Chart Polski

Sighthounds have been recorded in Poland for a very long time; the chronicle of Gallus Anonymus, written in the early twelfth century, is among the earliest references. The Chart Polski that emerged is generally understood as an Asiatic-type sighthound adapted to a colder, harder climate, related to the eastern group that includes the Borzoi and the Hortaya Borzaya rather than descended from the English Greyhound.

Coursing with charty was a defining pastime of the Polish szlachta, the noble class, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. The dogs were hunted from horseback, often alongside falcons, and were expected to take hare and fox, and in pairs or larger groups to tackle roe deer, wolf and the great bustard, a heavy bird of open grassland. This demanding quarry explains the breed's substance: it needed strength and jaw power as well as speed.

The breed was devastated in the twentieth century. Land reform and the fall of the estates removed its social base, and the Second World War and the postwar years all but ended organised breeding. A restoration effort began in the 1970s, drawing on surviving dogs in rural Poland, and the Polish Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1981. The FCI granted full recognition in 2001 and places the Chart Polski in Group 10, the sighthounds, in section 3 with the other short-haired coursers.

This is a big dog. Males stand roughly 28 to 31 inches at the withers and females roughly 27 to 30 inches, with weights commonly between about 60 and 90 pounds. The standard asks for a strong, muscular, dry build with a well-developed rib cage, a slightly rising loin and noticeably more bone and substance than a Greyhound of similar height. The overall impression should be of power and endurance rather than pure sprinting elegance.

The head is long and strong with a powerful, well-filled muzzle and a scissor bite with large teeth, again reflecting the quarry the breed was built to hold. The eyes are almond-shaped, slanting and dark, with an expression the standard describes as penetrating. Ears are narrow, medium-sized and mobile, usually folded back and rising when the dog is roused. The tail is long, well feathered underneath, and carries a characteristic sickle or ring curve at the tip.

The coat is short to medium, harsh in texture and elastic to the touch, becoming longer and coarser over the shoulders, thighs and tail, and thickening considerably in winter. Every colour and pattern is permitted. Black, various fawns and sables, brindle, blue and cream all occur, with or without white markings.

Within the household the Chart Polski is a calm, quiet and affectionate dog that bonds closely with its people and is happy to spend most of the day asleep. Sighthound owners will recognise the pattern: enormous stillness indoors, and then explosive activity for a short period outside.

Away from the family the picture changes. This breed is genuinely reserved and territorial, more so than most sighthounds, and it will treat approaching strangers with suspicion until introduced. That makes it a capable natural watchdog, but it also means early and continued socialisation is not optional. Confident, self-assured behaviour is required by the standard; timidity and indiscriminate aggression are both faults.

The prey drive is the defining practical trait. A Chart Polski that sights a running animal will pursue it single-mindedly and at speed, and no recall training reliably overrides that. Cats, small dogs, poultry and livestock are all at risk. The breed can also be assertive with other dogs, particularly same-sex adults, and multi-dog households need careful management.

The traditional job was coursing from horseback across open country. Live coursing is now illegal in Poland and in most of Europe, so the modern working outlets are lure coursing and track racing, at which the breed is fast, powerful and enthusiastic. Some are still used in falconry work in countries where that is permitted.

As a companion, the Chart Polski suits a rural or semi-rural home with high, secure fencing and space to gallop. It is an outstanding running or cycling partner for a fit adult, and it enjoys long walks, but it is not suited to apartment living, to unfenced land, or to households with small pets. It is a poor choice for a first-time dog owner.