Tasy vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Call them Tasy or Tazys these sighthound dogs from Kazakhstan have always been used for hunting. This Turkish dog is thought to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world.

There aren’t many left in the world and the Kazakhstan government is putting steps into action to prevent the dog from becoming extinct.

These dogs are not recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. Their ancestry is unclear, but the dog shares DNA with quite a few similar-looking breeds.

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 slender Tasy is a fairly large dog standing at between 55 to 72 centimeters in height and weighing in the region of 20 – 35g.

The dog has a short, silky coat and can be in a number of colors – fawn, grey, red.The tail is long and thin, the legs long and slender, the muzzle long and thin and the floppy ears are often folded back.

Temperament:

Independent and Intelligent, the Tasy will be easy to train. This is a gentle dog, not looking to get into trouble with other dogs. He gets on well with children and loves human companionship. They are known for their playfulness.

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.

The Tasy is such a beautiful dog and capable of making a splendid family pet and companion.

It is sad that these dog's numbers have dropped so much so that there is concern for its existence.

We hope that the Tasy's breeding programs meet with success and that this slender, attractive dog, such an ancient breed, will take his place firmly as man’s best friend.

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 Tasy is such a beautiful dog, you don’t want to see him getting sick, and yet there are some illnesses and conditions he can succumb to -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds, even slender ones, can be prone to hip dysplasia. This is where the joint’s ball and socket don't fit together properly. For your canine friend it can mean pain and arthritis, and you may find your pet making a huge effort to stand once he is lying down.

Obesity:

Any dog can become overweight, but it is more noticeable in slender-build dogs like the Tasy. Obesity pus unnatural pressure on the joints and it is also linked to other health problems. Every dog needs good food and good exercise.

Do research on other dog problems such as cancer, skin problems and bloat.

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.

Exercise:

The Tasy is a playful, energetic dog and will need to be exercised on a regular basis. He loves a good run and is the kind of dog that won’t do well in a small city property. He is far better suited to life in the country where he can run freely.

Grooming:

The Tazy is looked upon as being low maintenance. It’s always a good idea to get into the habit of brushing your dog’s coat once or twice a week to not only remove loose hairs but to have some bonding time with your pet.

It’s also time to run your hands over the lean body ad to make sure there aren’t any unusual lumps. Look inside his ears and make sure there is no sign of redness to indicate an infection. Remember, if you don’t like to do the grooming part for your pet, professional groomers can do all these things for you as well as trim his nails and clean his teeth.

Diet:

The Tasy is a fairly tall, lean, energetic dog, so if you opt to feed him one of the commercially manufactred dog foods there are, choose one that suits the age, size and energy levels of your pet.

Your dog can get sick if you feed him inferior dog food so read the packaging carefully and make sure its a good brand with vitamins and minerals instead of useless, toxic fillers.

Try to include some simple,home-made food devoid of spices or other exotic things that can give him a stomach ache. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a super healthy choice. Chop it up and feed it to your pet twice a week or so as a tasty treat.

Always make sure that your canine friend has access to fresh, cool water.

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.