Polish Hunting Dog
The Polish Hunting Dog (Gończy Polski) is a very old dog breed that belongs to the scent hound family. Unlike many other working scent hounds, this breed is known to be a lot more timid and peaceful. They love working and are rarely the ones that will start a fight. The Gończy Polski has an incredible sense of smell and was beloved by Polish hunters for centuries.
Most of the working hunting dog breeds do not make good pets. That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise as they were carefully bred for centuries for specific working traits. However, the Polish Hunting Dog makes an awesome family dog. They are very active and devoted to their families so if you are thinking of getting a dog and you live an active life, look no further than the Polish Hunting Dog.
Height:
19-23 in (50-59 cm)
Weight:
48-57 lb (22-26 kg)
Origin:
Poland
Life Expectancy:
11-13 years
Dog Breed Characteristics
The Polish Hunting Dog is considered to be a medium-to-large dog breed. It has a relatively long muzzle and ears that are falling flat, similar to the Basset hounds but not quite as long. These dogs have long legs that help them easily cover ground while tracking prey. They are also deep-chested and rather muscular.
The Gończy Polski has a compact construction with a strong bone structure that is not heavy. These dogs are built for working in forests and mountain regions.
Gończy Polski - coat and care
The Polish Hunting Dogs coat has a similar texture and quality as the Doberman. It is short, slick, and growing close to their skin. They are single-coated so they are not made for outside living and can easily get cold. They shed moderately year-round and brushing them with a slick brush once a week will help keep their coat clean and shiny.
The Gończy Polski can come in three possible color combinations
- black and tan,
- black and red,
- black and brown.
These dogs do not require baths too often. If they are living inside the house, a bath every 30-45 days will do the trick. Check their ears regularly for any signs of redness or infections and trim their nails if the dog doesn’t wear them down naturally. Brushing their teeth is also important, so remember to do it at least three times a week.
Training and socializing a Polish Hunting Dog
The Polish Hunting Dog is primarily a hunting breed that needs to follow a scent and had to be able to make independent decisions while hunting. That means they could be a bit stubborn, so make sure you have plenty of patience and perseverance when training your dog. They respond best to positive training methods that involve loads of treats and food.
Socialization is important for all dog breeds, and the Polish Hunting Dog is no different. A great thing is that these dogs are naturally calm and do not like conflicts, so socialization should be a piece of cake. Expose your Gończy Polski puppy to different sights, sounds, scents, and situations so they can learn the proper behavior.
These dogs are fairly active, so ensure they have enough daily activities. Dogs that have too much cooped-up energy tend to become bored and bored dogs are unhappy dogs. If their physical and mental needs are not satisfied, they can become destructive and develop bad behavior.
Whether you are looking for a working dog breed or a great, active family companion, the Gończy Polski is a great choice, and we are sure you will make a great choice if you decide to go for this breed.
Health
Polish Hunting Dog is a healthy dog breed with a life expectancy of 11-13 years. To ensure you will end up with the best possible dog regarding health, always buy him from responsible and official dog breeders. Because they regularly test their breeding dogs, you can be sure their puppies won’t have any inherited diseases. Always ask to see the results of tests from the puppy’s parents.
Polish Hunting Dog breeders
When getting a dog, the most important thing is to get it from a responsible and reputable Polish Hunting Dog breeder. Responsible breeders will breed dogs that don’t only look good but have great characters as well. You must find a good Polish Hunting Dog breeder that can help you learn about this breed and make an informed choice about getting a dog with these characteristics.
World Dog Finder team
Updated at07.09.2023.
Breed History
The Polish Hunting Dog, as we already mentioned, is a fairly old breed whose roots can be traced back to the 13th century when its name was first mentioned in old Polish manuscripts.
These dogs were praised for their ability to track prey for miles and miles and with its high energy levels, the Gończy Polski was a tireless hunter.
The need for a skillful hunting dog in Poland came naturally as Poland has many thick, rich forests that are full of life. These dogs were mostly used for hunting deer and wild boar but could track any prey hunters decided to go for.
The history of the Polish Hunting Dog after that remained quiet for nearly 500 years which shows that these dogs were amazing in what they do and were sort of taken for granted. They weren’t mentioned in anything until 1820 and around that time their official standard came out. The idea behind the standard is to keep its quality. The Polish Hunting Dog is still mostly kept as a working dog, but more and more people are recognizing their great pet potential.
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