The term "orito/a" refers to a type of bicolor cape (black and gold or brown and gold) that can appear in some dog breeds, such as the Andalusian Hound or the Spaniel.
The Spanish Orito Podenco is a dog with an athletic appearance and a docile temperament that stands out for its exceptional sense of smell, which makes it a wonderful tracker, highly valued in the Andalusian fields, where it originates this breed. In this tab of our site we discover the most relevant characteristics of the Orito Podengo, as well as information about its temperament, education and care. Keep reading!
Origin of the Spanish orito hound
The Orito podenco is a dog of Spanish origin historically linked to small and large game hunting. In reality, this dog is a specific type of Andalusian Hound which, sporting an Orita coat, was excluded from the official standardof the breed, which only accepts the colors cinnamon and white, according to the Royal Spanish Canine Society (RSCE). This fact meant that, over time, the oritos hounds decreased in number, almost disappearing, as breeders preferred to obtain specimens that conformed to said standard. However, some hunters greatly appreciated the versatility and strength that these dogs showed during the long hunting days and made an effort to prevent their extinction through selective breeding, making the population increase again and demanding that the Spanish Orito be accepted. as an independent race. This is how the National Association of the Spanish Orito Podenco was born.
Today, and compared to other breeds with similar characteristics, there are very few specimens of the podenco orito and no institution yet has declared it an "official breed", although the RSCE granted it the category of "ethnic group" in 2012 and is working on the creation of a definitive standard that differentiates the Orito from the standard Andalusian Hound.
Characteristics of the Spanish Orito Hound
The Andalusian Orito is a medium-sized dog Although there is considerable variability in its proportions, the most common is that both both males and females measure between 40 and 50 centimeters tall at the withers and have an average weight of about 20 kg.
He has a muscular, compact and athletic body, with strong limbs that allow him to run and move with great agility on difficult terrain, such as brambles or streams, areas that it frequents during hunting days. Their fur is remarkably thick and resistant compared to that of other races and their hair is thick and short (about 5 cm long), although it is usually slightly longer in some areas, such as the tail.
It has a long snout and a powerful jaw, but without a doubt one of the most striking physical characteristics of the Orito Podenco is its large triangular ears, which give it an always attentive and curious aspect and allow it to capture the sounds that come from different locations, since it can guide them individually. Their eyes, however, are small, round and honey-colored, although their hue can vary slightly between individuals. For its part, the tail of the orito is set low and of medium length, not reaching to cover the hocks, and when it is at rest, its end is slightly curved upwards.
Colors of the orito podenco
There are two varieties with regard to the orito coat of the podenco: the orito negro(gold and black) and the orito chocolate (gold and brown). In turn, the chocolate orito admits different shades, from a very intense brown to a liver tone. As a general rule, and according to the provisional standard of the breed, the golden parts appear above the eyes, on the snout, on the chest, on the belly, inside the extremities and under the base of the tail. In addition, some individuals may also show small white markings , especially on areas such as the chest, fingers or the tip of the tail.
A curious aspect about this dog is that the color of its nose is in tune with the color of its coat, since the black orito podencos have a black nose, while the chocolate orito have a black one. brown shades. Of course, all of them have an exceptional sense of smell.
Character of the Spanish Orito Podenco
The Orito Podenco is a dog docile, noble and very affectionate with his guardians, with whom he seeks frequent contact. It has a great tendency to be social and enjoys the company of other dogs and people, although it is often shy and somewhat skittish in front of strangers, especially if they approach him too invasively.
Despite being a sensitive dog, it has a very rustic character and shows great physical resistance and courage when it comes to crossing rough terrain, entering areas of lush vegetation or even jumping into the water and swim, as long as you have been used to it since you were young. Orito Podencos are very intelligent, attentive and problem-solving dogs, which makes it quite easy to teach them basic obedience patterns and commands, provided that techniques based on positive reinforcement are used for this.
Despite being dogs traditionally associated with hunting, they adapt easily to family life in a house or flat. They are playful and affectionate with children as well as adults and the elderly, and can be perfectly happy in an urban environment as long as their guardians are committed to properly meeting their needs physical and psychological.
Care of the Spanish Orito Hound
Like all hunting dogs, the Orito Podenco is very lively and has a lot of energy, so it needs timely tutors and an active lifestyle, who enjoy taking long walks and going for a walk in the mountains or the countryside from time to time. It is also essential for your well-being to frequently stimulate the use of your sense of smell , since it is your main sense and, in the case of the orito, it is extremely developed. To do this, we can play olfactory games by hiding food around the house, in the garden or using rugs or refillable toys for the dog to search for. In this way, we stimulate him on a mental level and make him relax more easily.
On the other hand, we must control your diet, offering you quality products, whether through high-end feed, homemade food cooked or BARF diet, always following the instructions of a veterinarian specialized in canine nutrition. The Orito Podenco needs to obtain enough calories and nutrients through its diet to maintain its energetic temperament, so we will adapt the amount of food to its age and lifestyle to avoid becoming overweight and always keep it in shape.
It is not necessary to bathe the Orito podenco too often, just do it on time or when we see that it needs it. However, it is highly recommended to brush him frequently, at least two or three times a week, and do it with an appropriate product for his short and thick coat. In this way, we remove dead hair and dirt that may have adhered to it and keep the coat he althy and shiny.
Education of the Spanish Orito Podenco
The education of the Orito Podenco should start from the moment the dog arrives home, which should never be before two months of age, to ensure good early development. It is important to start to socialize him from an early age with different stimuli and make sure he lives positive experiences with other people, objects and animals, in this way we can prevent the appearance of fears in the future. At the same time, we can begin to work on our bond with the puppy, especially through play, and teach him some basic guidelines. Discover in this other article How to socialize a puppy correctly.
The Orito Podenco is a very intelligent dog that enjoys learning new skills, but it is also a sensitive dog, so we should never try to educate it through punishment or imposition As a good hunting dog, he is very attentive to everything that happens around him and can easily be misled, so it is best to carry out short, dynamic training sessions and always use reinforcers that motivate him a lot.
It is also essential to practice the call since the dog is small to prevent it from getting lost following trails in the field or running away after some smaller animal, something that is very instinctive in their race. Precisely this hunting instinct can sometimes complicate the coexistence between an orito podenco and other animals such as cats or rabbits, so if we want to form a multispecies family, we must have patience and make a goodhabituation work prior counting, if necessary, with the help of a professional educator or ethologist.
Here are some articles that may help you:
- How to train a puppy?
- How to socialize an adult dog?
He alth of the Spanish Orito Hound
Podencos are dogs that, throughout their history, have been bred and selected seeking excellence at a functional and not an aesthetic level. This fact has brought benefits to their he alth, since, as they have a very large genetic variability, they are quite resistant to suffering from hereditary pathologies that frequently appear in other breeds, such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
The Orito Podenco Does not usually suffer from major he alth problems and is not as likely to develop food or environmental allergies as the case of other breeds of hunting dogs. Of course, being such an active and indefatigable dog, it is essential to hydrate it frequently and offer it shaded places to rest when we go out with it for a walk in the countryside or the mountains, especially in summer, as it can suffer from heat stroke.
On the other hand, to keep the Orito Podenco in good he alth, prevention is essential and, for this, we must comply with the vaccination scheduleand carry out deworming both internal and external throughout the year, but especially in the warmer months, where there is a greater probability that the dog becomes infested with fleas, ticks or is bitten by a mosquito.
Where to adopt a podenco orito?
Unfortunately, hunting breeds are very often abandoned in our country, especially when the season ends or when the dogs get older, get injured or sick and are no longer able to follow the rhythm of others. Many podencos of all ages and sizes hope to find a family in shelters and kennels throughout the country and, although it is true that orita cape hounds are not the more abundant nationwide, in Andalusia we can more easily find one for adoption by asking at protectoras or by contacting associations animalistas that rescue hunting dogs victims of mistreatment and abandonment.
It is important to note that many times the hounds rescued by the protectors suffer from problems related to fear, such as traumas, phobias or insecurities, since they are quite sensitive animals. In these cases, the ideal is to have the support of a positive ethologist or canine educator who can help us during the process of adapting the dog to its new home.
