards children. It can stand their antics without losing its patience.
In the countryside, when it is used for hunting, determination becomes enviable strength and agility: when it chases its prey the Polish Greyhound is astute and does not give up easily. It is agile and reactive, difficult to cheat on.
Polish Greyhound: Appearance
The Polish Greyhound may reach up to 31,5 inches (80 cm) at the withers:
- If it is male, the standard indicates measurements of 27-31 inches (70-80 cm),
- If it is female, its height usually is around 27-30 inches (around 68-75 cm).
It will always be a very tall dog, and without a doubt, we may include it in the category of large-sized dogs. They perfectly denote power and strength, without being slightly aggressive.
The general appearance of dogs of this breed is very similar to that of Asian Greyhounds, from whom they derive. They are not heavy, brusque, but solid, strong and agile.
Polish Greyhound: Weight
It is tall but not heavy, the Polish Greyhound weighs some 66 lb (30 kg), not more than that. But they never weigh less than 60 lb (27 kg). It is pretty sturdy and with a good structure like a greyhound. Its dimensions cannot be compared with other kinds of dogs, like herders, whose build is completely different.
The chest is powerful and is very muscular. The neck follows these proportions, and looks harmonious, just like lower and upper extremities. The Polish Greyhound is a dog with a galloping trot that is very fast, certainly thanks to its well-developed muscles, from the nose to the tail , that is long and thick at the base, and then becomes slim.
If its body is not like the typical short-haired greyhound, the snout is. It is long, with an ample head between the ears and a dark snout. The jaw is strong and the ears, very thin and seem thick. When a Polish Greyhound is in action they raise and sometimes look to the front.
The look of this dog is extremely cheerful, with a friendly and smart expression. The eyes may be of different colors, depending on the color of the coat, but generally a darker coat is the most sought after. The shape is like an almond of great size.
Polish Greyhound: Puppies
A Polish Greyhound puppy, just like an adult, has very elastic skin, but at the same time quite hard. When one touches it, the hair is not wiry but surely not so silky. All colors are allowed in the breed´s standard. As recurring defects, we may find an incorrect marking, or a too short or small tail, depigmentation, measures outside the accepted one and an insufficient muscular structure.
Polish Greyhound: Price, and Puppies for Sale
A Polish Greyhound puppy may cost around 1200 dollars, or 1000 English pounds, but, to be sure the price is updated, it is always recommended to contact a certified breeder directly.
In its home town, it is called Chart Polski. The Polish Greyhound is a dog of great speed and resistance. It is excellent and fit for hunting fast animals and dog tracks. Certainly, it is not the first breed that one may think about to have a companion dog, although it is truly sweet and lovable.
Now that we have cleared the most important aspects, you can go and find your new 4-legged friend, who is surely waiting for you.
In addition to the Polish Greyhound, there are other types of sighthounds recognized:
Long or wavy sighthounds:
- Borzoi (Russian Sighthound)
- Afghan Hound
- Saluki Hound
Wirehaired sighthounds:
- Irish wolfhound
- Scottish Greyhound (Deerhound)
Short-haired sighthounds:
- Azawakh (African Greyhound)
- Spanish Greyhound
- Greyhound
- Polish Greyhound
- Magyar agár (Hungarian Greyhound)
- Miniature Italian Greyhound
- Sloughi (Arabian Greyhound)
- Whippet
