Polish Lowland Sheepdog belongs to the category of herding and guarding dogs and originated in the 16th century.
It was initially used for hunting, but now it is usually kept as a companion and herding dog. Its herding and working abilities are mainly due to its inherent desire to please its owner.
This breed is lively, intelligent, and has excellent understanding and memory, but it is not overly active. It has a medium size, thick coat, strong cold resistance, and adapts well to city life.
The origin of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is in Poland, and it was first discovered before the 16th century, with one of its ancestors being the Hungarian Puli.
Before the 16th century, these 19-22 inch tall, long-haired herding dogs with features of both the Polish and Pomeranian dogs were used for herding and guarding.
It is said that in 1514, the Polish people sailed to Scotland with grain to exchange for sheep and brought along 6 Lowland Sheepdogs to help take care of the sheep. The Scottish people exchanged two female and one male Polish Lowland Sheepdog for a pair of sheep from the Polish people, making these three dogs one of the ancestors of the Scottish Bearded Collie.
It is said that during World War II, the Lowland Sheepdog suffered a disaster and was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to a Polish veterinarian, his one male dog and six females survived and allowed this breed to continue.
Lively, intelligent, with excellent understanding and memory abilities, high loyalty, and not overly active, it adapts well to urban life and is suitable as a family companion dog.
However, regular grooming of the coat is needed, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, so it is not suitable for busy individuals.
1. Heart Disease
Dogs are often susceptible to heart disease, which is associated with factors such as obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it may exhibit symptoms such as easily becoming tired and having difficulty breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect and often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.
2. Infectious Diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are prone to these two diseases. Once infected, dogs may show symptoms such as lethargy, decreased appetite, elevated body temperature, and vomiting or diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The frightening aspect of canine kidney disease is that it progresses silently, and by the time the owner notices, more than 75% of the dog's kidney cells may have already been damaged. Common symptoms of kidney disease in dogs include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Gastrointestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasites that infect dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, they may experience symptoms such as weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, visible worms in the stool, and pale gum tissue. Heartworm, on the other hand, is a parasite that resides in the dog's heart. Dogs infected with heartworm may show symptoms such as decreased energy, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and abdominal fluid accumulation.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it often occurs as a complication of other illnesses. It is commonly seen in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infection, viral infections, compromised lung function, or heartworm infection. Common symptoms of canine pneumonia include coughing, nasal discharge, and elevated body temperature.
If the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is kept at home for a long time without exercise, it will feel very uncomfortable, or look dull, or even get sick. It is best for the owner to take it for a walk 2-3 times a day, preferably in the morning and in the evening or afternoon.
Regular brushing (with a bristle brush) or combing is needed to maintain its coat, as the chest, abdomen, and legs of this breed have long and thick fur that often drags on the ground. If not groomed in a timely manner, it may get dusty and dirty, or even become tangled and matted, which not only looks unsightly but also increases the risk of bacterial infection and illness.
Every few days, its tartar and ear wax need to be cleaned, and its eyes should be washed with diluted salt water to prevent diseases caused by uncleanliness.
The owner should also pay attention to whether the dog shows any abnormal symptoms during eating, sleeping, and activity, such as abnormal mental state. If there are any, prompt treatment is necessary.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Bathing a dog should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, it can be bathed one or two more times, and in winter, it can be reduced one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Brushing regularly
Dogs almost shed every day, especially in spring and autumn, when seasonal shedding is more severe. Regular brushing is an important step in maintaining good fur growth. Pet owners can use a pet-specific comb to help the dog remove naturally shed fur and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. Meanwhile, the owner can let the dog exercise a bit while sunbathing. This can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Having poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving them of their nutrition. Hence, deworming is necessary. It is recommended to do both internal and external deworming. Additionally, deworming medicine can cause significant harm to a dog's intestines. Therefore, it is advisable to feed the dog with probiotics to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for a dog to have beautiful fur, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food – choose a suitable and nutritionally adequate dog food that meets the dog's needs. On the other hand, the dog can be appropriately fed with lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
Pet Encyclopedia
