Portuguese Podengo

Portuguese Podengo
Portuguese Podengo
	Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Medio
Other names	Podengo Português; Portuguese Warren Hound
Origin	Portugal
Height
Traits
Height	Large 55–70 cm (22–28 in); Medium 40–54 cm (16–21 in); Small 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in)
Weight	Large 20–30 kg (44–66 lb); Medium 16–20 kg (35–44 lb); Small 4–6 kg (8.8–13.2 lb)
Life span	8-20 year
Clube Português de Canicultura
Kennel club standards
Clube Português de Canicultura	standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale	standard
	Dog (domestic dog)

The Portuguese Podengo, also known as the Podengo Português or Portuguese Warren Hound, is a hound (sight and scent) breed from Portugal. As a breed, the Podengo is divided into three size categories that are not interbred: small (Pequeno), medium (Médio) and large (Grande). Their coats are either short and 'smooth', or longer and 'wired'. The smooth coated variety is traditional, whereas the wire coated variety is an outcome of the assimilation of various other breeds during the 20th century. In general, the breed is healthy; the Pequeno (small) variety has an average lifespan of approximately 15–17 years.

All Podengo types are hardy, intelligent and lively dogs, excelling at agility and making fine companions. Loyal and fearless, Podengos are also good house guards and are amenable to training by dog experienced people and those that enjoy primitive (unrefined, "less domesticated") dog behavior.

Keen hunting dogs, the Podengo has an affinity for game regardless of size. Typically, the dogs hunt in a pack with their handler following. When game is found, they kill and retrieve it, or flush it towards the hunter to be shot. Each size category traditionally hunts game appropriate to their size and temperament. (Pequeno: rabbits; Medio: rabbits and wild boar; Grande: deer and wild boar).

Description

The Portuguese Podengo is bred in three size varieties, the Large, Medium and Small (in Portuguese the Grande, Medio and Pequeno).^[1]^[2] According to the Clube Português de Canicultura's breed standard states the Large stands 55 to 70 centimetres (22 to 28 in) at the withers and healthy adults weigh 20 to 30 kilograms (44 to 66 lb), the Medium stands 40 to 54 centimetres (16 to 21 in) at the withers and healthy adults weigh 16 to 20 kilograms (35 to 44 lb), and the Small stands 20 to 30 centimetres (7.9 to 11.8 in) at the withers and healthy adults weigh 4 to 6 kilograms (8.8 to 13.2 lb).^[3]

General information

The Grande (large) was developed for deer and wild boar hunting. It will exhaust and hold down the prey and await the hunter's gun. The Grande is now very rare in its home country.^{[citation needed]}

The Medio (medium) was developed for rabbit chasing, flushing, 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.^[4]

The Pequeno (small) was also developed for flushing rabbits from cover. It is also a good mouser.

References

^ Morris, Desmond (2001). Dogs: the ultimate dictionary of over 1,000 dog breeds. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing. pp. 29–30 & 199–200. ISBN 1-57076-219-8.
^ Jones, Arthur F.; Hamilton, Ferelith (1971). The world encyclopedia of dogs. New York: Galahad Books. p. 384. ISBN 0-88365-302-8.
^ "Podengo Português". Clube Português de Canicultura. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
^ "Pondengo Portugueso". UKCDogs.com. United Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2013-03-01.

Alderton, David (1987). The dog: the most complete, illustrated, practical guide to dogs and their world. London: New Burlington Books. ISBN 0-948872-13-6.
Alderton, David (2000). Hounds of the world. Shrewsbury: Swan Hill Press. pp. 20–22. ISBN 1-85310-912-6.
Fogle, Bruce (2009). The encyclopedia of the dog. New York: DK Publishing. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.
Hancock, David (2012). Sighthounds: their form, their function and their future. Ramsbury, Marlborough: The Crowood Press Ltd. pp. 131–133. ISBN 978-1-84797-392-4.
Wilcox, Bonnie; Walkowicz, Chris (1995). Atlas of dog breeds of the world. Neptune City, N.J.: TFH Publications.