The American Polish Lowland Sheepdog Club®

Addressing The Coat
By Larry B. Stein

First let's take a look at what the standard says about the COAT...

GENERAL APPEARANCE - "...a long thick coat and hanging hair that covers the eyes." HEAD AND SKULL - "...profuse hair on the forehead, cheeks and chin makes the head look bigger than it actually is." "...[ Ears ] should be fully covered with long hair." COAT - "...double coated. …entire body …covered with a long, dense, shaggy, thick coat that is reasonably straight. …undercoat …soft and dense. Characteristically, long hanging hair covers the eyes. A slight wavy coat is acceptable. … The Polish Lowland Sheepdog must be shown naturally - no scissoring is allowed. "

The foregoing is a description of the preferred coat. Understanding the history and geography of the PON's homeland, as well as the breed's function is the key to understanding the necessity for a soft, dense undercoat with a harsh outer jacket. It is insulation from the elements.

There is a difference between trimming for the health of your PON and trimming for a show win! Cutting the hair between the pads should be done. This is a health issue. Mats and foreign matter caught in the folds are undesirable. That would encourage licking, causing moisture and possibly leading to fungus and/or infection. The normal function of the pads would be impaired. The pasterns could break down due to unstable footing. Toe nails should be trimmed in order to allow natural foot function. Trimming around the anal area for hygiene reasons should be encouraged.

The fact is that the PONs has gone from its job of herding to the show ring. It should be presentable. However, let's not confuse health issues with sculpting to disguise deviations from the ideal outline. The standard should be followed to insure that the breed is presented in its natural state.

It is your responsibility as a breeder, to advise those purchasing a show prospect, about restrictions in the standard regarding trimming. At the same time those purchasing a family pet should be told about the grooming procedures pertaining to hygiene and cleanliness.

The present AKC standard prohibits altering the appearance of the PON. We cannot assume that because the PON has been taken from its traditional workplace to the conformation ring, that we can alter the standard when preparing a dog to be shown.

Under COLOR - "All coat colors are acceptable. The most common colors are white with either black, gray or sandy patches and gray with white, or chocolate. Most carry a dominant fading factor genetically, which results in puppies being born darker in coat color than they will appear as adults with the exception of those puppies born white." According to the standard any color is a good color for the PON!

Finally - coat conditioners and other gobbledygook. There are many products being sold which claim to give the proper 'feel' to the coat. I suggest that you breed for the proper coat texture - don't try to buy it. A knowledgeable judge will excuse you and your dog from the ring if you use such products.

I leave you with this recommendation - if you are losing to people with exhibits inferior to yours - LEARN YOUR STANDARD. You will then have information with which to discuss these topics intelligently with a judge.