Polish Hunting Dog

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Polish Hunting Dog as stable and gentle, truly courageous, intelligent and easy to train. It isn't aggressive but stays wary of strangers, so on top of its hunting abilities it makes a very good watchdog. At home it tends to be calm and warm with family members, including children. On walks its nose is in charge: once it catches a scent, the trail can take over its attention completely, and recall at that moment can be difficult. It usually gets along with other dogs, having worked in packs, but cats and small animals may trigger its hunting instinct. It has a loud, melodious voice, higher-pitched in females, and is happy to use it. It can be stubborn, but never spiteful.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Polish Hunting Dog for?

The Polish Hunting Dog suits hunters and active people who love hours-long forest walks, want to do tracking or mantrailing with their dog and have a house with a fenced yard. It can be a family dog if it gets enough work for its nose. It's not a good choice for a downtown apartment, for people who expect off-leash obedience, or for a home with cats and no prior socialization.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

The Royal Kennel Club rates the Polish Hunting Dog's exercise needs at more than two hours a day and recommends a large house with a large yard. Long forest walks on a long line, tracking, mantrailing and other scent work suit it best, and for hunters, work in the field. The yard must be securely fenced, because a dog following a trail can wander very far. The short coat needs brushing once a week. Check and clean the ears regularly. Training should be consistent, calm and reward-based. It's worth teaching whistle recall from the start and rewarding eye contact on walks. Watch its diet, since extra weight strains the joints of a dog working in rough terrain.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Polish Hunting Dog is considered a healthy, hardy breed, and available profiles rarely mention inherited disorders. Wisdom Panel draws attention to the ears: they hang down, which makes infections harder to spot, so they need regular checking and cleaning. Some breed guides mention rare cases of hip dysplasia and eye disease. Idiopathic epilepsy also occurs in the breed, and its genetic basis was studied in a doctoral thesis at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). When buying a puppy, ask about the parents' hip X-rays and any seizures in the lines. Life expectancy estimates are 10–14 years, and the Royal Kennel Club gives "over 10 years."

• ear infectionsDrop ears are poorly ventilated and inflammation is easy to miss, so the ears need checking regularly.
• hip dysplasiaBreed profiles describe it as rare but possible; ask about the parents' hip X-rays.
• idiopathic epilepsyOccurs in the breed; its genetic basis was studied in a doctoral thesis at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

Hunting with scenthounds is mentioned in Polish literature as early as the 13th century, and 14th-century chronicles show how highly the nobility prized it. By the 17th century at least two types were clearly distinguished: the heavier bracke, or ogar, and the lighter gończy. Both are described in 19th-century hunting literature, including by Jan Szytier in 1819 and in the journal Sylwan in 1821. After the wars, the breed survived mainly in eastern Poland and in the mountains. A key figure in its revival and registration was the dog expert Józef Pawłusiewicz, whose dogs form the basis of the modern standard. The FCI recognized the breed in 2017.

Fun facts

• The Polish Hunting Dog became the fifth Polish breed recognized by the FCI, in 2017.
• According to the FCI standard, females give tongue at a higher pitch than males while hunting.
• Britain's Royal Kennel Club recognized the breed in 2024.
• The most common color is black and tan, followed less often by brown and tan and red.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Hunting dog breeds
• Polish dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 354 – Polish Hunting Dog (Gończy Polski)fci.be
2. 2Royal Kennel Club – Polish Hunting Dog (Imp)royalkennelclub.com
3. 3Wisdom Panel – Polish Hunting Dogwisdompanel.com
4. 4Wikipedia – Gończy Polskien.wikipedia.org
5. 5SGGW – rozprawa doktorska o genetyce padaczki idiopatycznej u gończego polskiegobip.sggw.edu.pl

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.