- little:
-
-
-
- much:
-
-
-
-
-
The Polish Bracke, also called Ogar Polski in its country of origin, is a Polish hunting dog that is now also kept as a family dog or therapy dog. It is medium sized, with brown and black fur, and very friendly – if a little stubborn.
Breed Description
Despite its original purpose as a hunting dog, the Polish Barecke is a calm and composed dog that lets little faze it.
She gets along with small children as well as with old people. However, as a classic hunting and working dog, she needs a lot of exercise, which she demands persistently.
So you should be active by nature and love long walks if you want to get a Polish Bracke.
The medium sized dogs of the Polish Bracke breed are never nervous, rest within themselves and do not become aggressive. They enjoy doing things together with their human and your family.
The Ogar Polski is cuddly, in need of a cuddle and seeks and likes physical contact between man and dog. The great people-pleasing nature that the Polish Bracke brings to the table makes it an ideal therapy dog.
Its strong, comparatively heavy body nestles gently and can achieve good results with children, old and sick people just through physical contact and loving affection.
Children are no problem at all in dealing with the Polish Bracke. It is tolerant, good-natured, does not let itself be annoyed and plays along perseveringly also strenuous games.
Origin And History Of The Breed
Where the Polish Bracke really came from in the end is difficult to trace today. However, researchers have traced certain lines back to the Hubertushund breed (also known as Bloodhound ).
The Polish Bracke, which is related to the Russian Bracke, was probably bred for hunting use by Polish and Russian hunters and farmers as early as the Middle Ages.
A first mention of the Polish Bracke in literature can be dated to the 17th century, after which the breed disappears in the darkness of the numerous wars and conflicts that took place on the territory of today’s Poland and the west of the Russian Empire until well into the 20th century.
It can be assumed that due to the long and cultivated tradition of hunting with hounds in Poland, breeders were always selectively breeding the Polish Bracke, although never in large numbers.
After the 2nd World War, which had one of its worst and most destructive scenes in Poland, the Polish Bracke was almost extinct on the territory of the then state of Poland. It was not bred further during the war years, the long years of deprivation and hunger had made dog breeding almost impossible.
It was not until 1959 that the Polish dog breeder “z Kresów” succeeded in re-establishing the breeding of Polish hunting dogs, among them the Polish Bracke. in 1964, the FCI established the first breed standard for the Ogar Polski breed.
Since then it has been a firmly established member of the European purebred dog community with the standard number 52 in the group of running dogs, bloodhounds and related breeds.
In Western Europe or the USA, however, the Polish Bracke is still almost unknown, so here prospective buyers must have plenty of time and good contacts. In Germany, however, not only since the end of the Cold War, it enjoys growing popularity due to its friendly nature and its ideal suitability as a family dog.
Appearance Of The Polish Bracke
The Polish Bracke is a running dog, so it has a compact and strong build which gives it a lot of endurance. Endurance and muscular strength have a clear advantage over speed and agility. With a weight of 32 kg and a height of 55 to 65 cm at the withers, it can definitely be called a heavy dog.
The extremely advantageously proportioned limbs, which the Polish Bracke knows how to use with great surefootedness, give it an extremely athletic constitution and long-distance ability. It is very likely that your Polish Bracke has far more stamina than you do for long walks at a fast pace.
Her exceptionally beautiful coat of reddish brown and black beautifully accentuates her well-proportioned, strong body – the Polish Bracke is a stately, handsome dog. Her thick, medium-length coat has a dense undercoat, growing slightly longer along the back, on the tail, and on the hind legs.
The head to the sides of the skull, the limbs and the sternum are always rusty brown in color, there is a clear definition for the two colors and the color distribution. The black to dark gray color portion is similar to a coat over the torso of the dog and sometimes reaches the head, but never to the bridge of the nose.
Among Polish hounds, the name “podzary” was also known, referring to the “black coat” worn by the Polish Bracke. The bright reddish brown can vary from dog to dog, a cinnamon hue is considered a particularly prized shade among breed connoisseurs and Polish Bracke breeders.
White markings around the muzzle or nose in the form of a star or flame to the chest are tolerated by breed standards, and white tail tips and feet are also not reasons to consider a Polish Bracke not a purebred.
Other distinctive characteristics of the breed are the low-set, long, rounded ears that fall freely when moved and flap when shaken and in the wind.
The eyes are slanted in the well-shaped skull and are dark brown in color with a gentle and calm expression that fits very well with the Ogar Polski’s temperament.
Character And Nature
As previously described, the Polish Bracke has an exceptionally balanced and calm character. It is playful but not wild, calm but not tired or listless, its balanced temperament allows it to get along well with all people and dogs, but it also knows how to defend itself when attacked thanks to its strength and weight.
Towards people, the Polish Bracke is so open-minded that it is used not only as a family companion, but also as a therapy dog. For example, in the care of people suffering from dementia, it can achieve excellent results due to its calm disposition and its powerful way of instilling confidence through touch and cuddling.
However, the calm and serene temperament of the Polish Bracke should not be confused with indifference of character or unconditional docility.
Even though the Polish Bracke has an even temperament, it still has a mind of its own with its own ideas, which it also knows how to assert.
Therefore, you should always keep in mind that the Polish Sheepdog makes its own decisions unless you can convince it otherwise through good training with a lot of praise and mutual respect.
Husbandry And Diet
Attitude
The Polish Sheepdog has a heavy athletic constitution – it has a lot of muscle mass, which will increase and develop if the dog is kept in an animal-friendly way with many and long walks and physical activity, for example in agility or other dog sports.
Therefore, in addition to sufficient exercise, a diet with protein-rich dog food, either in dry form or as wet food is very important.
It is up to you to decide whether your Polish Shepherd should be fed dry or wet food, but it is important that it contains a high percentage of meat and, if possible, no grain at all.
These can cause intolerances and are ultimately not necessarily dog-friendly food. A little raw beef now and then, a chewy bone or a dental care treat will round out your Polish Bracke’s diet.
Of course, as a true hunting dog, the Polish Bracke loves to have to fight and run for food a bit.
Education And Care
Education
In addition to the already described very calm and friendly character of the Polish Bracke, it definitely has its own head, which it also knows how to assert thanks to physical strength and inner calmness.
The education should therefore be affectionate, but also consistent. As a hunting dog, the Polish Bracke also has a pronounced drive; in the woods and on walks, it should therefore not be let off the leash carelessly and should be trained beforehand so that it can hear reliably.
Care
Thanks to the short hair of the Polish Bracke, the subject of coat care is extremely uncomplicated. It sheds moderately, but a regular look at the condition of the teeth and the condition of the paws is important.
If the toenails of the Polish Bracke become too long, they must be trimmed. How often this needs to be done also depends a bit on how long and on what surfaces the Polish Bracke usually walks.
Health And Typical Diseases
The Polish Bracke is one of the few extremely healthy dog breeds. Due to the late and responsibly carried out breeding, only a few hereditary diseases are known with her, which do not occur anymore in most of the breedings.
However, due to the body size and weight, problems such as hip dysplasia, joint problems due to osteoarthritis and wear and tear, and back problems can occur as the dog ages.
Overall, by keeping the dog in an animal-friendly manner with plenty of exercise and muscle-building agility exercises, the health of the Polish Bracke and its skeleton can be maintained for a long time.
Life Expectancy Of The Polish Bracke
Thanks to its robust constitution and perhaps its calm temperament, the Polish Bracke reaches an age of about 14 years, which is high for its size.
Buying A Polish Bracke Dog Breed
If you decide to buy a Polish Bracke, you should look for a suitable breeder. You can recognize serious breeders by the fact that they are members of an association for the preservation of your breed, in this case the Polish Bracke, and if possible they have a long experience.
Even a first impression of the breeding facility can give you an important picture: Do the dogs have room to play, is everything clean and well-maintained, and does it not smell excessively of the animals’ droppings? Then you have already gained a good first impression.
When choosing your Polish Bracke, it is important to have all health certificates, veterinary reports and vaccination records.
If possible you should also have a look at the parents: A reputable breeder will not deny you this wish. The parents should be well-balanced, healthy and not fearful. If everything is in order, nothing stands in the way of buying your Polish Bracke from this breeder.
Decision Support
Who decides for a Polish Bracke, also makes a decision for long and very persistent walks. It is therefore not a dog for the city center or a small apartment but needs at least a city forest or better yet a forest area to meet its need for exercise
From her calm and balanced disposition, she is ideal as a family dog, gets along very well with children and is an ideal companion for young and old, conveying calmness and security even in difficult situations.
if you are active, like to be in nature and love long walks, the Polish Bracke is the ideal dog for you. Also dog beginners get along well with the gentle and calm disposition, certain independence must be granted to the dog and can be kept by a good education in tolerable limits.
