

Never wait until he is six months old to begin training, or you will have a more headstrong dog to deal with. Even at 8 weeks old, he is capable of soaking up everything you can teach him. Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Other drawbacks? They often like to bark and dig. They can become noisy or destructive if they don’t have other dogs to keep them company or don’t receive much attention from their people. Like most dogs, Podengos can become bored when left to their own devices. To train a Podengo, use positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards, and keep training sessions fun and short. He takes well to training for a sighthound and enjoys dog sports such as agility and lure coursing. The Podengo likes a good time as much as the next dog and will appreciate a lengthy walk as well as plenty of opportunities to run off leash in a safely enclosed park or other area away from traffic. Outdoor cats, squirrels, and other furry critters should fear him. He may view other pets such as cats or hamsters as prey unless he is brought up with them and taught to leave them alone. He is close to his family, including children if he is raised with them, but can be aloof toward strangers. The lively Podengo is an alert and intelligent dog whose watchful nature helps ensure that you will always know what’s going on around your home, both inside and out. Portuguese Podengo Temperament and Personality The Podengo Pequeno is now a member of AKC’s Miscellaneous Class, the last step before AKC recognition. They are also part of the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service, a first step toward AKC recognition. They are recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in Europe, as well as the United Kennel Club and the American Rare Breed Association in the U. The dogs were first imported into the United States in the 1990s, so their history in the U. The breeds probably share a common ancestor back through the sands of time. Like his cousins the Cirneco dell Etna, Ibizan, and Pharaoh Hounds, the Podengo is known as a rabbit hunter in his homeland of Portugal. Podengos have appeared in several movies, including Three Wishes, Soccer Dog, and Zeus and Roxanne. The coat can be short and smooth or somewhat wiry and comes in any shade of red, with or without white markings. The Podengo has a slender, rectangular body, well muscled, with a wedge-shaped head and large, upright ears. The largest of the Podengos, the Grande, hunts larger prey than rabbit, including boar. It’s an unhappy Podengo that is relegated to the backyard with little or no human companionship. The Portuguese Podengo should live indoors, with his family. Give the smooth or wire coat a weekly brushing to remove dead hairs, and trim nails, brush teeth and clean the ears regularly. If he is brought up with them from an early age, though, he is more likely to live amicably with cats or small dogs. Sighthounds are attracted by movement, and the Portuguese Podengo will happily chase cats and other small furry animals.

One of his hunting traits is the ability to jump incredibly high. The Podengo’s alert nature can make him an excellent watchdog.Ĭonfine the Podengo to your yard with a tall fence.
PORTUGUESE PODENGO PEQUENO GROUP PLUS
They will enjoy regular exercise of 20 to 30 minutes daily, on leash, plus free play in a well-fenced yard.

Whatever their size, their athleticism makes Podengos naturals at agility and lure coursing, and they can also do well in obedience, rally and tracking. A Medio can produce Grande pups, and vice versa. The Grande, who is little seen in North America, weighs 44 to 66 pounds the Medio 35 to 45 pounds and the Pequeno 10 to 13 pounds. The energetic and friendly Podengo comes in a wire or smooth coat. Podengos are primarily a pack breed, used to hunt rabbits in their homeland of Portugal. He resembles the Pharaoh Hound, Ibizan Hound, and Cirneco dell Etna, and it is likely that all of these breeds share the same ancestry.

The Podengo is alert and should make a good watchdog.The Portuguese Podengo is a sighthound that comes in three sizes: Grande, Medio, and Pequeno. Invest in a tall fence if you get one of these dogs. He likes to hunt rabbits and other furry critters and can jump straight up, very high. He comes in three sizes and two coat types (smooth and wire). This Portuguese sighthound is lively, active, funny, and smart.
