The ancestry of the Portuguese Podengo is often attributed to the wolves or tan-colored sighthounds of the Iberian Peninsula. It was around as early as the 13th century, when Portuguese explorers used Pequeno dogs for seeking out rats in their ships. Mainly used as a hunting dog, especially for small game, the Podengo uses the senses of sight and scent; most other hounds use one or the other. The Grande variant is believed to have been bred out of the Pequeno and Medio, and it is particularly useful for hunting bigger game, such as deer and wild boar. Also, the Grande is the rarest of the three categories. The Medio is smaller than it used to be, due to human intervention in breeding over the years.
The dog breed is split into three distinct size categories: small (Podengo Portugueso Pequeno), medium (Podengo Portugueso Medio), and large (Podengo Portugueso Grande). Under its size categories, the Portuguese Podengo is subcategorized into two types of coats: Smooth and Wirehaired. While the Smooth coats are hard and consist of longer hairs than on most hounds, the Wirehaired coats are shaggy and coarse with medium-long hairs. The coat color is usually fawn, yellow or black with white markings. The Pequeno dogs are typically 8 to 12 inches (20 to 31 centimeters) in height and weigh around 9 to 13 pounds (4 to 6 kilograms). The Medio stands at 15 to 22 inches (39 to 56 cm) tall and weighs around 35 to 44 pounds (16 to 20 kg). As the largest of the three sizes, the Grande is usually 22 to 27 inches (55 to 70 cm) tall and 44 to 66 pounds (20 to 30 kg) in weight.
Personality
Generally, the Portuguese Podengo is described as a friendly, intelligent, and very observant animal. Also, because of its pedigree as a hunter, owners are encouraged to allow the dog a reasonable amount of exercise from day to day. The Medio in particular is the most popular of the three sizes, mainly because it is not too big (Grande) and not too small (Pequeno). Additionally, the Medio is the fastest of the three dog sizes.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 - 17 years |
| Nicknames: | Podengo Portugues, Portuguese Warren Hound |
Portuguese Podengo Build Information
The dog breed is split into three distinct size categories: small (Podengo Portugueso Pequeno), medium (Podengo Portugueso Medio), and large (Podengo Portugueso Grande). Under its size categories, the Portuguese Podengo is subcategorized into two types of coats: Smooth and Wirehaired. While the Smooth coats are hard and consist of longer hairs than on most hounds, the Wirehaired coats are shaggy and coarse with medium-long hairs. The coat color is usually fawn, yellow or black with white markings. The Pequeno dogs are typically 8 to 12 inches (20 to 31 centimeters) in height and weigh around 9 to 13 pounds (4 to 6 kilograms). The Medio stands at 15 to 22 inches (39 to 56 cm) tall and weighs around 35 to 44 pounds (16 to 20 kg). As the largest of the three sizes, the Grande is usually 22 to 27 inches (55 to 70 cm) tall and 44 to 66 pounds (20 to 30 kg) in weight.
| Size: | Small - Medium - Large |
Behaviour and Personality
Generally, the Portuguese Podengo is described as a friendly, intelligent, and very observant animal. Also, because of its pedigree as a hunter, owners are encouraged to allow the dog a reasonable amount of exercise from day to day. The Medio in particular is the most popular of the three sizes, mainly because it is not too big (Grande) and not too small (Pequeno). Additionally, the Medio is the fastest of the three dog sizes.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Kid friendly |
Appearance
The Portuguese Podengo is an average shedder; ultimately it needs little grooming. Once in a while, owners can comb and brush the coat to remove dead and loose hair.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low maintenance |
Portuguese Podengo Common Health Conditions
Thanks to little or no interference from breeding-obsessed humans, the Portuguese Podengo is virtually free of inherited ailments.
Portuguese Podengo Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
Due to variance in size and type of coat, there are actually six variants of the Portuguese Podengo. According to the United Kennel Club (UKC), the Portuguese Podengo may have descended from the hunting dogs of Phoenician traders in the 6th century BC. The American Kennel Club (AKC) places the Portuguese Podengo in the “Miscellaneous Class.” Known for its multi-sensory ability, the Portuguese Podengo is a dog breed native to Portugal (thus the nationality prefix). The name “Portuguese Podengo” means “Portuguese Hound.” The dog typically lives for approximately 12 to 17 years.
| Training: | Easy to train |