Breed History
The Polish Lowland Sheepdog originated in Poland, where it is known as Polski Owczarek Nizinny (PON)....
Probable forebears of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog include the Tibetan Terrier and cord-coated Hungarian sheepdogs, such as the Komondor, introduced to Central Europe by the Huns. Historically, large PONs have been used as flock guardians while other PONs served as shepherds.The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is the progenitor of several modern shepherding breeds, including the Bearded Collie. In 1514, a Polish Merchant traded a shipment of grain for some sheep in Scotland and bought six Polish Lowland Sheepdogs to move his sheep. A shepherd from Scotland saw the dogs and was so impressed with their ability to herd sheep that he traded a ram and two ewes for one male and two female PONs, which he then bred with Scottish dogs to produce more sheep herding dogs. Selective breeding of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog really took hold in Poland during the late 19th century, but World War II decimated the breed. It is thought that by the end of World War II, only 150 PONs were left in the world. A handful of dog fanciers, most notably Dr. Danuta Hryeniewicz and her dog Smok, were able to bring the dog back from the brink. The PON was introduced to the United States during the 1980s and recognized by the American Kennel Club as the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, a member of the Herding Group, in 2001.