Hare, fox, roe deer, bustard and wolf: the FCI standard names the Polish Greyhound (Chart Polski) as a hunting dog for all of them. Its build reflects that, much stronger and less refined than other short-haired sighthounds. According to the standard, its body shows that it had to hunt in the difficult conditions of Poland’s climate.
| FCI | Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds, Standard No. 333, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Poland |
| Size (height at the withers) | ideal: males 70 to 80 cm, females 68 to 75 cm; larger dogs permitted if type is maintained |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | elastic and fairly harsh, neither wiry nor silky; slightly longer at the withers, light breeches on the thighs and a brush beneath the tail |
| Colours in the standard | all coat colours permitted; nose and eyelid rims black or dark, or correspondingly blue or beige in blue or beige dogs |
Documented since the 13th century
According to the standard, the Chart Polski has been documented in Poland since the 13th century and probably descends from Asian sighthounds of the Saluki type. The standard considers a cross between Greyhound and Borzoi (Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya) impossible because the Borzoi was unknown before the 16th century. Only a few dogs remained after the Second World War, many kept by poachers. The Polish Kennel Club opened a preliminary register in 1981 (Goleman et al. 2021); the FCI recognised the breed provisionally in 1989 and definitively in 2001.
Confident and lightning-fast
The standard describes a confident, assured, reserved and courageous dog. Fast, highly skilful and enduring in pursuit, it reacts quickly and intensely in action. Unprovoked aggression, excessive timidity and sluggishness are disqualifying faults. The expression should be alert and penetrating, completing the picture of a dog fully awake to its surroundings.
A large runner needs room
At up to 80 centimetres at the shoulder and more, it needs space at home, in the car and when running. Sprints in fenced areas, coursing and long walks on a lead suit it. Because it reacts quickly and intensely, carefully manage encounters with wildlife, cats and small dogs, and never take recall for granted.
Little work with the harsh coat
The elastic, fairly harsh coat is easy to care for. Weekly brushing usually suffices, a little more often around breeches and tail. The standard describes finer, thinner hair on the belly; a soft bed and a coat in wet weather are welcome.
A small breeding base
A Polish study analysed pedigrees for 912 Chart Polski. Mean inbreeding was 11,8 per cent, 872 of the 912 dogs were inbred, and effective population size was only around 22. Only 28 per cent of recorded dogs were used for breeding (Goleman et al. 2021). According to the authors, the breed club monitors congenital eye defects and hip dysplasia because of the small gene pool. Ask for the parents’ eye and hip results and the litter’s inbreeding coefficient. There is no reliable lifespan figure; McMillan and colleagues list the breed only by name.
Who can handle this dog
It belongs with experienced sighthound owners who have space, time and secure ground for a very large, powerful dog. It is no good choice for beginners, small flats or homes with small pets. In the right hands, it shows why the difficult rebuilding of this ancient hunter was worthwhile.
Our breed quiz shows whether such a large, powerful sighthound fits your life; read more in our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). The free Puppy Starter Pack guides the first weeks. For the proud Polish dog at your side, there are dog portraits, for example as a magazine-cover canvas.
Further reading
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
- Calculating your dog’s food allowance: how much your dog really needs
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 333 Chart Polski (fci.be, German and English versions dated 01.10.1999, valid original standard dated 01.10.1999, original language German); Goleman M et al., Pedigree and Molecular Analyses in the Assessment of Genetic Variability of the Polish Greyhound, Animals 2021; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed only in the name list, not analysed).
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