Polish Hound
POH-lish hound
Poland· Poland
The Polish Hound, known locally as the Ogar Polski, is a heavily built scenthound developed for trailing deer, boar and hare through dense forest.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Large
Exercise needs
2 hours+ per day
Home size suited to
Large
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Yes
Lifespan
11-13 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Large
Where it comes from
Origins of the Polish Hound
Poland's large tracts of dense lowland forest called for a heavily built, tenacious hound able to trail big game such as boar and deer over rough ground for long periods, working closely with hunters on foot in difficult, thickly wooded terrain.
- Region
- Poland
- Climate it was bred for
- Cold winters, extensive lowland forest
- Original job
- Trailing deer, boar and hare through dense Polish forest
The long read
About the breed
Centuries of use in demanding forest hunting shaped a robust, tenacious dog with great stamina and a deep, resonant voice, valued for its ability to hold a trail on tough quarry such as wild boar.
It is a calm, steady breed at home but retains strong working instincts and needs an experienced, active owner able to provide substantial daily exercise and outlets for scent work.
The breed nearly disappeared during the upheavals of the 20th century and remains rare even in Poland, sustained by a small number of dedicated hunting enthusiasts.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the Polish Hound greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Polish Hound is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Polish Hound's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1500s
Early Polish hunting hounds
Hounds resembling the modern type were used by Polish nobility for big game hunting.
1800s
Refinement for forest work
The breed was further shaped for stamina and tenacity trailing boar and deer.
1900s
Near loss during wartime
The World Wars severely reduced numbers and nearly caused the breed's extinction.
1959
Breed reconstruction
Polish breeders worked to rebuild the population from surviving stock.
1966
FCI recognition
The Ogar Polski was formally recognised under the FCI.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Long, deep-chested and heavily muscled, built for power over stamina-heavy terrain.
- coat
- Short, dense and coarse.
- ears
- Medium length, set moderately high, hanging flat.
- eyes
- Dark brown, calm expression.
- head
- Broad, heavy skull with a pronounced stop and strong muzzle.
- size
- Dogs 58-65cm, bitches 55-62cm
- colour
- Red and white with a black saddle, or tricolour.
- temperament
- Calm, tenacious and steady, with strong working drive on tough quarry.
- general appearance
- A large, heavily built and powerful hound with great stamina, built for demanding forest work.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Polish Hounds added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Polish Hound
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Polish Hound illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Polish Hound Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Polish Hound illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Polish Hound Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Polish Hound illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Polish Hound Mug
Ceramic mug with the Polish Hound illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Car Seatbelt Restraint
Clips any harness to a standard seatbelt buckle.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Polish Hound video
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