The Portuguese podenco, or podengo português, as it is called in its country of origin, is an ancient and emblematic breed of dog from Portugal. Although they are not as well known outside the Iberian Peninsula, they are very interesting dogs that stand out for their great morphological variety. And beyond their attractive appearance, the Podencos of Portugal also stand out for their strong personalities and great versatility.
Origin of the Portuguese Hound
As we told you in the introduction, the Portuguese Podengo is a very old dog breed, which is classified by the FCI within the group 5, which includes Spitz-type dogs and primitive dogs. It is estimated that their first ancestors were introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by the Phoenicians around the year 700 BC
But the appearance and behavior of the current Portuguese hounds have been influenced by crosses between these primitive dogs with some dogs brought by the Arabs during the invasions that occurred in the middle of the 8th century After optimally adapting to the climate and soil of Portugal, the first podencos were subjected to a selective crossbreeding process with the aim of highlighting certain morphological characteristics and instinctive abilities that favored hunting.
Originally they used to accompany their guardians on hunting days and their main prey were rabbits, field rats and other rodents. But with the development of the large hounds, the breed also began to be used for hunting big game. In addition, all varieties served as guard dogs, protecting their homes and families. It is estimated that the variety of Portuguese hounds that we know today began to develop in the middle of the 15th century, when they used to accompany Portuguese navigators on their boats to prevent proliferation of rodents and the spread of diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Despite its age, the official standard for the Portuguese Podengo was only published by the International Canine Federation in 2008.
Currently and for several years, this dog is considered one of the national dogs of Portugal and is the symbol of the Portuguese Club of Caniculture (also known as the Kennel Club of Portugal).
Physical Characteristics of the Portuguese Hound
This canine breed stands out for having a great morphological variety among the individuals that compose it. This diversity is already shown in relation to the size and dimensions of its body, since three sizes of Portuguese Podenco are recognized: the small, the medium and the large The basic proportions of each size, according to the official FCI standard are:
Height at withers:
- Small Podenco: 20 to 30 cm.
- Medium Podenco: 40 to 54 cm.
- Great Podenco: 55 to 70 cm.
Body weight:
- Small: 4 to 6 kg.
- Medium: 16 to 20 kg.
- Large: 20 to 30 kg.
Furthermore, it is possible to identify several common physical characteristics among these dogs and it is precisely these that we will talk about now. But first, it is important to note that the small Portuguese hound differs from the others by having a rectangular profile, since its body is slightly longer than it is tall. In turn, the medium and large podencos are almost square, maintaining a very balanced proportion between the height and width of their body.
All Podencos display a symmetrical body with harmonious lines and should not appear coarse, heavy or gross. His chest is deep and narrow, his back is straight and flexible, while his back is arched and his belly is slightly tucked up. The tail is sickle-shaped and set high, it tapers towards the tip and seems slightly spiky, mainly in podencos with stiffer hairs.
Among the features common to all Portuguese Podencos, there is also a thin head, with an almost pyramidal shape and a little long in relation to the size of its body. Its skull is flat, making its head appear straight when viewed from above, the snout is obliquely truncated and its end is prominent, with a slightly pronounced stop and the nose that will always be darker than the color of its coat.
The eyes of the Portuguese Hound are a bit bulging and very expressive, partly due to the prominent eyebrows that quickly draw our attention to its face and especially to the eye region. Generally, they have brown or honey-colored eyes, depending on the predominant shades of their fur. On the other hand, the ears of these podencos are medium, triangular and pointed with a wide base, having an oblique insertion on the head. They generally have their ears straight and, when they are particularly attentive, they can be tilted slightly vertically forward.
Respecting the coat, there are two varieties of Portuguese hound: the one with long and rough hair, and the one withshort, straight hair , never with undercoat. In both varieties, all shades of fawn and yellow are accepted, from very light shades to deep browns, with or without white spots. The white Portuguese hound with yellow or tawny spots is also recognized. In addition, the small Portuguese hound can have a brown or black coat, with or without white spots. But this type of coat is not considered the most desirable.
Portuguese Hound Character
Portuguese Hounds are energetic dogs, with a strong personality and quite independent. Of course, this does not prevent him from greatly enjoying the caresses and the company of his guardians and relatives, with whom he usually shares a bond of mutual trust and great loy alty. However, they will never behave like lapdogs and will need us to respect their moments of peace and quiet, for example when they feed and rest.
Since they were selected for generations to also be excellent watchdogs, the Portuguese Hound often shows a great protective instinct in relation to his house and also his relatives. Therefore, they can behave in a suspicious and reserved way in the presence of unknown people and animals, especially when they enter their home environment. The socialization will be key for your podenco to learn to relate positively with the different individuals and stimuli that it will encounter throughout its life, in addition to be essential to prevent behavior problems, such as possessiveness and resource protection.
Even today, it is common to find some references to the behavior of the Portuguese Hound as stubborn and disobedient. But in reality, these dogs are quite cunning, active and intelligent, and can be very versatile when it comes to learning tricks, activities and training orders. But they need to be well stimulated to fully develop their cognitive, emotional and social abilities, and they tend to respond very well to positive reinforcement.
Furthermore, his strong and stubborn personality requires more time and dedication from his tutors with his education. For this reason, they tend to be better companions for more experienced tutors, who also have the patience and dedication necessary to provide them with an excellent education, a positive environment and good days of physical activity.
Portuguese Podengo care
The Portuguese Podengo requires simple care to maintain its coat (especially those with short coats) and they do not usually shed much. Likewise, we will need to brush it once or twice a week to remove dirt and dead hair, always using the most appropriate type of brush for our furry fur. Baths can be offered only when the dog is really dirty, or once a month, but we will try not to bathe more than once a week. Excessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally covers and protects the body of dogs, leaving them more exposed to numerous diseases and skin problems.
On the other hand, Podencos require special attention with their education, socialization and mental stimulation. Being intelligent and versatile dogs, they will need to regularly exercise their minds with intelligence games, toys and activities such as the sowing for dogs. They should also engage in daily physical activity to maintain a he althy weight, expend energy, and maintain balanced behavior. At a minimum, we will need to walk our podenco about 3 times a day, and each walk can last from 30 to 45 minutes. In addition, it will be very beneficial to start him in some canine sport, such as agility, or motivate us and start practicing canicross with our best friend.
Like all dogs, our podencos will also need a complete and balanced diet to stay physically and mentally he althy. There are many types of food that we can offer our loyal companions, from choosing an excellent feed as the basis of their diet, offering them a homemade diet or opting for the BARF diet, raw and biologically adapted. The most important thing will always be to consult a veterinarian to ensure that we can provide the most appropriate nutrition for the nutritional needs of our furry ones.
Due to its different sizes, it is quite a versatile companion, being able to easily adapt to different environments. Small podencos can be excellent pets for apartments, while medium and large ones tend to adapt a little better to larger spaces and preferably have an outdoor area, such as a patio, a terrace or a garden. Of course, everyone will need a calm and positive environment in which to thrive, a comfortable place to rest and sleep, and a enriched environment that stimulates your mind and keeps you entertained when family members need to be away from home. Likewise, they should not be left home alone for more than 6 or 7 hours at a time.
Education of the Portuguese Podenco
The education of every dog should begin with the puppy socialization, a stage that begins in its third week and lasts approximately up to three months of life. Therefore, the ideal is to start training your Portuguese Podenco when he is still a puppy, preferably in the first weeks of his life.
During the socialization period, we will need to ensure that our puppy interacts with all kinds of people, animals, objects, stimuli and environments, always ensuring that these interactions are safe and positive for everyone. The socialization of a puppy directly affects its behavior in adulthood. So, if we want to have a well-mannered and obedient partner, we can't stop socializing him correctly from his third week of life. Likewise, it is important to highlight that it is possible (and highly recommended) to socialize an adult dog, with patience, affection and positive reinforcement.
During the first phase of the education of the Portuguese Podenco, we will also need to teach him to relieve himself in the newspaper and to correctly manage the bite so as not to harm other people and animals. At this stage, we will take the opportunity to introduce our puppy to the house rules, always in a progressive and positive way, without ever using punishment, scolding and negative methods that can lead to to serious behavior problems, such as aggressiveness.
After completing his first cycle of basic vaccinations, we will start taking him out walking outside and continue to socialize him with other dogs, people, stimuli and environments. This will also be the ideal time to teach him to relieve himself on the street and start introducing him to the basic dog training commands, which will be essential to encourage obedient behavior and positive communication with other people.
When our puppy finally becomes an adult dog, approximately at the end of his first year of life, we will need to continue working on the obedience commands already assimilated on a regular basis, in addition we will be able to present new tricks, tasks and activities more complete to continue stimulating the mind of your furry. After completing your basic education, we may also consider starting you in advanced training, using specialized circuits or professionals.
Portuguese Hound He alth
The Portuguese Podengo is characterized by its great physical resistance and excellent he alth. When they receive proper care and live in a positive environment, they rarely get sick and their life expectancy is between 12 and 14 years.
However, these furry ones can suffer from some common diseases in dogs, such as stomach torsion and dental problems. And like most dog breeds, it shows a certain genetic predisposition to develop some hereditary and/or degenerative pathologies, such as hip dysplasia. In addition, they can present skin problems and allergies with some ease, so they require special attention with their diet, the hygiene of their environment and their own cleanliness.
To prevent these conditions and preserve the good he alth of our best friend, it will be key to make visits to the vet every 6 or 12 months to certify their he alth status, respect their vaccination schedule and periodically deworm them with good quality products suitable for their size, weight and age.
