Polish Hunting Dog

		Polish Hunting Dog
		FCI standard Nº 354

Origin		Poland
Translation		Jennifer Mulholland & Raymond Triquet
Group		Group 6 Scent Hounds and Related Breeds
Section		Section 1.2.Medium sized Hounds
Working		With working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Tuesday 07 November 2017
Acceptance on a provisional basis by the FCI		Friday 10 November 2006
Publication of the official valid standard		Tuesday 07 November 2017
Last update		Thursday 23 November 2017
En français, cette race se dit		Chien courant polonais
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Polnischer Jagdhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Perro de caza polaco
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Gonzcy Polski

Usage

Hunting dog. Dog used for hunting boar and deer. Also used occasionally for hunting fox and hare in the mountainous region of Southern Poland.

Brief historical summary

Hunting with scent hounds was refered to in Polish literature as early as the XIIIth century. Poland has always been a country covered by deep forests, full of big game where the scent hound was the precious auxiliary of the hunter. Hunting with scent hounds was highly esteemed by Polish nobility as attested by XIVth century chronicles.
In the XVIIth century, at least two different types of Polish scent hounds were already well distinguished.
Detailed descriptions are found in XIX th century hunting literature : in 1819 Jan Szytier (Poradnik Mysliwych) describes the Polish “brach” and the Polish scent hound; in 1821, in the magazine “Sylwan”, W.Kozlowski gives a description and provides illustrations of both types, the Polish “brach” (heavier) and the Polish scent hound (lighter); the very detailed description of Ignacy Bogatynski (1823- 1825, Nauka Lowiectwa) could be used as the first breed standard.
After the first World War, the Polish scent hound was still used for hunting in Poland; in the eastern regions but especially in the mountains on particularly difficult terrains. In the Podkarpacle region, the famous Polish cynologist, Jozef Pawuslewicz (1903 – 1979) hunted with Polish scent hounds; he was engaged in the development of breeding this dog.
He wrote the first Breed Standard and it is thanks to him that these dogs were officially registered by the Polish Cynological Association.

General appearance

A lithe dog of compact construction. The bone structure is strong but not heavy. The build implies a great aptitude for mobility and an obvious disposition to resist difficult working conditions in mountainous regions.

Important proportions

Medium sized. Rectangular build 9:10.

Behaviour / temperament

Stable and gentle. This dog is truly courageous and can even demonstrate proof of bravery. He is intelligent and easy to educate. Not aggressive but remaining wary towards strangers. To his qualities as a hunting dog, must be added those of an excellent guardian. During the hunt he gives voice with a characteristic melody in various intonations; a higher pitch for the females.

Head
Cranial region
Head		Noble, in proportion with the body.
Skull		Same length as the muzzle; slightly convex. The occiput is marked but not prominent.
Stop		Only slightly pronounced.

Facial region
Nose		Black, brown or flesh colour, despending on the coat colour.
Lips		Fleshy, neither hanging nor tight, well overlapping the lower jaw. Slight fold at the commissure which is well defined.
Jaws and teeth		Strong and white, with the incisives well aligned in an arc. Scissor bite. Complete dentition is appreciated.
Eyes		Medium sized, oblique. The expression is kind. The white of the eye is not visible. The black and tan subjects have dark eyes, the brown and red subjects can have lighter coloured eyes. The eyelids are well fitted to the eyeball.
Ears		Hanging, light, triangular of medium length. Set low, level with a line horizontal to the eyes. Broad at the base. The great part of the ear is hanging, carried slightly to the fore with the front edge closer to the cheek than the back edge. Tips well rounded. The coat on the ears is smooth and silky.

Neck

Medium length, well muscled, relatively strong, with oval section. Carried neither too vertically nor too low (moderate slope). The skin is loose but without forming a dewlap.

Body
Withers		Defined.
Back		Straight and well muscled.
Loin		Broad and well muscled, very slightly arched.
Chest		Deep, reaching the elbow. Forechest moderately defined.
Ribs		Long and oblique.
Underline and belly		Slight tuck up.

Tail

Medium thickness, reaching to the hock joint. Well covered with hair, with slight brush. When the dog is at rest, the tail is carried low and sabre-like; in action, it is carried slightly higher than the top line.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Upright, seen from the front. The distance from the elbow to ground is equal to half of the height at the withers.
Shoulders		Long and oblique.
Upper arm		Not very open shoulder angulation.
Elbows		Neither in nor out, parallel to median line of body.
Forearm		Straight, lean, oval section.
Pastern		Lean, flexible; in profile, slightly sloping.

Hindquarters
Generality		Upright, seen from behind.
Upper thigh		Broad and well muscled.
Lower thigh		Well muscled.
Metatarsus		Short. Without dewclaws.

Feet

Tight and slightly oval. The toes are slightly arched. The nails are dark and match the coat colour. Strong pads.

Gait and movement

The gait should be effortless and energetic, fluid and harmonious. Long reaching and free movement, especially on the trot. Whether walking or trotting, the topline remains straight and even. Limbs parallel in action.

Coat
Hair		On the body the hair is harsh, lying close to the skin. Abundant undercoat; more in winter, less in summer. On the head and ears the hair is short and soft.
Colour		Black and tan : The tan should be well distinct from the black. The tan is a combination of brown and red. The colour is very intense. Brown (chocolate) and tan. Red with nose black, brown or flesh coloured. The fawn-red coat can be slightly overlaid with black. Position of tan markings; over the eye, on muzzle, on front part of neck, on forechest, on lower part of limbs, behind and inside the thighs, around the anus, underside of tail. Small white marks on toes and chest are permitted.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males 55 – 59 cm, females 50 – 55 cm.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Dog too high in the legs.

Too long or too short body.

Too light bone.

Light eye, round eye.

Level bite (edge to edge).

Tan not distinct enough from black.

Tan too invading.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy.

Overshot or undershot.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

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Polish Hunting Dog