The political message of a Polish cult sixties TV series ‘Four Tank-Men and a Dog’ may have not aged well but its canine star, Szarik, serves as a template for what an ideal dog ought to look like for every Pole. A faithful Alsatian, who was part of a tank crew and followed his owner - a handsome gunner called Janek and later his girlfriend, Marusia - to victory in Berlin in 1945, saving lives on the way.

2. Reksio

A cheeky white and brown cartoon pooch, and classic village mongrel with a touch of fox terrier, Reksio has been an icon of Polish childhood since 1967. He lives in the countryside in a cozy kennel, entertaining generations of children with his exploits. Reksio is a quintessential Polish dog and his trademark little wink tells you a lot of what Poles value in a dog: companionship with a big dash of mischief.

3. Dżok

Another Polish dog who became a symbol of loyalty and companionship, is Dżok (Jock), a black mongrel from Kraków. Dżok waited in vain for an entire year for his owner at the very spot in the city where ‘his human’ died of a heart attack. Moved by this display of fidelity, the denizens of the city and Polish celebrities contributed money to commemorate Dżok’s ‘boundless devotion’.

4. Lampo

Every Polish child reads the book about the beautiful mongrel Lampo who loved train journeys, and most are moved to tears over the tragic ending to this story. Although the Roman Pisarski novella is set in Italy, it has become a part of the Polish emotional landscape as it is a required primary school text in Poland. Lampo is adventurous and faithful but meets a tragic end in saving the life of the station-master’s daughter.

5. Bella

These days Poles may look to celebrities rather than books for their canine inspiration. Cavapoo Bella, whose owner is none other than football superstar Robert Lewandowski, is a social media icon. A cross between a poodle and a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, the dog is often seen on Instagram posts of the Lewandowski family. This brown ball of fluff is not short of controversy however, since such fashionable new crossbreeds can sometimes be seen in Poland as unnatural and frivolous.