Polish — breed guide
Polish — temperament, grooming, exercise, heat tolerance and care, from the Leash Life breed guide.
At a glance
- Group
- dwarf
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 1–2 kg (2–4 lb)
- Life span
- 5–8 years
- Coat
- Short, fine, flyback coat
Living with a Polish
- Moderate energy — a proper walk every day.
- Light grooming — a brush now and then.
- Light shedding.
- Trainable with consistency.
- Very quiet.
- Good with children.
- Gets along with other dogs.
- Only with secure housing and no unsupervised contact with a cat.
- Suits apartment living, given its daily walks.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Sensitive to heat; keep summer walks short.
- Average cold tolerance.
Temperament
Alert · Sweet · Compact
Health to watch
- Dental malocclusion
- GI stasis
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Polish good with kids?
Generally yes. Polishs are usually good with children when raised with them and given their own quiet space.
Can a Polish live in a house with a cat?
Only with care. Secure housing, separate space and no unsupervised contact — a cat's hunting instinct is not something training removes.
How much exercise does a Polish need?
A real walk every day, around 30–60 minutes.
Can a Polish handle hot weather?
It is sensitive; avoid the midday heat.
Leash Life keeps a Polish's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.