The podenco canario has been the hunting dog par excellence of the Canary Islands for generations, probably thanks to its prodigious sense of smell. It is currently an excellent companion dog, noted for its dynamic, docile and noble character Do you want to know more about this breed? Are you considering adopting a puppy or adult Podenco Canario? So you need to learn about their origin, education and he alth among others.
In this file on dog breeds on our site we will talk in detail about the Podenco canario, reviewing its most notable characteristics, character or care In addition, we will explain some unique details about this pharaonic-looking dog. Keep reading!
Origin of the Canary Hound
The history of the Podenco Canario is closely linked to the Canary Islands, where the breed was developed, being a very common dog in this area of Spanish territory. It is suspected that their arrival on the island is the result of the displacement of Greeks, Phoenicians or Carthaginians. Its appearance, reminiscent of the figures found in vestiges, engravings, statues or bas-reliefs, suggests that it is a very ancient race, more than 7,000 years old old.
For generations it has been used for rabbit hunting, thanks to its senses, since it has smell, sight and hearing prodigious. It is considered a trail dog Its standard was accepted and registered by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) and by the RSCE (Royal Canine Society of Spain) in year 1999 and, currently, we can see many specimens of this breed in various corners of the Canary Islands, such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Characteristics of the Podenco canario
Podencos canarios are medium-sized dogs, weighing between 20 and 25 kilograms and a height at withers of 55 and 64 centimeters in males and 53 and 60 in females. They have a slender and fibrous body, with powerful and well-defined muscles, a long back and a developed chest, but not too prominent. His limbs are straight and thin but very strong. They have a tail that is always straight and set low and rounded shapes with a slightly more pointed tip. Their ears are large, triangular and erect.
The head of these podencos is long and conical in shape, with a slight stop and ending and a wide nose in a color in harmony with that of the coat. They have a wide snout and small, almond-shaped eyes, whose color is amber, depending on its intensity on that of the fur itself, as they usually go in tune. The coat of the Hound canary can be of different shades of red and white, which vary from orange to mahogany. The coat is short, smooth and quite dense.
Character of the podenco canario
The behavior of the Podenco canario is very revealing, since we are talking about a nervous, restless and dynamic dog Likewise, it is also a dog of temperament noble, brave and docile, easy to handle. However, it is essential to point out that the character of the Podenco Canario will depend largely on its genetics, learning and experiences, so we must socialize the puppy quickly, only in this way will we achieve a balanced and stable dog. Also the result of proper socialization, we are talking about a dog that relates wonderfully with other dogs and people.
Care of the Podenco canario
Podencos canarios are not demanding dogs when it comes to care. However, we do need to pay attention to physical exercise, which includes dog walks, games and sports. It will be essential to keep your muscles in shape and burn all the excess energy accumulated. In this sense, it is worth noting that the " nervousness" characteristic of the breed will stand out much more in its youth stage. Likewise, we must not forget mental stimulation, preferably with smell games, ideal for stimulating your senses.
We will also pay attention to the food, which must be balanced and of quality. It can be a diet based on commercial feed, homemade recipes (careful, it is not synonymous with leftovers) or the BARF diet (based on raw meat). When in doubt, we will consult our veterinarian, who will advise us on intake, preparation, dosage and much more.
We will also take care of his coat, brushing him a couple of times a week with a rubber glove and offering him abath every one or two months , depending on the level of accumulated dirt. On a more or less regular basis we will pay attention to cleaning the ears, cleaning the tear duct or trimming the nails, which will vary according to the age, stage and routine of the individual.
Education of the Podenco canario
The education and training of the Podenco canario should start early, when the individual is still a puppy. Initially we will teach the puppy to urinate in a newspaper and to control the bite, fundamental aspects for a balanced behavior. Later, once the vaccinations are up to date, we will teach the dog to urinate in the street.
While his socialization period lasts, we will introduce him to the basic obedience commands, which include standing still, sitting or lying down, among others. Obedience is essential for a good bond between the handler and the dog, as well as for its safetyWe will always use positive reinforcement. However, although at first we can use food rewards, later on we must progressively replace them with caresses and verbal reinforcement.
Later we can start our dog in more complex exercises, such as canine skills or advanced obedience. However, if you have complications in this process or observe the appearance of behavior problems in the dog, we recommend going to a canine educator, ethologist or dog trainer, figures who can advise and guide us.
He alth of the Podenco canario
In general, the Podenco Canario enjoys a good state of he alth, however, as occurs with all dog breeds, it is susceptible to the development of certain hereditary diseases, among which we highlight the elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia or idiopathic epilepsy (of unknown origin). To prevent and promptly detect the appearance of any he alth problem, we recommend visiting the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months
In addition, always in the hands of our trusted veterinarian, we will strictly monitor the vaccination schedule and periodic deworming, both internal and external. With all this, our Podenco canario has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years
