Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Kaikadi - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Poland, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is believed to have descended from herding dogs as well as the Puli and Tibetan Terrier.

Later these dogs were bred with local Scottish dogs to bring about Scottish herding dogs, the Bearded Collie. The dog was accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1959. In 2001, the American Kennel Club recognized the Polish Lowland Sheepdog as a breed in the Herding Group.

The Kaikadi or Kai Kadi is a terrier dog, hailing from India. Not much is available on the history of the dog, but today you won't easily find original Kai Kadi in India. This is because they have essentially been mixed with stray dogs of India as well as Pariah.

It is for this reason that the dog isn't recognized as a standardized breed by any of the leading kennel clubs.

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a medium-sized dog. Both males and females stand between 42cm to 50 cm in height and they weigh roughly between 14 and 23kg.

The dog has a double coat which can mostly be white, cream, gray, brown and black. The underdoat is soft and dense with the top coat being straight or wavy and being medium length.

There is quite a bit of hair around the facial area. The eyes are alert and brown and the ears medium size, high set and then drooping down. The tail has always been attractively docked, giving the dog an attractive, compact look but these days it is often just left long.

Temperament:

Lively, bright as a button, clever, social and feisty, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is easy to train, becoming obedient and well balanced. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is such a self confident dog and he will fit happily into life in the city or the countryside, loving spending time with his human family.

These dog have always been used for hunting, guarding and herding in India and today he makes a good watchdog, watching over his human family.

It's not a large dog though and he stands at roughly 35 to 45cm in height and weighs 17 to 21kg. He is lean and muscular, looking similar to the Italian Greyhound or Whippet.

He has a short smooth coat and the color can be patterned white, tan and black. The head is long and thin, as are the legs, and his tail is long and thin too. The floppy ears stand erect when alert.

Temperament:

The Kaikadi is an affectionate, alert, energetic dog. He won't do well in a city environment with a tiny garden as he requires a large garden to run in.

He is a dog that will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient and to get on well with children in the home as well as pets.

He can be a fairly quiet, docile dog inside but outside when there is a game to be had, he becomes lively and animated. They are quite sensitive, so while they get on well with children in the home, he won’t respond well to large families with lots of rowdy, undisciplined children as it makes him anxious.

The PON is an independent, self-willed dog but he can also be entertaining and amusing. He is a social, friendly dog but for many people, his long hair and grooming requirement might prove to be a bit of a handful.

Your dog is energetic, cheerful and playful and when he isn’t around, it will be like some sunshine has gone out of your life. He is faithful and loving towards his human family but is aloof towards strangers. Bring one of these dogs into your home and you’re guaranteed to have a remarkable friend and pet for many years.

Your Kai Kadi loves running and playing outside, after all he has always been a hunting dog. He will love to spend time with you outside playing.

The Kaikadi is a low maintenance dog too. Provide your Kaikadi with everything that makes a dog happy and in exchange you’ll get yourself a loyal, loving pet who wants to be your friend.

These dogs are generally healthy and the dog’s life expectancy is about 12 years. Nonetheless there are some problems to be aware of. For instance, with this dog, hip dysplasia is a real problem.

The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of hundreds of these dogs and found a large percentage were dysplastic.

Hereditary eye disease can also occur with this dog. Macular degeneration is a common eye disorder that can cause central vision loss. Many genetic abnormalities can cause degeneration of the image forming part of the eye. Unfortunately these conditions can result in total blindness. Parts of the retina can also degenerate with age.

Skin allergies are also an ever present threat with your dog. Itchiness and pain can be a nightmare for your pet and scratching and licking brings no relief – just aggravates the condition. You will certainly need to get your pet to the vet as skin allergies and skin diseases can make your beloved canine miserable.

When you’ve got a Kai Kadi, make sure you understand some of the health risks that come along. This is a healthy dog breed so you’re not likely to have much going wrong with him, but you need to know that he can get sick and then you need to have the name of a good vet for medical treatment -

Hypoglycemia:

A sudden drop in blood sugar, which is many times brought on by stress, can make your dog lethargic and even have slight tremors in the face. It could be a hypoglycemic attack. See the vet immediately.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreatitis can become inflamed and your dog could be vomiting, have diarrhea and have abdominal pain. There are quite a few things that can cause pancreatitis such as obesity, infection as well as stress.

Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog is like a big Bear and his long, shaggy coat will require regular brushing, otherwise it could become full of burrs and grass.

Many people prefer to take their dogs to a grooming parlor where the hair is cut, the nails trimmed, the teeth cleaned and the ears checked.

Provide your Sheepdog with a nice warm, dry cozy spot that is his and where he can quietly retreat.

If your Polish Lowland Sheepdog spends time outdoors, make sure he has access to both shade, sun and shelter in case it rains. There must always be a bowl of fresh water outdoors too.

Diet:

It is better to give your adult Polish Lowland Sheepdog 2 smaller helpings of food as opposed to one big bowl. Puppies will need 4 bowls of food a day. Two bowls will ensure your dog doesn’t gobble up his food and create digestive problems and bloat.

High-quality dry dog food will provide a balanced diet, but you want to make it a little more delicious for him occasionally by mixing in chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Just a tad of raw meat occasionally can also be of huge benefit.

Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock. Be sure to keep his food and water dishes clean.

Have your dogs spayed or neutered if you don’t want them to have puppies.

Owning a dog is a responsibility, requiring you to look after a living being just like you would any family member of yours, otherwise why get a dog in the first place?

You may want a dog for watchdog purposes, but as a living creature, it is important to develop a relationship with your pet and to show him that you love and appreciate him.

There are many things to do to ensure you have a healthy, happy 4-legged canine member in your household

Make sure he has fresh, cool water available to him around the clock.

Provide him with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Provide him with wholesome food to maintain health. There are many excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market. Buy one according to the size and energy levels of your pet. Try to sometimes add cooked home-made food into his kibble such as cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables as well as some raw meat from time to time. This diet is guaranteed to keep your pet mentally and physically well.

Check your pets nails, ears and eyes regularly. He should be checked for fleas and ticks when you brush him twice a week. Have him examined by a veterinarian as soon as you suspect something is amiss with him. Keep him up to date with his vaccinations.

The Kaikadi is an energetic dog so make sure that you provide him with the opportunity to be exercised. Take him on walks or hikes, play ball and rope games with him and go swimming with him to ensure he remains lean and muscular.

Have him trained and socialized as it takes off the rough-edges of a dog.