Mary Allen
Chart Polski dogs in their current form were kept at Polish courts long before modern breed breeding began. The long-established hounds are more robust and fearless than other sighthound breeds and come in all colors. Not every household is suitable for keeping such a Polish giant, which measures up to 80 cm at the withers and rarely weighs more than 32 kg.
Chart Polski Characteristics – Pretty Tough for a Greyhound
The Polish runners share many characteristics with their putative ancestors, the Asian Salukis. Like all sighthounds, they are long-legged and narrowly built, with a strongly tucked-up belly line. Males reach a height at the withers of between 70 and 80 cm. Bitches are slightly smaller and reach a size of 68-75 cm. A specific weight is not specified. They are very light for their size and weigh an average of around 25 to 32 kilograms.
Differences from other sighthound breeds
- As with many breeds such as Greyhound or Borzoi, the head is strong, dry, and long. Males have a slightly longer snout than females. The muzzle is about as long as the skull, in some cases even longer, which is not considered a breeding fault. The skull is flat with little emphasis on the eyebrows or forehead. The muzzle and skull form straight lines on the sides without any visible transition.
- Chart Polski’s ears and eyes are on the same level. According to the FCI, the medium-sized ears are “fleshy” and are usually carried close to the back. When excited, they can be set up.
The protruding nose is always dark, at best black. The muzzle tapers only slightly towards the tip so that it appears rather blunt in comparison to Mediterranean greyhound types. Jaws and teeth are particularly strong and predestined for hunting. - The strong neck carries the head very upright, which is also typical for sighthounds of the oriental type. The topline is straight, with the withers and croup at about the same level.
- Sternum and ribs are long and pronounced, but not barrel-shaped.
- Legs are long, strong, and dry with tight toes that are slightly arched.
- The tail is long, thin, and lightly feathered. At the end it forms a crescent shape; the approach is relatively strong.
Coat and Colors: Easy to care for, but not bristly
The breed’s short and rather hard coat comes in all colors. Longer trousers and brushes form only on the back of the hind legs and on the tail.
These colors occur
- Black and Tan: Black with red to yellow markings on chest, muzzle, eyebrows, belly, anus, and legs.
- Black with white markings on the chest, legs, belly, or tip of the tail.
- White with spots (black, brown, beige, or gray)
- Solid beige or gray with darker hairs on the back.
- Blue
- brindle
History of the Polish Greyhound
In English-speaking countries, the Chart Polski is also known as the Polish Greyhound. However, a closer relationship is suspected between Chart Polski and Saluki, who originally comes from Iraq. The breed is depicted in Polish paintings as early as the 13th century. The dogs are adapted to the cool weather in Poland and are heavier and more aggressive compared to other greyhounds.
Royal origin of greyhounds
Greyhounds are also one of the oldest breeds in the world. Dogs with the typical long legs, flat forehead, and narrow bodies were already kept in ancient Egypt (Team) and have been used for hunting and as house guards ever since. Different breeds of the group developed in many regions of the world, adapting to the weather conditions in their homeland.
Tasks of the persistent hunting dog
- Small game hunting (hares, weasels, foxes)
- Small game hunting (roe deer, wild boar, wolves)
- To this day, the Chart Polski is used in coursing (dog racing).
Nature and Character of Polish Greyhounds
According to the breed standard, the Chart Polski reacts “quickly and violently” in action, while at the same time being reserved towards its owner and very obedient. The Chart Polski is a natural when it comes to hunting and is not afraid to take on larger and more dangerous opponents such as wolves. With its strong teeth, it can grip firmly and it is incredibly fast – if your dog runs away and pursues a game, it is bad for the animal being pursued. You should therefore definitely take out liability insurance for a sighthound and always check the condition of the leash.