The UK, known for its diverse array of dog breeds, has officially embraced a newcomer into its ranks. The Polish Hunting Dog has been granted recognition by The Kennel Club, securing its place in the Hound Group on the Imported Breed Register. With this recognition, the Polish Hunting Dog becomes the 223rd breed to be acknowledged in Britain.
Originally bred in the 13th century for hunting in the Polish countryside, the Polish Hunting Dog is characterized as a medium-sized hound with a lighter build. Renowned for its keen sense of smell, this breed is described as highly intelligent and active. Historically, these hounds were utilized for hunting various game in Poland’s deep forests and rugged mountains, including deer, boar, and wisent.
The breed’s refinement and acceptance into the Polish Cynological Association and the Federation Cynologique Internationale were spearheaded by Jozef Pawuslewicz, a Polish breeder, hunter, and cynologist, in the 1970s. Even today, the Polish Hunting Dog remains a popular choice for hunters across Europe, valued for its versatility in hunting different sizes of game.
The process of recognizing a new breed involves an established breed club or group submitting a request for recognition to The Kennel Club. This request is accompanied by evidence demonstrating sufficient numbers of dogs that meet an approved breed standard, which outlines the breed’s appearance, health, and temperament.
The recognition of the Polish Hunting Dog marks a milestone in the realm of pedigree dogs, with the last breed to receive recognition being the Smooth Faced Pyrenan Sheepdog in 2021. The Kennel Club now recognizes a total of 223 pedigree dog breeds. The news of this latest recognition has elicited excitement and praise from dog enthusiasts on social media, who eagerly anticipate seeing this “magnificent” breed.
