Breeds / Large
Polish Tatra Sheepdog puppies
Calm, quiet and independent, alert and naturally protective without being noisy about it. Gentle with children in their own household and usually reliable with other family animals.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Poland
- Adult weight Not published
- Adult weight in pounds Not published
- Adult height 60 to 70 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Long double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years
- Good with children Usually good
- Good with other dogs Usually good
About the Polish Tatra Sheepdog
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog, or Owczarek Podhalanski, is the white flock guardian of the Podhale region in the Tatra mountains of southern Poland. This is a large heavily coated dog: males stand 65 to 70 cm and bitches 60 to 65 cm, with a long, thick, straight or slightly wavy outer coat over a profuse undercoat, a rich ruff at the neck and a flag on the tail, uniformly white throughout. Like other mountain guardians they form their own opinions.
They suit a rural home with real boundaries. Long daily walks and space to patrol matter more to them than structured exercise, and a bored one barks. Weekly brushing holds the coat together, with daily work through the spring moult. They are gentle with children and other animals they live with but reserved with visitors. The common misjudgement is buying one as a large family pet and then being caught out by the guarding behaviour.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Polish Tatra Sheepdog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
No club or veterinary reference we could reach publishes a breed specific health list for the Polish Tatra Sheepdog. Ask the breeder which conditions they screen for and for the results on both parents in writing, and ask your own vet what to watch for.
Your Polish Tatra Sheepdog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Polish Tatra Sheepdog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Not published adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
More on the Polish Tatra Sheepdog
Previous: Polish Lowland Sheepdog · Next: Pomapoo
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- wisdompanel.com for life expectancy and energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
- fci.be for health notes
No published figure for adult weight, so nothing is shown rather than a guess.
Photo: Kessy13, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.