Polish GreyhoundCharacteristics, history, training and care

Polish Greyhound. · Pleple2000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized.

The Polish Greyhound (Chart Polski) is a large, powerful and muscular sighthound with a harsh coat, once used for hunting hares, foxes, roe deer, bustards and even wolves. Its presence in Poland has been documented since the 13th century. The standard describes it as self-assured, reserved and brave.

Quick facts

Common name	Polish Greyhound (Chart Polski)
Scientific name	Canis lupus familiaris
Country of origin	Poland
Official recognition	FCI, provisionally since 1989, definitively since 1 March 2001 (group 10, short-haired sighthounds; standard no. 333)
Lifespan	No published data for the breed; very large breeds live 8–13 years on average
Size (males)	Ideally 70–80 cm at the withers
Size (females)	Ideally 68–75 cm at the withers
Coat type	Springy, fairly harsh, of varying lengths
Common colours	All colours
Energy level	High
Suited to an apartment?	No
Temperament	Self-assured, reserved, brave, tireless
Tendency to aggression	Low; aggressive dogs are disqualified
Good with children	No specific data
Good with other animals	Poor with small animals; sighthound instinct
Genetic predispositions	No breed-specific diseases are known

Primary category:Dog breeds
Explore this animal's categories:
Dog breeds Giant dog breeds Large dog breeds Largest dog breeds Sighthound breeds

History and origin

The FCI standard says the presence of the Chart Polski in Poland has been documented since the 13th century and that the breed probably descends from Asian sighthounds of the Saluki type. Because the Borzoi was not known before the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the standard rejects the idea that it resulted from the Greyhound and the Borzoi.

Wikipedia says it was the favourite dog of the Polish nobility, bred for hunting bustards and wolves. After the Second World War, its breeding almost disappeared, and in the 1970s enthusiasts, led by Stanisław Czerniakowski, rebuilt the breed.

How the breed developed

13th century – The first record in Poland.
After 1945 – Breeding of the breed almost disappears.
1970s – The rebuilding of the breed begins.
13 June 1989 – The FCI accepts the breed provisionally.
1 March 2001 – The FCI recognises the breed definitively.

Breed rating

Feature	Stars
Training and intelligence	★★★☆☆
Easy to train	★★★☆☆
Intelligence	★★★★☆
Independence	★★★★☆
Stubbornness	★★★☆☆
Behaviour and temperament	★★★★☆
Affectionate with family	★★★★☆
Friendly with children	★★★☆☆
Good with other dogs	★★★☆☆
Good with cats and other animals	★☆☆☆☆
Loyalty	★★★★★
Tendency to be aggressive	★★☆☆☆
Tendency to bark	★★☆☆☆
Needs and care	★★★☆☆
Shedding	★★☆☆☆
Needs frequent grooming	★☆☆☆☆
Activity and lifestyle	★★★★☆
Energy level	★★★★☆
Daily exercise needs	★★★★★
Suited to apartment life	★☆☆☆☆
Health and longevity	★★★☆☆
Life expectancy	★★★☆☆
Predisposition to genetic diseases	★★☆☆☆
Working abilities and uses	★★★★☆
Good hunting dog	★★★★★
Good companion dog	★★★☆☆

Indicative rating: 5 stars means the highest level. The breed has no AKC profile, so the rating is based on the FCI standard.

Physical characteristics

It is a large, powerful and muscular sighthound, with long legs and a slender body. The head is strong, lean and long.

General appearance

The coat is springy to the touch, fairly harsh, but neither wiry nor silky, and varies in length on the body: longer on the withers and on the underside of the tail, where it forms “breeches” and a brush, and shortest on the chest and legs.

Feature	Polish Greyhound
Size	Very large
Height at the withers	males: 70–80 cm; females: 68–75 cm
Coat	Harsh, springy
Head	Strong, long
Type	Sighthound
Colour	Any colour

All colours are permitted. The eye rims and nose are black or dark; in lighter colours, blue or beige, the nose is the colour of the coat.

Training and socialisation

The standard describes it as self-assured, confident, reserved and brave. When hunting, it is fast, very skilful and tireless, and reacts quickly and hard.

As a large, independent sighthound, it needs early socialisation and a calm, consistent owner.

Tips for effective training

Keep it on the lead. It sets off after anything that runs.
Let it run safely. Only in fully fenced areas.
Socialise it from an early age. It is reserved by nature.
Be calm and consistent. It is independent.

Activity needs and lifestyle

As a large, tireless sighthound, it needs long walks every day and, from time to time, free running in a safe place.

Activity	How often	Why it matters
Long walks	daily	Stamina
Free running in a fenced area	several times a week	Speed
Coursing	occasionally	Sighthound instinct

Tips for a balanced life

The fence must be high.
Do not leave it unsupervised with small animals.
It suits experienced owners.

Care and health

Coat and skin care

The harsh coat is brushed once a week.

Common health problems

No health studies have been published for the breed and no specific diseases are known. As with any very large sighthound, it is worth watching for:

Condition	Description	Common symptoms
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)	The stomach fills with gas and may twist; this is a veterinary emergency	Swollen belly, trying to vomit without success, drooling, restlessness
Running injuries	Scratches, cuts and strains	Limping, blood on the paws

Other care

Check its paws after running.
Check for ticks after outings in nature.
Trim the nails regularly.

Diet and nutrition

A very large, active sighthound needs good-quality food suited to its level of exertion.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual. The first two calorie columns show the calories per day for a healthy adult dog. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram.

Dog's weight	Calories per day (neutered)	Calories per day (not neutered)	Dry food per day (approximate)
25 kg	1,250 kcal	1,410 kcal	310–400 g
32 kg	1,510 kcal	1,700 kcal	380–490 g
40 kg	1,780 kcal	2,000 kcal	440–570 g

Split the food into two meals a day to reduce the risk of bloat.
Do not let it run right after a meal.
In sighthounds the ribs are easy to see; what matters is that it is not too thin.

Foods to avoid

Some human foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sweetener used in chewing gum), macadamia nuts and alcohol.

Reproduction and development

Physical and emotional maturity

In dogs, sexual maturity usually comes between 6 and 12 months, but in large breeds it can be delayed until about two years. Very large breeds become adults only at around 2 years.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days, counted from ovulation. Mating a female on her first heat is not recommended. The FCI standard requires that only healthy dogs of typical breed appearance are used for breeding.

Caring for the puppies

In large breeds, a litter has around 7 puppies on average. The puppies grow very fast, so they need growth food suited to large breeds. Socialisation starts in the first weeks.

Interesting facts

It hunted wolves too. It was also used for wolf hunting.
The dog of nobles. It was the favourite of the Polish nobility.
Not related to the Greyhound. Wikipedia says that, despite its name, it is not a direct relative of the Greyhound.
Recorded since the 13th century. It has been present in Poland for more than 700 years.
Painted by Kossak. Juliusz Kossak painted it hunting in 1890.