The development of the small herding breeds almost certainly ran parallel to that of the large flock guardians, suffering the same hardships and lifestyle and was dependent on the movement of herds along the various trade routes of Asia and Europe over many centuries.
 
These medium-sized sheepdogs are known today as breeds such as the Pyrenean Sheepdog, the Cao de Serra de Aires, the Puli, the Schapendoes and the PON, amongst others. 
 
A written note from the 16th century confirms the existence of a valuable Polish shaggy sheepdog. The reference is found in P.O.Wilson’s book entitled The Bearded Collie. According to a document from a trade transaction dated 1514, there were six Polish sheepdogs on board a ship that sailed from Gdansk to Scotland. The merchant, Kazimierz Grabski, intended to exchange grain for sheep. The Scottish shepherd was so impressed by the practical working ability of the dogs that he offered to exchange more sheep and they agreed to trade two bitches and one dog for a ram and a ewe.

In the deeds of the Zamoyski family’s estate, where sheep farming had existed on a large scale for many hundreds of years, there is a reference to herding dogs. There is also written evidence that small sheepdogs worked on the pastures of the great estate of Anna Jablonowska in Podlasie, a region in Eastern Poland. A woodcut from1882 by Stanislaw Maslowski entitled ‘The Shepherd Boy’ shows a boy with a small, shaggy haired short tailed dog.

With the decline in sheep rearing at the start of the 20th century, came the decline of the shaggy sheepdog. But the earlier dogs had not gone unnoticed. Countess Czetwertynska- Grocholska from the Radzyn district had bought a few dogs from farmers to start her own kennel (z Planty). At the same time, Wanda and Roza Zoltowskie from Milanow, relatives of the Countess, established a kennel (Milanowa) using dogs bred by Ms. Czetwertynska- Grocholska. The breed was all but wiped out during the war.

After WWII in the magazine Pies, 1950 the idea of establishing the breed was again proposed. The appeal was illustrated with pictures of the dogs of Milanowa.

The response came from by Maria Dubrowinowa from Bydgoszcz who began searching for and registering dogs of the lowland sheepdog type. In the same region, a registered kennel of PONs, ‘z Babiej Wsi’, owned by Mrs. Kusinowicz, had been established in 1945. The breed drew the attention of another dog fancier - Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz, she had in her kennel a dog called Smok – who was destined to be the ‘founder’ of the post war PON. 

 
Characteristics

 The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a dog of medium size, compact, strong, muscular, with a thick long coat. Their well groomed coat gives an attractive and interesting appearance. The proportion of height at withers to length of body is 9:10. The ratio length of muzzle to length of skull is 1:1; however a muzzle slightly shorter than this is acceptable. It has a lively but tempered disposition and is vigilant, agile, intelligent, perceptive and gifted with a good memory. The PON is resistant to unfavourable climatic conditions. 

Dogs are 45-50cm; bitches: 42-47cm. The PON must retain the type of a working dog, therefore their size must not go down below the standard. They must be neither weak nor delicate.        

The head is of medium dimension, proportional and not too heavy. The thick fur on the forehead, the cheeks and the chin give the head a look of being bigger than it actually is. The skull is not excessively broad and slightly rounded. The frontal furrow and occipital protuberance are noticeable, the stop is well accentuated and the nose is as dark as possible in relation to the colour of the coat, with large nostrils.

The muzzle is strong and blunt, with a straight nasal bridge. The lips fit well; their edges are of the same colour as the nose. The jaws and teeth are strong, with a scissor or level bite accepted. The eyes are medium size, oval, not protruding, hazel in colour, with lively and piercing look. The rims of the eyelids are dark. The ears are hanging, set not too high, of medium size, heart-shaped and wide at the base; the fore edge is close against the cheeks and mobile.

The neck is of medium length, strong, muscular, without dewlap, carried rather horizontally. The body is rectangular in outline rather than square, the withers are well accentuated. The back is flat and well muscled; the loin is broad and well fused; the croup is short and slightly truncated. The chest is deep, of medium width, ribs quite well sprung, neither flat nor barrel-shaped. The underline and belly curve towards the hindquarters.

Tail: naturally short, stumpy, tailless, very shortly docked tail. The undocked tail is quite long and very hairy. At rest the tail is hanging; if the dog is alert the tail is gaily curved over the back, never curled or lying on the back. Naturally undocked tail of medium length, carried in different manners.  

The Forequarters when seen in profile and from the front are vertical and straight. Stance is well balanced due to a strong skeleton (bone structure).  The shoulders are broad, of medium length, oblique, clean cut, very muscular. Pasterns are slightly slanting in relation to the forearm. The forefeet are oval, tight, slightly arched toes with hard pads. Nails short and preferably dark.

Hindquarters when seen from behind are vertical and well angulated. The thighs are broad and muscular. Hocks are well accentuated. The hind feet are compact and oval shaped. Movement is easy and ground covering with a smooth walk or trot smooth, often pacing.

The whole body is covered with a dense, thick, and profuse coat and soft undercoat. The hair should be straight, though slightly wavy is acceptable. The hair falling from the forehead covers the eyes in a characteristic manner. All colours are acceptable.                                        FCI standard 251.

For more on history, character and conformation, order my book, The Complete Polish Lowland Sheepdog, here.