Sarplaninac vs Chart Polski - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Chart Polski dog is a member of the Greyhound family and comes from Poland. He is an old dog breed dating way back to the 1600s.

The dog also goes by other names such as the Polish Sighthound and the Polish Greyhound. The dog looks quite similar to the English Greyhound and has been used as a hunting dog. With his exceptional speed, he has been able to run down prey.

The Chart Polski has always been seen in privileged classes, and after dying out to some extent, it became popular again in the 1970s. It is looked upon as a companion dog essentially while also still being used for hunting in Poland.

Today, the Polish Kennel Club as well as the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and the United Kennel Club recognize the breed.

Hailing from Macedonia, the beautiful Sarplaninac dog was developed as a guardian of livestock and is large enough to fight off large predators like bears and wolves.

Nobody is too sure of the breeds exact origins, though it is thought that its ancestors came to the Balkan Peninsula with people migrating from ancient Asia.

This huge dog is one of the oldest native breeds from ancient Molosser breeds. The dog was recognized in 1939, and in 1954 it became known as the Yugoslav Shepherd Dog. Later the name changed and the dog was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1995.

The Chart Polski looks similar to other sighthound breeds, and is a large breed, standing at between 68-80cm and weighing between 26 and 32kg. He is well muscled, slender and lean.

The face is typically long and narrow, although the muzzle is somewhat blunter than most sighthounds. His coat is short and sleek and can be in colors such as white, tan, black or a combination of these. His eyes are large and dark brown, the ears medium sized and narrow and usually folded back while the tail is long and curved at the tip.

Temperament: 

The Chart Polski’s temperament is somewhat different to most sighthounds and he is thought to be more gentler and evenly tempered. He is loving and affectionate and will form a close bone with his human family.

He is confident, stubborn and strong-willed, and because he has been used for hunting, he has also got some aggressive tendencies towards other animals. He will need training and socialization to ensure he is good around other pets in the home as well as with children.

He becomes obedient and responsive with this training and socialization. He is a territorial breed, being protective around what he considers his own property and will make a good watchdog.

The Sarplaninac is a large, strong, fluffy dog standing at between 54 and 62cm in height and weighing between 30 and 45kg.

The coat of the dog is dense, coarse and of medium length. Colors are different shades of grey, white, tan and black. The head is large, the ears are fairly short but are floppy and covered with short hair. The dog is deep chested and the tail is long, often held high and covered with thick, feathery hair.

Temperament:

Protective, reliable, reserved, stubborn and gentle, this intelligent dog is fairly serious, and while he makes a devoted family pet, he is cool and wary of strangers.

Excellent training and socialization makes him well mannered, balanced and obedient around different people. He will tolerate children but won’t take easily to other pets in the house, capable of becoming aggressive with them.

Your Chart Polski or Polish Greyhound promises to be a loving, devoted pet that fits in well to a family that will give him good exercise and look after him well.

He isn’t as gentle as other hounds and can therefore make a good watchdog too. He is territorial and wants to protect all those he regards as his own.

Train him and socialize him, and you will see that this intelligent, independent and self-confident dog can become obedient and also relaxed around people as well as other pets in the home, making him a splendid pet for those who admire these tall, slender dogs.

These dogs are protective, but they’re not vicious. When properly raised they are wonderful family pets.

True, it’s a large, strong willed dog that isn’t a good choice for the first-time dog owner. They are good with children, but only children who have been taught how to treat animals with care and patience.

This dog is a powerful guardian type of dog, imposing in size, but it’s all about upbringing, and if you bring him up well then he can make a tremendous pet and companion.

The Chart Polski can live to be 10 – 12 years when he gets his full quota of care in terms of good diet, exercise, love and care and a nice dry, warm place to sleep.

He isn’t known to have any specific health issues that could shorten his life, but by knowing about some of the common dog ailments there are, you can watch your pet and even prevent some risks.

Periodontal Disease:

People often think that bad teeth can’t do much harm, but tartar build-up can progress to gum disease, to the roots of the teeth and to damaging other parts of the body such as kidney-, liver- and heart.

Infections:

Bacterial and viral infections are a threat to any dog, and rabies and parvo for instance can take your pet’s life. Remember that terrible diseases such as these can be prevented through having your dog vaccinated.

Parasites:

Dogs are open to getting all kinds of parasites inside- as well as outside on the skin. Hookworm, roundworm, fleas and ticks are examples of these parasites that can get into your pet’s system through dirty food,water and bites from mosquitoes. Some of these parasites can even be transmitted to you.

If your pet is in any way run down, get him to a vet immediately as there is an effective treatment.

The Sarplaninac dog is a robust dog but he can suffer from health issues such as hip dysplasia, obesity, bloat, ear infections and skin allergies.

Obesity:

When your dog gazes up at you with such love in his eyes, don’t be tempted to pop some chocolate into his mouth or let him finish off your ice-cream. Treats like this can damage your pet’s health and give him heat intolerance, breathing difficulties, hypertension, liver disease and diabetes.

The Chart Polski was bred as a hunting dog and to run at top speed to bring down its prey. Today, he is tall and lean and still loves to run, and will therefore require a good deal of exercise.

Don’t let his slender build deceive you because he is powerful and will need a walk every day and be given the opportunity to run. He will happily accompany you when you go running or cycling. Left un-exercised, he will become frustrated and aggressive and even destructive, so as a responsible dog owner, it is up to you to ensure he is well exercised.

Diet:

The Chart Polski is a large breed puppy and they tend to grow fast at first. You want to make sure that he doesn’t put on weight too quickly as this puts them at risk for skeletal development problems later on such as hip- and elbow dysplasia. Speak to your veterinarian about feeding your puppy correctly so that he grows slowly, allowing his bones and joints to develop strongly and healthily.

Your adult Chart Polski will also need a special diet that caters for his size and energy levels. Remember to include some raw meat into his diet occasionally as well, as this will help him steer clear of dry, allergic skin conditions. Always ensure that he has access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

As a hunting dog, you’ll find the Chart Polski to require little grooming. No trimming or stripping is required for his short coat and you’ll simply need to brush him down twice a week.

Every dog needs care from puppyhood through to old age.

Šarplaninacs are looked upon as medium maintenance dogs. The coat is long and thick and requires a firm bristle brush to get their hair brushed.These dogs are moderate shedders so a brush twice a week will do the trick to keep the hair free of loose hair and matting.

Because these dogs have floppy ears, they will need to be checked and cleaned. Floppy eared dogs battle with moisture and wax build-up that increases the likelihood of ear infections.

Check the eyes that they are clear and free of discharge. Eyes with a lot of discharge can be indicative of health problems.

Check for any unusual lumps as cancer often starts with a new lump.

Provide your pet with a nice warm, dry place to sleep.

Keep his vaccines up to date to prevent deadly canine diseases.

Have him or her spayed or neutered if you don’t want puppies. These are regular procedures for a vet and offers health benefits for the dog. Neutering a male improves his character and keeps him from roaming. These dogs are capable of having 3 – 8 puppies.

The Sarplaninac requires decent food if he is to remain healthy. Dog’s stomachs can become upset if they eat all kinds of sweet and spicy human foods.

Commercially manufactured dog food is a good backup food to have because of its convenience. Try to include some home-made food. Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up and added in to the dry kibble twice a week. Give this to your pet twice a week and see how his tails wags when he smells it.

Also try to add in some raw meat to his food occasionally.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.