Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Phung San - 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 Phung San, Pungsan or ‘Poongsan dog’ is native to Korea. Outside of Korea, this dog is virtually unheard of.

The origin of the dog goes back to the 16th century, but there aren’t many records of where the breed descended from. Some dog experts believe the breed descends from Siberian Laika dogs while others say they are a mix of Mastiff and Herding breeds. It is believed that the Pungsan has been used for hunting large predators.

It was during the Japanese occupation of North Korea that the breed was declared a national treasure.

The Phung San isn't recognized by any major 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.

This is a Spitz-type dog and it is considered to be medium to large size. He is an athletic, muscular dog with a deep chest standing at 57 to 60cm in height and weighing roughly between 25 and 30kg.

The legs are nice and straight, the ears erect and the bushy tails curls up over the back.The head is fairly triangular in shape, the nose is black and the eyes are brown, bright and alert.

The coat is thick and comes in different shades of white and cream.

Temperament:

These dogs are such loyal, devoted pets. They’re independent dogs and will benefit from being trained and socialized. With this kind of training they can get on well with children in the home. They can be quite snooty with strangers but they’re good watchdogs.

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 Phung San dog is a strong-willed dominant type of dog, and training and socialization will do him the world of good in terms of making him obedient and well mannered. He is loyal, faithful and loving and protects and guards those he loves.

Some people say these dogs aren’t a good choice for novice dog owners, but dogs essentially turn out the way their owners are. The right upbringing will ensure your Pungsan Dog is a good pet for new owners and for families with children.

Do research and you’ll see that these beautiful dogs make splendid pets and companions.

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.

Able to get to 13 or 14 years of age, the Pungsan dog enjoys good health, but there are some dog diseases that it is good to be aware of -

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip Dysplasia can mean no more games for your pet. It’s a disease that can have a large impact on your pet’s quality of life. It’s not reserved for old dogs either but it affects medium to large breed dogs.

Diet, weight of dog, genetics and environmental factors can all cause hip dysplasia, and while the symptoms are often subtle at first, you’ll see a limp starting and your dog holding his leg up off the ground. The severity of symptoms can change from day to day but the pain can be severe and you will need to get your pet to the vet.

Entropion:

This is an eye problem where the eyelids roll too far inwards and then scrape on the surface of the eye, possibly leading to corneal scarring and painful eye infections.

Bloat:

This is a life threatening illness where the stomach bloats up with gas and the stomach can actually twist. Your pet will be restless, panting and acting out of character and absolutely no time should be wasted getting your pet to the vet.

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.

Exercise:

This is an active, energetic dog that will require some vigorous physical activity each day. While a walk is an excellent form of exercise, he will need something more hectic. You can take him to the park and allow him to run free off his leash, take him with you on your hikes and play ball- or frisbee games with him.

Grooming:

Your Pungsan sheds quite a bit because the fur is thick and you will need to have him brushed at least twice a week. Turn this brushing session into a proper grooming session. There are several things to check during these brushing sessions which your pet will love -

Run your hands over him and check for any unusual lumps.

Look inside his mouth and check his teeth. Your pet can’t tell you that there is a rotting tooth causing tremendous pain and illness.

Check the inside of his ears and make sure they aren’t red and clogged with excess wax and debris. There are ways to clean them and if you don’t know how or you don’t want to, allow a professional groomer to check his teeth, inside his ears and also trim his nails.

Make sure he has an excellent diet. There are some really good commercially manufactured dog foods that have the right balance of vitamins and minerals in them. Give him some home-made food too. Nothing exotic and spicy – just wholesome, simple food that won’t upset his stomach – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Mix these into his kibble from time to time. Once in a while you can also give him some raw meat. Make sure he has easy access to fresh, cool water.