PON stands for Polksi Owczarek Nizinny, (Pole-ski Ov-char-ek Knee-zee-knee) which translates as Polish Lowland Sheepdog. Some people refer to the breed as the Polish Owczarek Nizinny, or just Nizinnies It is a herding dog, related to the Hungarian Puli, the French Labri, the Dutch Schapendoes , the Bouvier de Flandres, the Old English Sheepdog and the Bearded Collie.

Herding dogs have been known in Europe since the Middle Ages. But World War II devastated several breeds, including the PON. A Polish veterinarian named Dr. Danuta Hryniewicz dedicated her life to bringing the breed back after the war. Still, the PON remains a rare breed, with only about 2000 in North America. The Bearded Collie, native to Scotland, is the PON's closest relative. Poland traded with Scotland in the 1600s; PONs were crossed with the Rough Collie (Lassie-type dog) to create the Beardie. But their temperaments are quite different. Because the British Isles didn't have fenced enclosures until about 100 years ago, Beardies were bred to run the perimeter of the flock to keep it together. In continental Europe, where fences were more common, the sheepdog's job was to guard and warn rather than to actively patrol the flock. Which is why PONs are a much lower energy breed than their Scottish cousins. Think of a PON as a Beardie on Prozac.

One dog book says, bluntly, PONs are "not elegant." For style, you're better off with a Whippet or Afghan Hound. PONs look like Muppets. They are stocky, shaggy, and funny-looking. They come in all colours, but are most commonly white, black or brown, or some combination of the three. Puppies born black can change colour - all the way to pure white. Their tails are docked at birth, although many European countries have outlawed docking on all breeds. A PON's undocked tail can be long and feathery, or short and ratty (the variety is perhaps why docking was begun - to keep the look uniform). An adult male PON can be from 17 to 20 inches high ( 45 cm to 50 cm) and weighs between 30 and 50 lbs (15 to 25 kgs). The females tend to be smaller. Some PONs bred in the United States are considerable larger, with longer legs and more weight.

A clown, a goof, a jester. A PON doesn't just look like a Muppet, he acts like one too. One PON owner says, "First they steal your heart. Then they steal your underwear..."

They are clever and stubborn and need a strong authority. The problem is that they're so cute, it's hard to be tough with them. PONs need a flock to protect. They will herd kids, cats, other dogs. They are loyal to a fault, very good guardians (their tendency to warn by barking maybe a problem for some people, but they rarely attack unless extremely provoked). The females tend to be more aggressive than the males, who can be quite timid. PONs are very adaptive: there are PONs who are working dogs on sheep ranches in Montana, PONs who are agility and flyball champions, and PONs who live in city apartments and are content with two visits to a neighbourhood park a day and long snoozes in between.

The secret to raising a PON is to let him know from the very beginning what kind of life he'll be leading. A PON puppy needs to be exposed to children, other animals, traveling, crowds, street life, etc. Problem PONs are ones who have been isolated at first and then expected to get along in unfamiliar situations.

No. Honest. They have hair, not fur. And as a result they are hypoallergenic. Their hair comes out only on a brush or comb (enough to knit a sweater).

Yes. A thorough brushing or comb out every few days keeps a PON in good shape. If their coats are neglected, they tend to mat. PON owners do not shave their dogs down as a rule, unless the coat is severely matted. (PONs do not suffer in the heat any more than short-haired dogs).

A bath once a month is usually enough - too frequent bathing can dry out their skin. A good relationship with a professional groomer is a wise choice. But not all groomers know how to deal with a PON - one came home looking like a Schnauzer! Many groomers want to clip; find one who's not scissor-happy. A PON needs to have his toenails clipped regularly, his anal glands expressed, his ears cleaned and the area immediately under the eyes trimmed so that hair doesn't grow right into his eyeballs. And, yes, they can see through the bangs, so resist cutting them off. There is one theory (unproven) that sheepdogs will go blind if they don't have the hair to protect them from the sun. It may also be a good idea to thin out the hair around the anus, so that excrement doesn't get stuck in the hair.

Do fish swim?

As much or as little as you can give them. They will run a marathon with you, or be happy just to accompany you around the block. Are they intelligent/ trainable? Too intelligent. One PON owner says, "You can get a PON to do whatever he wants to do." Unlike some breeds who will do anything to please their masters (such as a Golden Retriever), PONs will happily run the show if you let them. "Here's my butt. Scratch it. Now." They need to be constantly reminded who's the boss.

The positive side is that they love to show off their brains. Which makes them very trainable indeed. They learn tricks quickly - but also decide for themselves if some things are simply beneath their dignity. "Sure, I can flip a cookie off my nose and catch it. But why would I want to? What do you think I am? A Jack Russell?"

PONs also have excellent memories. There are lots of stories of a PON finding a ball he lost in park three days ago, running up to the door of a house he has visited previously, remembering his way around a property he hasn't been to in a year. One PON will not allow her owner to go to sleep if a light has been left on in the kitchen. Owners insist their dogs can count (is a sheep missing from the flock?) and tell time. PONs take very well to crate training.

Anything, if you let them. PONs love to eat and are not very picky. However, they do have definite nutritional requirements. Because there was very little meat in Poland after the war, Dr. Hryniewicz brought her pups up on cottage cheese and potatoes. Most owners have found that their dogs do best on a low protein, high-fibre diet.

Fortunately, PONs love vegetables and fruit. They think a raw carrot or a red pepper is as good as a dog biscuit. Quite a few owners find feeding their dogs homemade meals is cheap and easy: rice, steamed broccoli, beans, carrots, peas. A tablespoon of yoghurt or cottage cheese, an occasional raw egg, some chicken broth.

If you prefer the convenience of commercial dog food, try to find one with a low protein content (4 - 5% for wet food, 10 - 12 % for dry). Some owners have discovered that for a problem condition such as itchy skin, the solution is as simple as reducing the protein in the PON's diet. Pigs' ears and other fatty treats can result in diarrhea.

A warning about puppy food: most brands recommend keeping the dog on puppy food for a full year. This is not a good idea with a PON because he may become overweight on the enriched food in the long run. Four to six months of puppy food is plenty. Also, many PONs love to help themselves - perhaps its because of all those years they had to scrounge in postwar Poland. Assume your PON is a food thief and arrange your kitchen accordingly.

One notorious PON has eaten a whole cantaloupe, a zucchini bread covered in Saran wrap (with the Saran wrap), a box of chocolates, a 1/2 lb. bag of chocolate chips (he survived both incidents, despite the fact that chocolate is poisonous for dogs), a package of Halloween cupcakes (including the little plastic skeletons on top), uncounted sticks of butter, a chicken left out to defrost and an entire can of catfood (he bit through the can and sucked all the contents out).

PONs are of solid, peasant stock: robust, strong and stoic about pain or discomfort. Because they are a rare and unrecognised breed, they are not (at this point) overbred for some characteristics at the expense of others. There have been cases of a hip dysplasia, eye problems and individual incidents of heart disease and brain disorder in a few dogs. But on the whole, health problems are quite rare in the breed. A reputable breeder will have his or her pups certified for hips and eyes.

Because the breed is still so new in North America, the first generation of PONs here is just dying off. That means that life expectancy is about 12 to 14 years, but at this point the evidence is primarily anecdotal. Are they recognized as a breed? Yes, they have recently been recognized by both the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club. The Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York Wecomed the first PON to show there (in the herding group) in 2002.

A PON is not cheap. Average price is $2,000 to $2,500 (U.S.). Canadian prices are a bit lower. Champions purchased for breeding can be considerably more expensive. PONs are in danger of becoming quite chic.

Heck, even Ralph Lauren has one!