Chart Polski (Polish Greyhound)

Sighthound & Pariah Dog Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Chart Polski is an ancient, short haired sighthound. Its presence in Poland has been attested to in literature since the 13th Century. The breed probably originated from the Asiatic sighthounds that were of Saluki type. The breed was historically used for hunting hare, fox, roe-deer, bustard and wolf.

The Chart Polski was recognized by the United Kennel Club January 1, 1996.

General Appearance

The Polish Greyhound is a dog of great size and commanding appearance, definitely stronger, more muscular and heavier boned than the other short-haired sighthounds. His strong frame, well-defined musculature and powerful jaws show him to be a hunting dog capable of working in the difficult conditions of the Polish country and climate. Though large and strong, he must never be overdone to the point of heaviness or lethargy.

Characteristics

The Chart Polski is self assured, confident, reserved and brave. He is a fast, skillful and untiring hunter and has a lively and penetrating gaze.

Head

The head is long, lean and strong, with the muzzle as long as, or slightly longer than, the skull, and their top lines slightly divergent in profile. The skull and muzzle blend cleanly together at the sides of the head and there is a slight stop.

SKULL

The upper part of the skull is flat. There is a slight frontal furrow, and the frontal bones and eyebrows are lightly marked.

MUZZLE

The muzzle is very strong in front of the eyes. It tapers slightly towards the tip, but in no way appears to be pointed; instead it is rather blunt for a sighthound. The position of the nose is somewhat below the upper line of the muzzle. The lips are well defined, but clean and never pendulous. They do not cover the lower jaw.

TEETH

The Chart Polski has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or even bite.

Faults: Overshot, undershot or missing more than the first premolars.

NOSE

The nose is large and dark, projecting above the lips.

Fault: Incomplete pigment.

EYES

The eyes are rather large, almond in shape, and set obliquely. In color, they range from dark brown to amber, depending on the color of the coat. Dark eyes are desirable. The characteristic expression is very important; it must be lively and penetrating.

Fault: Protruding eyes. Incomplete pigment of the eyerims.
Serious Faults: Tiny or triangular shaped eyes.

EARS

Medium size, quite narrow and set at eye level. When pulled forward, the tip easily reaches to the inner corner of the eye. The ear cartilage is soft and gives the impression that the ears are fleshy. Ear carriage may be erect, tipped, rose or folded back.

Fault: Drop ears that hang flat against the sides of the head.

Neck

The neck is long, muscular and powerful. It is oval in profile, and rises gently from the withers. The head carriage is rather high, but at rest the Polish Greyhound carries the head slightly lower than the Greyhound.

Faults: Short or weak neck. Excessively high or low head carriage.

Forequarters

The forequarters are well angulated.

FORELEGS

The forelegs are long, lean, strong and parallel to one another, but not too far apart. The distance from the elbow to the ground should be slightly greater than the distance from the top of the withers to the elbow. The pasterns are slightly oblique.

Body

Short coupled, with the distance from the point of shoulder to the point of the buttocks just slightly greater than the distance from the top of the withers to the ground. When the dog is free standing, the withers and the highest point of the croup should be at equal heights. The chest is spacious and well let down, preferably to the point of the elbow. The ribs are well sprung, arched but not barrel shaped. The ribs are long and slope backward. The topline is level to the loin, where it is slightly arched. In the female, an almost straight topline through the loin is not a fault. The loin is wide and muscular and the croup gently slanting, long, muscular and wide. The hipbones must be wide apart.

Hindquarters

The hind legs are long and muscular, and the hindquarter is quite well angulated. Seen from behind, the legs should be parallel, but not set as wide apart as in the Greyhound.

Feet

Oval in shape with tight, well arched toes.

Tail

The feathered tail is long and strong at the base. It should have a sickle shape at the tip, or even a complete ring. When at rest, the tail may hang fairly straight down. In motion, the tail is carried up, but the base should not be higher than the level of the loin.

Faults: Tail completely curled over the back, or carried sideways.

Coat & Skin

The coat is springy to the touch, rather harsh, but not wire-haired. Shortest on the belly and legs, the coat may be of variable lengths on the rest of the body. On the buttocks and tail, the hair is longest, but still harsh, and forms a modest breeching and brush. The skin is close fitting and elastic.

Color

Immaterial.

Height and Weight

Ideal height for males is from 27.5 inches to 31.5 inches at the withers. For females, it is 26.5 inches to 29.5 inches. Sizes larger than this are acceptable as long as general balance and proportion are maintained. A slightly smaller dog is permitted if otherwise of outstanding quality.

Gait

Flowing and energetic. The front and rear quarters should be angulated to produce a long stride at both the walk and the trot. Single tracking of the hind legs at slow speeds is not a fault.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.