Polish Tatra Sheepdog vs Phung San - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Tatra Mountain Sheepdog, Polish Mountain Sheepdog or the Polski Owczarek, the Polish Tatra Sheepdog comes from Poland.

Shepherds were wanting an excellent guard dog for their livestock, and this dog has a natural instinct for guarding. Apart from being a good protection dog, the dog is also a superb companion.

This is a rare dog breed and not recognized by the AKC. This is actually an ancient breed, and the dog has lived in the Polish mountains for thousands of years. When the breed actually came about hasn’t been recorded. Some people suggest the Tatra Sheepdog comes from the Mastiff dog.

After the World Wars the dog’s number had been reduced and the Federation Cynologique Internationale started breeding the dog in the 1960s.

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.

If you bring a Polish Tatra Sheepdog puppy into your home you might think you had a gorgeous Polar Pear Cub roaming around – that’s how cute they are.

These are large, well built white coated dogs and the average height for them as an adult is between 60 to 70cm, male and female. Weight of the dog is between 36 and 60kg.

The double coat is medium length and thick. The ears are medium length and floppy and the tail is long and carried low when the dog is at rest, but it is carried up and over the back when the dog is alert and watchful.

Temperament:

These dogs have a lot of characteristics that make it such a good guardian dog. He is territorial, bold, protective, loyal and always loving towards his human family.

The Tatra has a loud bark and he uses this when he is wary of anything that he thinks may harm his family. He is an intelligent dog too, and you won’t have any trouble training and socializing him.

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.

These large sheepdogs have always been guard dogs – they were bred to guard sheep and have always spent a lot of time on their own, away from humans.

To many people, he may seem to be somewhat aloof and independent, but for people looking for a guard dog, this particular characteristic is particularly appealing.

Nonetheless, brought up with lots of love and care he makes the most devoted, loving pet.

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.

While your Polish Tatra Sheepdog isn’t likely to suffer from any major dog health issues if he is well fed, well exercised and loved, he may well succumb to one or two of some of the typical illnesses there are that plague dogs -

Hip Dysplasia:

This is such a common- and serious problem with dogs, that it bears mentioning. Hip dysplasia is a problem with the hips so that the bones don’t fit- and move properly. The end result for the dog is pain, inflammation and swelling. Your dog is reluctant to play and get up again after lying down. Arthritis can set in which can also be painful. There are treatments to help with managing pain, but in some instances, surgery may be required.

Bloat:

Because the Polish Tatra Sheepdog is a deep chested dog, he is more prone to bloat, which is life threatening. Gas is trapped in the stomach, the stomach twists and the dog has a swollen stomach, is restless and in stress. Immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

Allergic Dermatitis:

This can be debilitating for your dog as he wants to be licking and scratching the whole time. Usually you’ll see this in the paw- and stomach area. There are a range of medications that the vet will suggest.

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.

Exercise:

The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is an energetic dog and this means he will require a large sized garden to run around in. As a large, active dog he isn’t recommended for city living but would suit a large property where he can be well exercised. Because of its size and energy levels, regular walks will be recommended. Provide the dog with stimulating games that will be mentally and physically beneficial.

Grooming:

This large dog sheds, and seasonally too, so he will need to be brushed at least twice a week to prevent loose hair.

Check inside your dog’s ears for infection.

Trim your dog’s nails.

Check your dog for fleas and ticks and check him over for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

Every pet lover wants their dog to live a long, healthy, active life. That is why it is so important to choose the best dog food.

If you buy commercially manufactured dog food, make sure its the high quality ones to ensure its properly formulated to provide your pet with all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Home-made food is also an excellent choice for your pet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots can be very healthy, and you can chop this up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week. This is a super tasty treat. Some raw meat added in occasionally will do him the world of good.

Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

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.