This dog’s energy level, athletic ability, and intelligence make it very good at sporting activities. Once it fixates on food, it may be difficult to rein in. This means it may be more obedient to its nose than its master. Since the Podengo is such a good hunter, it tends to be food-driven. The Portuguese Podengo bonds to a family and has strong pack instincts, giving it a very protective nature. 3 pros and cons of owning Portuguese Podengos The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is considered to be quite possibly the world’s smallest hunting dog. The medium-sized version is the standard for this breed which is the chosen symbol of the Portuguese Kennel Club. Interestingly, the Pequeno is listed separately with the AKC, while the Medio and Grandé are listed as variations of the same breed. Of the three sizes: the large one hunted deer and wild boar, the medium version hunted rabbits, and the Pequeno hunted mice and flushed rabbits out for hunters. The Podengo comes in 3 sizes: small or Pequeno, medium (Medio), and large (Grandé). Also, they are good with children if they are socialized or raised with them (especially the Pequeno.) They like to work and play, though they should be enclosed in a yard with a high fence due to their food-driven nature and their ability to jump. The Podengo makes a good watchdog and companion for families that are willing to exert the energy to train this high-spirited dog. Most Podengos in Portugal are part of hunting packs. It is a high-energy hunting sighthound, meaning it hunts by sight and keys on motion. The Phoenicians bred it around 700BC and introduced it to Portugal around 600BC. 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 is a “primitive” dog. 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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