The Portuguese Podengo is a sighthound breed from Portugal and Brazil. As a breed, the Podengo is divided into three size categories that are not interbred: small (Pequenos), medium (Médio), and large (Grande). Their coats are either short (smooth), or longer with a bit of shag (wire). The smooth coated variety is traditional, though both coat variants are typically accepted in most kennel club registries around the world that recognize the breed.
All Podengo types are hardy, intelligent and lively dogs, excelling at agility and making wonderful companion animals. Loyal and fearless, Podengos are also good watchdogs, and in the case of the larger models, great guardians. They are trainable for dog experienced people and those that enjoy primitive (less domesticated) dog behavior. It is important to not confuse simple trainability with enthusiastic biddability, lest a new owner gets severely disappointed and unpleasantly surprised.
Keen hunting dogs, the Podengo has a unique attribute that helps it stand out among it's Hound Group counterparts; it doesn't just hunt using sight or scent. It uses both! Typically, these dogs hunt in packs with their owner following. They will stay on their prey and can be used to kill and then retrieve it, or they can be used to run the prey towards the hunter to be shot. Each size category traditionally hunts game appropriate to their size and temperament.
The Pequenos - small - was developed for flushing rabbits from cover and for use as a ratter.
The Médio - medium - was developed for rabbit chasing, hunting, and retrieval. Its hunting style includes catlike stalking and, similar to the Ibizan Hound, it often jumps above the prey before landing on or near it to flush it out of dense brush, rock crevices or burrows. It will dig if necessary to flush prey.
The Grande - large - was developed for deer and wild boar hunting. It will exhaust and hold down the prey and wait for the hunter to arrive and make the kill. The Grande is now especially rare, even in its country of origin.
The probable origin of the Portuguese Podengo is with the primitive, multi-purpose hunting dogs obtained, used, and distributed by Phoenician traders during the circumnavigation of Africa in 600 BC and reaching Portugal in the 700s BC. This is evidenced by artifacts found under the Lisbon Cathedral. The breed participates in the Miscellaneous Class with the American Kennel Club, as it is still in the Foundation Stock Service (FSS).
In general, the breed is healthy; the small variety persists the longest, having an average lifespan of approximately 17 years. The medium and large both average a 25 year lifespan. Responsible breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as food and contact allergies, hypothyroidism, and deafness. Since no health screening is done in the country of origin, and there is not a health testing prescription from any official kennel club, all testing is considered remarkably important because any health testing that is performed is considered a baseline to gather information as we search for concerning trends and potential issues. The U.S. parent club position has been one that favors testing for "illumination rather than elimination."
Portuguese Podengo Pequenos (small) at Westminster Dog Show
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