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GZ BREED COLUMNSherdingstill don’t realize that a Pembroke is inthe “professional” ranks in that regard. Imention the need for a quality puppyobedienceclass and the benefits ofattending one with this breed that likesto be in charge of things.I often put inquirers in touch withtheir closest Pembroke club, especiallythose who are interested in a rescuedPembroke. Some times a “just a pet”family will show up at a fun day oragility introduction with their belovedPembroke. These people take pride intheir corgis, and while most do not getinvolved in the club, others do and goon to become good club workers. Mylocal club offers a Parade of LovedOnes with its matches. Inevitably, thatclass has the largest entry, and a goodtime is had by all. Clubs need to besure to offer a variety of activities thatpet owners can attend and be comfortablein doing so, as well as getting theword out about these events.Only a small percentage of any littergoes on to a career in any arena. Evenfewer go on to the conformation rings.The majority go on to become “just apet” and take on the enormous responsibilityof becoming ambassadors forour breed. They are the dogs who meetand greet people at parks and playgroundsand vets’ offices. They are theones who elicit the question, “Whatkind of dog is that?”Some people will go on and get aPembroke because of the personality ofan ambassador they met in such a setting.The pet owners and theirPembrokes can do much for publiceducation in these settings. We need tobe sure that they have received a goodeducation when they get their newfamily member as “just a pet.” —LyndaMcKee, TifflynLDM@aol.com;Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club ofAmerica website: pembrokecorgi.orgPolish LowlandSheepdogsAPONC’s 25th AnniversaryIn the fall of this year, The AmericanPolski Owczarek Nizinny Club willcelebrate its 25th anniversary. Those ofus not blessed with a triple-jointedSlavic tongue know the club by itsacronym, APONC, and call the breedPolish Lowland Sheepdogs, or PONs.Although the PON is an old breedmuch regarded for its outstandingworking ability in its native countryand reputed to be important in thedevelopment of the Bearded Collie inScotland, it gained little attention fromdog fanciers until the turn of the lastcentury.At that time, Poles became interestedin their native pure breeds of livestock.During the 1920s and ’30s, PONs werebred and exhibited, and the breed wasmentioned prominently in a researchpaper published by the Working DogsSociety. World War II ended theprogress, however, and few dogs survivedthe devastation.By 1948 the Polish Kennel Club wasfounded and there were efforts to reestablishthe breed. It took until wellinto the 1950s before a Polish kennelofficially registered a litter of PONs,and there was not an accepted standarduntil 1959—the same year that FCIgranted the breed recognition.The American connection wasanother 20 years away, coming by wayof a prominent Bearded Collie breederwho imported a pair of dogs in 1979.Three years later, Betty and KazAugustowski purchased their first PONfrom her. They devoted great energy totheir chosen breed. More dogs wereimported, litters were born in the U.S.,and others took up the cause.By 1987, the Augustowskis and six ofthose friends started the APONC. Ayear later, the club’s official publication,The Herder, printed a roster of 58 membersand 10 breeders from all parts ofthe country. Carrying breed standardswith them, these intrepid fancierslogged many miles going to rare-breedshows.The APONC gained recognition bythe Polish Kennel Club, the StatesKennel Club, and then the AKC. PONsentered the AKC’s Miscellaneous Classin 1999, and the breed competed forthe first time for championship pointsin August, 2001.For a 500-year-old breed, that’s a lotof recent history.In the last quarter-century, ourAmerican dogs have participated inperformance as well as conformationevents. They have won the highestrecognition in both U.S. and internationalcompetition—even returning totheir native Poland to do so.Our national specialty will be held inFlorida this coming November. Itshould be a great party! —LouiseCohen, cachetpons@comcast.net;American Polish Lowland SheepdogClub website: aponc.orgPulikHelping the New Puli OwnerRecently I was involved in aconversation with anexperienced breeder as she wasmentoring a newcomer to her breed(not Pulis). She was throwing out ideasfor the “newbie” that would help herbecome a knowledgeable dog fancier.That made me realize that it would begreat to have a list of such ideas tohand out to my puppy buyers inaddition to the usual training,grooming, and feeding handouts Iusually give them. That realizationevolved into the following list.Learn all you can about Pulis. There arechat lists on the Internet that offer lotsof free help and ideas. There are veryfew books on the breed still in print,but there are some occasionally to befound on Amazon.com or Ebay.Learn all you can about other breeds.The more you learn about dogs in general,the better you will understandyour own breed.Ask lots of questions.You will get conflictingopinions—that’s good! Sortthrough them and decide what makessense in relation to the breed standard.Study your breed standard with your Puliin front of you. When the standard talksabout proportions, get out the ruler.Where it mentions shoulder angle, feelyour dog’s shoulder blade.Ask a breeder or judge to show you howto examine your dog’s conformation. WhatA K C G A Z E T T E • 39 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2