Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Damchi - Breed Comparison

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 exact origin of the Damchi isn’t particularly well documented but those who are interested say that the Damchi actually dates back as far as the 17th century, descending from different ancient Terrier- and Spaniel breeds.

It appears the dog comes from the Himalayan village of Damchi. The former King of Bhutan owned a Damchi and this dog has been featured on one of the country’s postage stamps. Today it is a loved dog in Bhutan, Asia while a few are found in Germany.

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 Damchi is a small to medium breed dog and is part of the toy group. The dog stands up to 43cm tall and can weight 13kg.

His silky coat comes in different colors such as black and white or tan, brown and fawn. He has a lot of long soft fur but its a dog that doesn’t shed much. He has ears which are high set and which flop down and the tail is long and feathery, curling over the back of the dog.

People who know the dog say that they are similar looking to the Tibetan Spaniel, although the Damchi is a bit longer and more sturdy.

Temerament:

Known also as the Bhutan Damchi or Bhutanese Damchi, the Damchi is an active dog that is intelligent and devoted to its human family, although he is known to be aloof with strangers.

Known for his playful, jaunty nature, he is a small dog that is full of character, wanting to be with- and to please his human family. Sweet and gentle, he gets on well with children and pets in the home and will turn out to be a good watchdog too.

They are intelligent dogs and easy to train and will easily respond to tasks given to him. He will benefit from being trained and socialized. He becomes obedient and will easily adapt to life in the city or the country, so long as he is close to his human family, providing them with ongoing entertainment.

He is a social, friendly breed that can suffer with separation anxiety and he will simply pine away if he is left in the backyard and ignored.

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.

The Damchi dog is such a robust, amicable little canine friend for anyone who appreciates his characteristics. Loving, loyal, social and friendly, the Damchi is one hang of a little dog.

He is fairly low maintenance, he won’t eat you out of the house and he isn’t a sickly dog. When you think of all the wonderful years of friendship he offers, anyone who chooses him won’t have one single regret.

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.

The Damchi is known to be a robust dog who doesn’t suffer from many health problems, but there are some common health issues that are good to know about so that you can get your pet some help.

Some of the common health problems are hip dysplasia, hypoglycemia, brachycephalic airway syndrome, epilepsy and dental disease.

Hypoglycemia:

A drop in blood sugar can be brought on by stress and this condition is more prevalent in toy breeds. If you find your Damchi lethargic, battling to walk properly or shivering, be aware of this drop in blood sugar as it can send your little dog into a fatal coma.Get him to the vet immediately.

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.

The Damchi is an active breed, who loves to be involved with everything his family is involved in. He will need to be provided with games and exercise as he is full of beans and will just love to go with you on your walks. Indoors or outdoors, he is always looking out for a game.

Grooming:

The Damchi has a long coat and to keep it silky and shiny it will require brushing twice a week to ensure no tangles and matting.

Dental disease is more prevalent in small dogs so prevent plaque build-up by ensuring you brush your pets teeth 2 or 3x a week.

Diet:

Your Damchi might have entertained you so much you may want to just give him one treat after the next. Be careful of feeding a small dog too much as a leaner dog lives a healthier, longer life free of many diseases.

Make sure you have your pet with you for 12, 13 or 14 years by ensuring he gets a bowl of nutritious food according to his size and age. With a well planned diet which consists of kibble, some home-made food such as brown rice, vegetables and chicken you’ll be doing your pet a tremendous favor by promoting good health. Never leave your pet without a bowl of fresh, cool water.