The Polish Hound, commonly known as Ogar Polski, is a breed of hunting dog indigenous to Poland. The Polish Hound has a keen sense of smell. This heightened sense combined with the endurance needed to hunt in harsh environments led to its use in hunting, while its stature made it popular with Polish nobility.

History

The first description of the Polish (Ogar) Hound is found in the book ''The beginnings of the natural history and farming of the national domestic and wild animals'' by Krzysztof Kluk (1779).FCI Polish hound
/ref> According to historians, the Polish Hounds developed through crossbreeding of

Bloodhound The bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar and, since the Middle Ages, for tracking people. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, in French it is called, ...

s (the St Hubert Hound), imported to Poland in the Middle Ages, with local hounds. Jan Szytier (1819) wrote about the "Polish Hound" and the "Polish Scent Hound" in his "Hunting Guide" (''Poradnik Myśliwych'').Ria Hörter. "New Dog Breeds – Recognized by The FCI. Gończy Polski (Polish Hunting Dog)". ''The Canine Chronicle''. October 2013. pp. 196-199.

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

resulted in the decline of the Polish Hounds' population. The attempts to revive the breed led to the emergence of two types: light-boned (bred by Colonel Józef Pawłusiewicz) and heavier-boned (bred by Colonel Piotr Kartawik). The latter one was recognized by the FCI as the "Ogar Polski" in 1966.

Description

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Polish Hounds reach 55–65 cm (22-23.5 inches) in height. Males weigh around 25 to 32 kg. (55-70.5 lb) while females weigh 20 to 26 kg (44-57.5 lb).

Characteristics and Temperament

The Polish Hound has an average life span of 13 to 14 years. A medium-sized breed, Ogar Polski is often described as strong and sleek, with a powerful bone structure. The coloration of these animals is often a combination of a brown underside and black on top running from the neck to the tail. The breed has thick double coat, which ensures water resistance on outer and underlying skin layers. The Polish Hound's voice is often described as resonant and pure which makes it an ideal hunting dog. The Polish Hound matures slowly. Intelligent and easily trained, Polish Hounds are known to be calm, affectionate animals and great pets. Friendly with other breeds and very loyal, these dogs are also very protective of their land. It is unclear as to whether this breed makes a good guard dog. Many argue that its territorial nature makes it defensive against intruders, while other state that its passive nature renders it harmless to new people. Resilient to environment due to their origin of use, the Polish Hound acclimates quickly to new settings.

References

Bibliography

* "Polish Hound (Ogar Polski)." Elite-Pets. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013 * "Polish Hound." The Furry Critter Network. Bryntel Technologies, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2013. * "Polish Hound." Sarahs Dogs. The Sarah's Dogs Website, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2013. * "Polish Hound." United Kennel Club: Polish Hound. United Kennel Club, Inc., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2013. * "Polish Hounds." GotPetsOnline.com. GotPetsOnline.com, 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.