(Gończy
Polski)
TRANSLATION : Jennifer Mulholland &
Raymond Triquet.
ORIGIN :
Poland.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 10.11.06.
UTILIZATION : Hunting dog. Dog used for hunting boar and deer. Also used occasionally for hunting fox and
hare in the mountainous region of Southern Poland.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 6 Scent hounds and related
breeds.
Section
1.2 Medium sized hounds.
With
working trial.
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 : Noble, in proportion with the body.
CRANIAL
REGION :
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/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.
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 : Upright, seen from the
front. The distance from the elbow to
ground is equal to half of the height at the withers.
Shoulder : Long and oblique.
Upper
arm : The angle of the shoulder joint is not very
open.
Elbow: Neither in nor out, parallel to median line of body.
Forearm : Straight, lean, oval section.
Metacarpus
(Pastern) : Lean, elastic; in profile, slightly sloping.
HINDQUARTERS : Upright, seen from behind.
Upper
thigh : Broad and well muscled.
Lower
thigh : Well muscled.
Metatarsus
(Rear pastern) : Short.
Dewclaws : None.
FEET : Tight and slightly oval.
The toes are slightly arched. The
nails are dark and match the coat colour.
Strong pads.
GAIT / 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 :
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 :
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.
General
appearance :
Head :
·
Light eye,
round eye.
·
Level bite
(edge to edge).
Coat :
·
Tan not
distinct enough from black.
·
Tan too
invading.
ELIMINATING FAULTS :
·
Aggressive or
overly shy.
·
Overshot or
undershot.
Any dog clearly showing
physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. :
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.