Polski Owczarek Podhalanski
Encyclopedia
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a breed
of dog
introduced into the Tatra Mountains
of Southern Poland
by Vlachian
(Romanian) shepherds, probably in the 14th century, and used to guard and herd sheep. It is therefore related to the Romanian Bucovina, Carpathian
and Mioritic
breeds.
The Tatras are large (45–60 kg/100–150 lb) white dogs with heavy dense fur. These dogs are very similar in appearance and temperament to the Pyrenean Mountain Dog
and the Hungarian Kuvasz
.
Tatras are a breed of dog that almost died out in Poland during the wars, due to starvation. They are primarily considered an LGD
. Their instinct, through hundreds of years of breeding, is to protect livestock, though they easily adopt a family as a flock. They are a good companion dog as well as a protection dog. They are not an attack dog, but rather move threats away through intimidation. They have a loud bark. They shed white fur, but are tight lipped and don't drool as much as some similar breeds. They are not all that similar in temperament to their Mountain dog
cousins the Kuvasz
, Great Pyrenees or Maremma Sheepdog
. They are less aloof than the other breeds, tending to be better tied into their breeding and not as domesticated or inbred as some of their cousins.
In the USA the Tatra sheepdog is considered a rare breed. It is not recognized by the AKC
.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
introduced into the Tatra Mountains
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains, Tatras or Tatra , are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains...
of Southern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
by Vlachian
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
(Romanian) shepherds, probably in the 14th century, and used to guard and herd sheep. It is therefore related to the Romanian Bucovina, Carpathian
Carpathian Shepherd Dog
The Carpathian Shepherd Dog is a breed of large sheep dogs that originated in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.-History:...
and Mioritic
Mioritic
The Mioritic is a large breed of livestock guardian dog that originated in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.-Appearance:The Mioritic stands about tall at the withers and weighs . This massive dog is covered in thick fluffy hair...
breeds.
The Tatras are large (45–60 kg/100–150 lb) white dogs with heavy dense fur. These dogs are very similar in appearance and temperament to the Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, known as the Great Pyrenees in North America, is a large breed of dog used as a livestock guardian dog.The Great Pyrenees is a very old breed, and has been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, including those of the Basque people, who inhabit parts of the region in...
and the Hungarian Kuvasz
Kuvasz
The Kuvasz is a dog breed of ancient Hungarian origin. Mention of the breed can be found in old Hungarian texts. It has historically been used to guard livestock, but has been increasingly found in homes as a pet over the last seventy years....
.
Tatras are a breed of dog that almost died out in Poland during the wars, due to starvation. They are primarily considered an LGD
Livestock guardian dog
A livestock guardian dog is a domesticated canine used to defend livestock against predators. LGDs are commonly referred to as "sheep dogs" since they most often have guarded flocks of sheep, but most are capable of guarding other species of livestock. They are classified as pastoral dogs...
. Their instinct, through hundreds of years of breeding, is to protect livestock, though they easily adopt a family as a flock. They are a good companion dog as well as a protection dog. They are not an attack dog, but rather move threats away through intimidation. They have a loud bark. They shed white fur, but are tight lipped and don't drool as much as some similar breeds. They are not all that similar in temperament to their Mountain dog
Mountain dog
Mountain dog is a generic form of canidae, dog, dog breed or landrace typically from mountain environs.They are often a working dog, particularly a livestock or flock guardian or farm dog. By and large, these dogs tend to have a claimed Molosser dog in their genetic heritage...
cousins the Kuvasz
Kuvasz
The Kuvasz is a dog breed of ancient Hungarian origin. Mention of the breed can be found in old Hungarian texts. It has historically been used to guard livestock, but has been increasingly found in homes as a pet over the last seventy years....
, Great Pyrenees or Maremma Sheepdog
Maremma Sheepdog
The Maremma Sheepdog, in Italian Cane da pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese, usually referred to as just Maremmano, is a breed of livestock guardian dog indigenous to central Italy, particularly to Abruzzo and the Maremma region of Tuscany and Lazio. It has been used for centuries by Italian shepherds to...
. They are less aloof than the other breeds, tending to be better tied into their breeding and not as domesticated or inbred as some of their cousins.
In the USA the Tatra sheepdog is considered a rare breed. It is not recognized by the AKC
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
.
External links
- Polish Tatra Sheepdog Club of America
- Polish Tatra Sheepdog.ca (Canada)
- Breeds of dog entry
- Polish Tarta Kennel - great picture galleries