DivaPons.com - Glastonbury, Connecticut Shaggy Dogs, Playful Personalities
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About the breed...Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are often called PONs. which stands for Polski Owczarek Nizinny, the official Polish name for the breed. PONs are medium-sized, standing 17-20 inches high at the shoulders and weighing between 30-50 pounds. Though they do need regular brushing, their thick shaggy coats do not tend to shed (except an occasional dust bunny). In fact, their coats are considered hypo-allergenic, and do not tend to trigger allergies as much as other dogs' coats. PONs' shaggy coats do take time to groom, however, so if you're not planning to show your PON, you may want to keep your dog's coat clipped short for easier care.

PONs' coats also differ from other dogs in that the colors they are born with tend to fade by the time they reach adulthood. Occasionally, black markings will remain black or fade only to charcoal, but for the most part adult Pons tend to be white or gray. As you can see from the pictures here, our beloved Dory was born brown and white, but her brown areas have faded almost completely except for the tips of her ears.

PONs are delightful playmates: bright, fun and fiendishly clever. By the time Kierat was five months old, he had discovered that he could jump up, pull down the back door lever and push the door open with his belly, then run through the house to find me and surprise me. Another PON we know of has discovered that he can drag his sleeping mat up stairs (keeping the smooth side down) and surf back down to the bottom. PONs are also notorious for remembering where they have left their toys and demanding (sometimes quite noisily) that they be retrieved. And they LOVE to play in snow.

PONs can also be stubborn and very bossy; you will want to curb this behavior by taking charge as soon as your PON moves in, being firm and making it clear that you expect your pup to do as you say. Once your PON sees you as the “alpha dog,” you should have little trouble getting him to obey you, but you will need to make it clear at all times that you are in charge. Give a PON an inch and he's SURE to take a mile!

PONs are very affectionate and loyal companions, and great with kids. Our PONs show affection with hugs and wiggles (they have no tails), but also at a smaller level by "bopping" us on the leg with their noses to say "Hi." This may be because PONs are also herding dogs. To a pet PON, his family is his flock, which means you can expect a warning bark if a stranger comes up the walk. It's their way of saying "someone different is coming here." Left to his own devices, a PON will tend to bond very tightly with his owners and be suspicious of strangers, so it's important to socialize PON puppies while they are still young and impressionable. Lots of trips to the bank, post office, and sidewalk coffee shops at an early age will ensure that your PON will grow to be a well adjusted, confident, and happy companion for life.


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