This divergence is thought to have originated an adaptation to different climates in Portugal. There are also two coat types, smooth-haired and wire-haired. Smaller dogs are used to hunt rabbits, whilst the larger are sent after deer and boar. ![]() As a result, a Podengo may be classified in three different sizes (Grande, Medio or Pequeno), which define the quarry the Podengo can hunt. The breed was selected for its hunting ability rather than to conform to a standard. The breed has remained relatively stable during the 2,500 years since their arrival in Portugal, although it’s likely that there was some interbreeding with Moorish dogs in the 8th century. Like the Ibizan Hound and other similar breeds around the Mediterranean, it is believed that Portuguese Podengo were brought to the Iberian peninsula by Phoenician and Roman traders. This makes it a suitable choice of national dog for Portugal, the oldest nation state in Europe. Podengo Pequeno are especially known for this trait and get on well with children.Īs one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, the Portuguese Podengo is considered a primitive breed. If they’re given enough exercise, Podengo can make wonderful indoor companions who like nothing better than accompanying their owners. They require lots of access to the outdoors and would enjoy activities, such as lure coursing or flyball, which allows them to display their physical prowess and agility. Podengo are a very active breed and this needs to be taken into account. Although this makes them easy to train, they might not always listen to your commands. They are highly intelligent and independent. The Podengo shares many characteristics with other hunting dogs. Smaller Podengo are used to hunt rabbits while their larger relatives are sent after deer or boar. ![]() Podengo come in three different sizes: Grande, Medio and Pequeno which defines which type of prey they’re used to hunt. The Podengo has always been used for hunting and the majority of modern Podengo still fulfil this role. For over 2,000 years since the Phoenicians brought them from other parts of the Mediterranean, the Portuguese have been accompanied by the Podengo. Not only is it one of the oldest breeds but was selected to be Portugal’s national dog. They are an integral part of the Portuguese people’s survival through the centuries and are still widely popular there even today.The Portuguese Podengo has several accolades to its name. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is one of the 10 national indigenous dogs of Portugal. From which the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is the smallest, the other two being the Medio and the Grande.Įven though Pequenos possesses ancient and rich historical background, they are relatively new to the AKC for the reason being that, the breed entered the AKC (American Kennel Club) Miscellaneous class in 2011 and the Hound class exactly two years later in 2013. All three are considered and recognized as separate breeds from each other. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is one of three size classes of the Portugal Podengo breeds, although they all hail from the southern border in the countryside of Portugal. Yet, their official introduction to the American public was much later, in 1995 when the smooth-coated Pequeno came into the United States, and then a couple of years later in 2001, the first wiry coated had also arrived.Īlbeit the fact that the breed’s ancestors had much smoother coats, ideal in Portugal’s wet north, wiry coats flourished in hot, dry southern Portugal where brambles were particularly abundant. The dogs’ duties were keeping the ship rodent-free during the travels, in order to protect and preserve the food stores and prevent most of the sailors and lower-deck ratings from getting vermin-borne and several other diseases. In the 15 th and 16 th centuries, the breed was taken abroad on ships heading towards America. Firstly, using their sense of scent, then their excellent hearing, to locate the small animals. The dogs hunted alone and also were capable to work together in packs. The dogs’ responsibilities were to flush out the rabbits, capture, kill, and finally retrieve the prey for their human counterparts. In the early days, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno was bred to hunt rabbits for the people in the craggy Iberian countryside. The ancient Roman, Phoenician, and Moorish traders and invaders brought the breed’s ancestors to the Iberian Peninsula over 2000 years ago. The breed, as their name suggests, is originated from Portugal. ![]() It is believed that the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is the world’s smallest hunting dog.
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