News, Shows, Events
Championship Show 24th May 2026
Judge: Katja Jasica (van het Goralenhof, Belgium)
Open Show & Funday -27th September 2026
Pop the date in your diary
Breed Supported Entry Shows 2026
Bridgend & District Kennel Association
1st March
Judge: Steve Bennett
(www.fossedata.co.uk)
Llanelli
12th April 2026
Judge: Ed Forsey
(online show entries)
Neath & Port Talbot Canine Society
November 2026 tbc
Health Update
Update on eyes
The PLSCWWE is pleased to annouce that the Royal Kennel Club has confirmed the following:
"PRA (rcd4) is recognised as a test for PRA in Polish Lowland Sheepdog. It should be noted that although this mutation appears to be responsible for most cases of PRA in this breed, there may be other causes for this disease yet to be identified".
A formal annoucement is expected in the coming weeks. This has been a 13 year project for the club. We are very grateful to James Sibley who worked so hard on setting up the three UK testing sessions, everyone who brought their dogs along, Dr Hamish Cormie, Dr Nick Burden, the Canine Genetics Centre, the PLSCWWE committee in 2013 who had the foresight and willingness to financially support the Finnish testing sessions and everyone abroad who sent data and research findings (Poland, Sweden, Finland, USA). Thank you all.
The Innate Health Assessment (IHA)
The Innate Health Assessment (IHA) is a visual screening tool being promoted for potential inclusion in dog breeding regulatory frameworks. We fully support proportionate measures that genuinely improve canine welfare. However, there is growing concern among welfare-focused breeders, owners, and sector professionals that the current IHA model could have undesirable and counter-productive consequences if incorporated into statutory guidance without further validation and refinement. See more at https://www.innatehealthassessment.org/
What is the IHA?
Read the fact check
here.
We will shortly be issuing a position and policy statement along with a toolkit for lobbying your MP, MSP or MS. We are currently working with a number of stakeholder groups to seek further clarification and to produce a critical analysis of the cited evidence and a breed dossier. This is a major piece of work which will involve UK, overseas and inter-and intra-breed collaboration and consultation so it will take a little time. Thank you for your patience.
The Royal Kennel Club's Impact Review: A New Future for Dog Breeding.
This review includes two work streams which are very relevant to our breed Genetic diversity: Supporting genetic diversity in small
populations and Conformation: The Royal Kennel Club Nose‑to‑Tail Visual Assessment. Read the full report here.
A summary version is available on the Health Page along with the 2025 Breed Population Diversity Report.
If you have any concerns at all about the health of your PON or just need some advice and support, please do get in touch. Email our Health Officer Terrie at
polishlowlands@gmail.com
