Podengos are no-nonsense pets they don’t shed much and have minimal grooming requirements. The coats are of different colors such as fawn or yellow with patches of white, or white with patches of fawn or yellow. Others have wirehaired, less dense and slightly coarse coats. Some Podengos have smooth, short and dense coats. The Podengos have two different types of coat, smooth and wirehaired. They have a real mean look about them, as though they mean business. When you really take a good look at their head, you’ll notice that they have a triangular shaped head, pricked-up erect ears, sickle shaped tail and almond-shaped eyes.

They have amazing stamina and strength and can run for miles without slowing down. They have a perfect physique, well-proportioned, lean, mean, muscular and strong. They do very well in dog sports such as obedience, tracking and rally.Īn ability to jump really high – which means no fence is too tall for them. All Podengos, the Podengo Pequeno, Medio and Grande are incredibly athletic dogs. The Podengo Breed Standard is certainly an impressive physical specimen. The AKC recognizes the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno as separate from the Grande and Medio Podengos. The American Kennel Club registered the Portuguese Podengo dog for the first time in 2013. He was brought to the United States in the 1990’s. The Podengo is one of the ten National Dogs of Portugal and is one of the oldest members of the Portuguese Kennel Club. They took them everywhere they went, including to the New World. The Podengos made their way to the Iberian Peninsula, and became the favorite hunting dogs of the Portuguese Explorers. They were deadly, relentless and ruthless, and there was no escape for any creature that came in their way. They were used to hunt boars, and sometimes, to hunt runaway slaves. What made the Podengo Grandes such special hunting dogs was that they hunted in packs, and were absolutely unbeatable. The Podengo Grande was a fearsome hunting dog that could bring down any beast, while the Medio and the Pequeno were much smaller. He was first bred by the ancient Phoenicians and Romans for hunting boars. Well, he is an ancient breed and his origins go back to 600 B.C. The Portuguese Podengo is from Portugal, of course. Weight: Pequeno: 8 to 14 pounds, Medio: 35 to 45 pounds, Grande: 44 to 66 pounds Height: Pequeno: 8 to 12, Medio: 16 to 22, Grande: 22 to 28 inches at the shoulder Read on for more interesting facts about the Portuguese Podengo.

There’s no stopping him when he starts chasing cats or other small animals once he comes across them. You should have the Podengo on a leash every time you take him out for a walk. To bring the Podengo puppy home from a reputable breeder who runs an ethical breeding program. And yes, he needs lots of exercise – you have to take him out on long walks every day, without fail. This means making him a part of every family activity and treating him like a member of the family.Īn intelligent, high-energy dog, and hates being relegated to the sidelines. The Podengo can be a perfect family dog provided you treat him with love and respect. All of these breeds probably share the same origin and are very good at hunting.īut is the Portuguese Podengo a good pet? The Portuguese Podengos belong to the same Hound Group as the Ibizan Hound, Pharaoh Hound and the Cirneco dell Etna. While they have a suspicious nature, they are calm and composed and never shy or aggressive. Not the sort of dogs that jump on strangers or bark unnecessarily. They are alert and sharp, and very serious about their job. The Portuguese Podengos, whether they’re Pequenos, Medios or Grandes, make for excellent watchdogs. Leave him by himself in a park, and he will run around all day long, looking for rabbits and other small animals. He has a keen eyesight and excels at hunting rabbits. Which means he hunts by sight, and not scent. The Portuguese Podengo Grande, the biggest, 22 to 28 inches at shoulder heightĪre sighthounds through and through.The Portuguese Podengo Medio, mid-sized dog, 16 to 22 inches at shoulder height.

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, the smallest, 8 to 12 inches at shoulder height.

There are three types of the Portuguese Podengo or three different sizes…