Polish Hunting Dog

Polish HoundPorcelaine

Polish Hunting Dog – General Description

The Polish Hunting Dog, formerly Polish Scenthound (Polish: Gończy Polski) is a breed of scent hound originating in Poland.

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Classification and Standards

• FCI Group 6, Section 1.2, #354

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Character & Temperament

Stable and gentle. The Polish Hunting Dog is truly courageous and can even demonstrate proof of bravery. He is intelligent and easy to educate. Not aggressive but remaining wary towards strangers. To his qualities as a hunting dog, must be added those of an excellent feace.

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History

Hunting with scent hounds was referred to in Polish literature as early as the 13th century. Poland has always been a country covered by deep forests, full of big game where the scent hound was the precious auxiliary of the hunter. Hunting with scent hounds was highly esteemed by Polish nobility as attested by 14th century chronicles. In the XVIIth century, at least two different types of Polish scent hounds were already well distinguished. Detailed descriptions are found in XIX th century hunting literature : in 1819 Jan Szytier (Poradnik Mysliwych) describes the Polish “brach” and the Polish scent hound; in 1821, in the magazine “Sylwan”, W.Kozlowski gives a description and provides illustrations of both types, the Polish “brach” (heavier) and the Polish scent hound (lighter); the very detailed description of Ignacy Bogatynski (1823–1825, Nauka Lowiectwa) could be used as the first breed standard. After the first World War, the Polish scent hound was still used for hunting in Poland; in the eastern regions but especially in the mountains on particularly difficult terrains. In the Podkarpacle region, the famous Polish cynologist, Jozef Pawuslewicz (1903–1979) hunted with Polish scent hounds; he was engaged in the development of breeding this dog.

He wrote the first Breed Standard and it is thanks to him that the Polish Hunting Dog was officially registered by the Polish Cynological Association.

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Size & Appearance

A lithe dog of compact construction. The bone structure is strong but not heavy. The build implies a great aptitude for mobility and an obvious disposition to resist difficult working conditions in mountainous regions.

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Health & Maintenance

No unusual health problems or claims of extraordinary health have been documented for this breed.

References

Photo Credits

1. Grzegorz Weron [CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Piotr Wesołowski [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
3. E.Ziolek (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
4. Beata Raciborska (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
5. Lukasz Stawiarski (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
6. Malgorzata Gnoinska (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
7. Pleple2000 (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
8. B.Zielińska (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
9. Agnieszka Balcerzak (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

This article is licensed (except where noted) under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article Polish Hunting Dog

Videos

Breed Standard

Polish Hunting Dog (Gończy Polski)

FCI-Standard N° 354 / 22. 11. 2006 / GB

TRANSLATION : Jennifer Mulholland & Raymond Triquet.

ORIGIN : Poland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 10.11.06.

UTILIZATION :

Hunting dog. Dog used for hunting boar and deer. Also used occasionally for hunting fox and hare in the mountainous region of Southern Poland.

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION :

• Group 6 Scent hounds and related breeds.
• Section 1.2 Medium sized hounds.

With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY :

Hunting with scent hounds was referred to in Polish literature as early as the XIIIth century. Poland has always been a country covered by deep forests, full of big game where the scent hound was the precious auxiliary of the hunter. Hunting with scent hounds was highly esteemed by Polish nobility as attested by XIVth century chronicles.

In the XVIIth century, at least two different types of Polish scent hounds were already well distinguished.

Detailed descriptions are found in XIX th century hunting literature : in 1819 Jan Szytier (Poradnik Mysliwych) describes the Polish “brach” and the Polish scent hound; in 1821, in the magazine “Sylwan”, W.Kozlowski gives a description and provides illustrations of both types, the Polish “brach” (heavier) and the Polish scent hound (lighter); the very detailed description of Ignacy Bogatynski (1823- 1825, Nauka Lowiectwa) could be used as the first breed standard.

After the first World War, the Polish scent hound was still used for hunting in Poland; in the eastern regions but especially in the mountains on particularly difficult terrains. In the Podkarpacle region, the famous Polish cynologist, Jozef Pawuslewicz (1903 – 1979) hunted with Polish scent hounds; he was engaged in the development of breeding this dog.

He wrote the first Breed Standard and it is thanks to him that these dogs were officially registered by the Polish Cynological Association.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

A lithe dog of compact construction. The bone structure is strong but not heavy. The build implies a great aptitude for mobility and an obvious disposition to resist difficult working conditions in mountainous regions.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

Medium sized. Rectangular build 9:10.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT :

Stable and gentle. This dog is truly courageous and can even demonstrate proof of bravery. He is intelligent and easy to educate. Not aggressive but remaining wary towards strangers. To his qualities as a hunting dog, must be added those of an excellent guardian. During the hunt he gives voice with a characteristic melody in various intonations; a higher pitch for the females.

HEAD :

Noble, in proportion with the body.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Same length as the muzzle; slightly convex. The occiput is marked but not prominent.
Stop : Only slightly pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black, brown or flesh color, depending on the coat color.
Lips : Fleshy, neither hanging nor tight, well overlapping the lower jaw. Slight fold at the commissure which is well defined.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong and white, with the incisive well aligned in an arc. Scissor bite. Complete dentition is appreciated.
Eyes : Medium sized, oblique. The expression is kind. The white of the eye is not visible. The black and tan subjects have dark eyes, the brown and red subjects can have lighter colored eyes. The eyelids are well fitted to the eyeball.
Ears : Hanging, light, triangular of medium length. Set low, level with a line horizontal to the eyes. Broad at the base. The great part of the ear is hanging, carried slightly to the fore with the front edge closer to the cheek than the back edge. Tips well rounded. The coat on the ears is smooth and silky.

NECK :

Medium length, well muscled, relatively strong, with oval section. Carried neither too vertically nor too low (moderate slope). The skin is loose but without forming a dewlap.

BODY :

Withers : Defined.
Back : Straight and well muscled.
Loin : Broad and well muscled, very slightly arched.
Chest : Deep, reaching the elbow. Forechest moderately defined.
Ribs : Long and oblique.
Belly : Slight tuck up.

TAIL :

Medium thickness, reaching to the hock joint. Well covered with hair, with slight brush. When the dog is at rest, the tail is carried low and sabre-like; in action, it is carried slightly higher than the top line.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

Upright, seen from the front. The distance from the elbow to ground is equal to half of the height at the withers.
Shoulder : Long and oblique.
Upper arm : The angle of the shoulder joint is not very open.
Elbow: Neither in nor out, parallel to median line of body.
Forearm : Straight, lean, oval section.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : Lean, elastic; in profile, slightly sloping.

HINDQUARTERS :

Upright, seen from behind.
Upper thigh : Broad and well muscled.
Lower thigh : Well muscled.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern) : Short.
Dewclaws : None.

FEET : Tight and slightly oval. The toes are slightly arched. The nails are dark and match the coat color. Strong pads.

GAIT / MOVEMENT :

The gait should be effortless and energetic, fluid and harmonious. Long reaching and free movement, especially on the trot. Whether walking or trotting, the topline remains straight and even. Limbs parallel in action.

COAT

HAIR :

On the body the hair is harsh, lying close to the skin. Abundant undercoat; more in winter, less in summer. On the head and ears the hair is short and soft.

COLOR :

• Black and tan : The tan should be well distinct from the black. The tan is a combination of brown and red. The color is very intense.
• Brown (chocolate) and tan.
• Red with nose black, brown or flesh colored. The fawn-red coat can be slightly overlaid with black.

Position of tan markings; over the eye, on muzzle, on front part of neck, on forechest, on lower part of limbs, behind and inside the thighs, around the anus, underside of tail.
Small white marks on toes and chest are permitted.

SIZE :

Height at withers :

Males : 55 – 59 cm.
Females : 50 – 55 cm.

FAULTS :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

General appearance :

• Dog long in the leg.
• Body too long or too short.
• Bone structure too light.

Head :

• Light eye, round eye.
• Level bite (edge to edge).

Coat :

• Tan not distinct enough from black.
• Tan too invading.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Overshot or undershot.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.