A Polish Hunting Dog is an ancient dog breed with roots stretching back to the 13th century. It has an excellent reputation for being amiable and inclined to keep safe by walking away from trouble rather than picking up for a fight.

Other specifications are listed in the table below.

Life expectancy Between 12 and 15 years
Size Medium
Type of coat Short, coarse in body and soft on the head
Temperament Hunter, Affectionate
Other names Gończy Polski
Country of Origin of the Breed POLAND

Polish Hunting Dog is a strong but not rugged large-breed scent hound. It is primarily a tracking dog, his acute sense and long legs equip him to follow prey for many miles.

This versatile dog is used primarily for hunting deer, hare, fox, or wild boar. They are balanced, gentle, and courageous as well as they are an intelligent and docile breed that can even make good guard dogs. It can lead the hunter to prey.

Temperament and Behaviour of the Polish Hunting Dog

  • Although these are very close to their social group, they can withstand solitude by being away from their owners, only if used to it from an early age.
  • They are docile, and it is effortless to train them as they feel the need to satisfy their owners. They can be stubborn sometimes, like any other hunting dogs. Thus a good training regime must begin at a very early stage. 
  • The educational bases should be carried out smoothly and in a positive way. The recall will be advantageous to keep a check on this dog, especially during walks.
  • They are well known for their obedience and are easy to train. They are renowned for barking when hunting; however, the tone varies with gender. The sound is more high-pitched in female Polish hunting dogs.
  • Their exceptional sense of smell compels this hunting dog to follow certain paths without turning back, leading to the tendency to run away. They can be very far away from their owner within seconds. It’s therefore imperative to work hard on recall and giving up, allowing the dog to pull back.

They must be stimulated physically and mentally daily. They must exert their sense of smell and mental capacity. If they are bored, they would then take matters into their own hands to occupy themselves. They are good eaters but not greedy.

They are a much sought-after hunting dog as they make perfect guardians who can quickly analyze whether the situation is dangerous or not. Their characteristic bark allows them to raise a warning at any suspicious noise or the slightest intrusion.

First dog

They have many qualities that make them an excellent companion, whether as pets or working dogs. They can be a pleasure for most owners, even for first-timers. However, it is advisable to adopt them after considering all of the dog’s characteristics, needs, and instincts.

Physical characteristics of the Polish Hunting Dog

It is a medium-sized dog that is flexible and has a stocky build. They have a noble head, their skull slightly bulging, and they stop a little marked. Their ears are triangular in shape and medium in size and drooping. Their tail is of average length and is covered with fur and relatively low in saber. The tail slightly exceeds the dog’s back when they are in action.

Coat color: The coat color of these dogs can be in light shades of black and brown, or red with a black, brown, or flesh-colored nose. The coat hair is short, coarse, and lies on the body with an abundant overcoat, especially in the winter. However, the hair is softer on the head.

Eyes: Their eyes are of medium size, slanted, and express a certain sweetness. The eyes are in black and light color among this breed, whereas they are lighter in brown and red dogs.

Grooming

The coat of this dog is water-resistant and takes care of him for life in wet weather. This short coat sheds moderately and requires little attention other than a weekly brush. Avoid over-bathing them, as it can strip out natural oils and remove his protective shield against the elements.

Trainability

It is a sharp-minded dog who quickly takes to reward-based training methods. When correctly motivated, this ability to learn makes him a perfect candidate for competition in events, agility, or dog dancing. These also hold themselves nicely and become active as soon as they have something to do.

However, he does need plenty of exercises in order not to become distracted during training. In an attempt to train a Polish Hunting hound that is brim-full of energy, you’ll quickly appreciate the folly of the venture. It’s much better to burn some of that energy first with a long jog, and then enter a training session.

Despite his size and physicality, this dog doesn’t like harsh correction and will become anxious if trained using old-fashioned, domineering methods. Instead, it will be wise to go for reward-based training and work in partnership with the dog. One must use praise and tasty treats as motivation to make him try that bit harder to earn his next reward.

Parasite Control

The dynamic nature of this dog exposes him to contact with many external and internal parasites. From scavenging carcasses and acquiring worms, to communicate with disease-carrying ticks, outdoor dogs face a number of hazards.

Your dog’s well-being needs to be looked after, and you need to treat him regularly with good products that are effective against the parasitic challenges he might face. This may include a monthly multi-dewormer that is effective against not just roundworms, but tapeworms too. You should also treat your dog with a flea product, preferably one that also kills or repels ticks.

Vaccination

Those dogs who spend a lot of time around water, especially standing water, such as lakes, ponds, or puddles, should be vaccinated against leptospirosis. Depending on your location of residence, the vet may vaccinate against leptospirosis automatically, but not all do. Ensure to have a chat with your vet about your dog’s active nature, so that you can talk through the risks and decide which protection works best for your pet.

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