Toy Mi-Ki vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Poland, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is believed to have descended from herding dogs as well as the Puli and Tibetan Terrier.

Later these dogs were bred with local Scottish dogs to bring about Scottish herding dogs, the Bearded Collie. The dog was accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1959. In 2001, the American Kennel Club recognized the Polish Lowland Sheepdog as a breed in the Herding Group.

The Toy Mi-Ki is a sociable companion dog. He hasn’t got a long history, and the little bit of history there is, isn’t clear.

It is believed that the breed was bought about by Maureen Westburg. It was in the 1980s that she crossed several toy breeds to develop the Mi-Ki. It is thought that she gave the dog the name Mi-Ki because her name was Mikkie. It seems whe wanted a dog that came close to looking like a gremlin.

Some of the dogs used in the breeding program were the Japanese Chin, the Maltese, and the Papillon. The International Miki Registry is trying to get recognition with the United Kennel Club for this dog. There are other canine clubs and organizations that recognize the Mi-Ki Dog as a breed.

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is a medium-sized dog. Both males and females stand between 42cm to 50 cm in height and they weigh roughly between 14 and 23kg.

The dog has a double coat which can mostly be white, cream, gray, brown and black. The underdoat is soft and dense with the top coat being straight or wavy and being medium length.

There is quite a bit of hair around the facial area. The eyes are alert and brown and the ears medium size, high set and then drooping down. The tail has always been attractively docked, giving the dog an attractive, compact look but these days it is often just left long.

Temperament:

Lively, bright as a button, clever, social and feisty, the Polish Lowland Sheepdog is easy to train, becoming obedient and well balanced. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog is such a self confident dog and he will fit happily into life in the city or the countryside, loving spending time with his human family.

The small Toy Miki stands at between 25 cm – 30 cm in height and weighs between 2 – 5kg. You get two different coat types – long and short and the long-haired variety also has quite a bit of hair around the face.

His longish coat is low-shedding which makes him popular for people who battle with allergies. The Miki Dog will produce about 2 – 4 puppies.

As a toy dog, he has a domed head with large eyes. Their ears are feathered and are carried erect and the tail is long and feathered.

Temperament:

These little dogs are popular companion dogs and they’re intelligent and loving, making the ideal pet for anyone.

It’s a friendly dog and yet he will bark to alert you of an intruder. Youll take notice because he isn’t the kind of dog that just yaps away.

Children love them and they make great playmates for children who have been taught to be kind and gentle with animals.

Their small size and their adaptable nature make them suitable for city or country living. Sweet and amicable, the social purebred Toy Mi-Ki is everything you want in a companion.

He is loyal and devoted, calm and adaptable. They’re not the kind of dogs to go jogging with you, but nonetheless, he will still need his exercise – walks every day as well as ball games.

The PON is an independent, self-willed dog but he can also be entertaining and amusing. He is a social, friendly dog but for many people, his long hair and grooming requirement might prove to be a bit of a handful.

Your dog is energetic, cheerful and playful and when he isn’t around, it will be like some sunshine has gone out of your life. He is faithful and loving towards his human family but is aloof towards strangers. Bring one of these dogs into your home and you’re guaranteed to have a remarkable friend and pet for many years.

The Mi-Ki is calm and good-natured, and because of his cuteness, he can’t help but become a lap dog, if you allow him.

He is social and just loves human companionship. He is friendly too and will quite happily be friends with children and pets in the home.

Make sure he is trained and socialized so that you become one of the many people who have nothing but good things to say about this sweet little dog.

These dogs are generally healthy and the dog’s life expectancy is about 12 years. Nonetheless there are some problems to be aware of. For instance, with this dog, hip dysplasia is a real problem.

The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of hundreds of these dogs and found a large percentage were dysplastic.

Hereditary eye disease can also occur with this dog. Macular degeneration is a common eye disorder that can cause central vision loss. Many genetic abnormalities can cause degeneration of the image forming part of the eye. Unfortunately these conditions can result in total blindness. Parts of the retina can also degenerate with age.

Skin allergies are also an ever present threat with your dog. Itchiness and pain can be a nightmare for your pet and scratching and licking brings no relief – just aggravates the condition. You will certainly need to get your pet to the vet as skin allergies and skin diseases can make your beloved canine miserable.

With good care, your Toy Mi-ki can reach 14 years of age, maybe older.

You just have to bear in mind, that because of his short muzzle, he is prone to respiratory problems. Too much exercise and you may find him huffing and puffing. Be careful on a hot day.

Also, little dogs like this often have all kinds of dental problems. When you brush him, check his teeth because he can’t tell you if he has a rotten tooth causing him a lot of pain and misery.

Check his eyes too that they are bright and clear and check the inside of his ears. Hypothyroidism and eye issues can also bother the Mi-ki.

Your Polish Lowland Sheepdog is like a big Bear and his long, shaggy coat will require regular brushing, otherwise it could become full of burrs and grass.

Many people prefer to take their dogs to a grooming parlor where the hair is cut, the nails trimmed, the teeth cleaned and the ears checked.

Provide your Sheepdog with a nice warm, dry cozy spot that is his and where he can quietly retreat.

If your Polish Lowland Sheepdog spends time outdoors, make sure he has access to both shade, sun and shelter in case it rains. There must always be a bowl of fresh water outdoors too.

Diet:

It is better to give your adult Polish Lowland Sheepdog 2 smaller helpings of food as opposed to one big bowl. Puppies will need 4 bowls of food a day. Two bowls will ensure your dog doesn’t gobble up his food and create digestive problems and bloat.

High-quality dry dog food will provide a balanced diet, but you want to make it a little more delicious for him occasionally by mixing in chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Just a tad of raw meat occasionally can also be of huge benefit.

Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock. Be sure to keep his food and water dishes clean.

Have your dogs spayed or neutered if you don’t want them to have puppies.

Considered to be low-shedding, the Mi-Ki will benefit from a brush once or twice a week.

Some people take their Mi-Ki’s to have their hair professionally cut. This is a good move because then the ears, teeth, and nails are attended to as well.

You can do all of these things at home yourself, but sometimes, particularly with the long-haired Miki, the matting of the hair can make it that you rather send him to professional groomers.

Diet:

Like all dogs, the Mi-Ki dog will need nutritious food if he is to stay healthy. He isn’t a big eater and you will find the perfect food for your small canine pet.

Read on the packaging to make sure you get high-quality dry food for small dogs. You want the ingredients to be as natural as possible without any toxic colorants and additives.

Meat and protein must always be the top ingredients. Try to provide some home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, and sweet potatoes can be chopped up finely and a small portion added occasionally to the dry kibble as a tasty treat.