Greyhounds and podencos are two dogs traditionally bred and selected for hunting, with a physical build and similar characteristics in many aspects that sometimes lead us to confuse them. Unfortunately, both races are especially vulnerable in our country, as they often suffer abuse and neglect. This makes it easy to find specimens seeking adoption in shelters and protectors, where they often suffer stress.
In this article on our site we tell you about the main physical, behavioral and he alth differences between greyhounds and podencos and we encourage you to assess the possibility of offering a permanent home to a dog of one of these two wonderful races. Keep reading and discover the differences between galgo and podenco!
Origin of the greyhound and the podenco
Both greyhounds and hounds are very ancient breeds, as the first evidence of their existence seems to date back to the Pharaonic era of the ancient Egypt, where images of dogs very similar to these appeared engraved in its artistic and architectural representations.
Origin of the greyhound
The term "greyhound" comes from the vulgar Latin "gallicus canis" which means "dog of Gaul". Greyhounds are classified in group 10 of the International Cinological Federation (FCI), which corresponds to sighthounds, both long-haired, wire-haired and short-haired. Within this last category we find one of the main representatives of the group, the Spanish greyhound, a dog with a very long hunting tradition, which was already used in ancient Greece and Rometo run after the hares and capture them. It is believed that the Spanish greyhound descends from the remote Asian greyhounds and, although during the Middle Ages its population decreased greatly, in the 9th and 10th centuries it was consolidated as the hunting dog par excellence in the Iberian Peninsula, both among Christian and Christian communities. in Arabic.
Origin of the hound
Regarding the hounds, it is considered that these dogs descended from Egyptian breeds such as the tesem, an extinct dog with very similar characteristics to those of the modern podencos that accompanied the pharaohs and carried out protection and hunting tasks. Another argument in favor of the Egyptian origin of the podencos is the resemblance that they bear with the image of the god Anubis. The FCI includes them in group 5, corresponding to spitz-type and primitive-type dogs, although more recent studies show the great genetic similarity of podencos with other European hunting breeds, which indicates that perhaps these dogs are not as primitive as they are. thought.
Get to know the different types of podencos that exist in this other article.
Physical differences between the greyhound and the podenco
Both greyhounds and podencos sport a slim, elegant and athletic figure, have fine snouts, strong limbs and a long tail. However, they also differ in various physical ways.
The galgos have a small nose and, generally, color black, as are the lips and eyes. His ears are also rather small, set high, triangular and with a rounded tip, they are characterized by the fact that, in most greyhounds, they bend in the middle forming a right angle that falls backwards. Its deep chest and natural slenderness make it easy to feel the ribs and the shape of the greyhound's spine, which stands out against a slightly arched back.
On the other hand, the hound truffle can come in shades black, pink or brown and it is also common for their lips and eyes to be lighter in color than greyhounds. One of its main signs of identity are its large triangular ears that look perfectly upright, giving the podenco an always attentive appearance. Its body is similar to that of the greyhound although, as a general rule, the podenco's thinness is not as noticeable and its back is straighter.
The average height of the greyhound tends to be slightly higher than that of the podenco, although there are several varieties of both breeds, each with physical characteristics and a specific size, so it is difficult to compare the height and weight of greyhounds with that of podencos if we speak generically. Learn about the different types of greyhounds in this other article.
Regarding their coat, there are short-haired greyhounds, such as the Spanish, Italian or English, and long-haired greyhounds, such as the Afghan or Russian, and all of them can present different colors in its coat, from white to black, through shades of cream, brown, gray or even brindle and tricolor. Something similar happens with podencos, although there are no very long-haired varieties, there are short-haired ones, such as the Ibizan or Andalusian, and semi-long and rough hair, such as the Portuguese.
Differences in character between the greyhound and the podenco
Greyhounds and podencos have quite a similar temperament They are dogs very active, sensitive and friendly Both breeds, but especially greyhounds, tend to be somewhat shy and reserved, which makes it easy for them to acquire fears and phobias if they are not properly socialized as puppies. However, if this aspect is taken care of and their physical, social and emotional needs are met properly, these dogs enjoy the company of people and other dogs, are playful and rarely show aggressive behavior. Learn in this article How to socialize a puppy correctly.
The hounds tend to be somewhat more independent and nervous than greyhounds and, given their marked hunting instinct, it is possible that coexistence with smaller animals such as cats or rabbits is complicated and requires a conscientious work of adaptation.
For their part, greyhounds tend to be more tolerant with other animals, as long as they are used to them. They need long daily walks to meet their needs for physical exercise and sensory stimulation, preferably somewhere where they can run or explore the environment freely. However, at home they are quiet and sleepy, so they adapt perfectly to life in an apartment.
Differences in the care of the greyhound and the podenco
Los galgos are sprinters, dogs bred and selected for hunting rabbits and hares in open fields, so, although let us use them for this purpose, it is important to allow them to run and get enough physical and mental exercise on a daily basis through walks and games. On the other hand, their characteristic physical complexion requires a very good quality diet, whether in the form of high-end feed, cooked food or BARF diet, we must ensure that we cover all their nutritional needs, supplement them if necessary and avoid the overweight.
Hounds also need a lot of activity and physical exercise, but they also tend to be a bit more restless and excitable than greyhounds, so what is ideal is to offer them environmental stimulation on a daily basis in the form of smell games, chewing or interactive toys that encourage autonomy and decision-making. Another good option is to carry out small daily skills training sessions with them, because, although both greyhounds and podencos are intelligent dogs, the latter tend to respond better to obedience exercises.
We must bear in mind that both races are very sensitive, so we must never use verbal or physical punishment, as this could affect seriously to your well-being. All their education must be carried out using positive work methodologies, with patience and using reinforcers.
Regarding the care of the coat, everything depends on the type of hair that the dog has, whether it is greyhound or podenco. Those with short hair do not require more than occasional brushing, while those with long or semi-long hair need at least two or three weekly brushings to prevent the formation of knots and maintain a he althy coat.
In the following video we talk about mental stimulation in dogs, something really important in greyhounds and podencos.
He alth of the greyhound and podenco
Now that we know the physical and behavioral differences between galgo and podenco, we will talk about possible he alth problems. The greyhounds are resistant dogs, with little predisposition to suffer important congenital pathologies and with a fairly high life expectancy. However, their traditional rural and very active lifestyle means that the greyhound is at greater risk of suffering dislocations, strains or fractures, as well as diseases transmitted by parasites such as ticks or by mosquitoes such as sandflies. To avoid the latter, it is essential to deworm the greyhound both externally and internally and, of course, comply with the vaccination schedule indicated by our veterinarian. In this other post we indicate how often to deworm a dog.
The podenco is also in fairly solid he alth and has a strong immune system. In his case, heat strokes or thermal shocks are frequent during field trips in summer, so it is essential to keep the podencos well hydrated. On the other hand, some varieties of podenco are especially sensitive to allergies and dermatological problems, which requires special treatment in terms of food and hygiene. The idea that Ibizan Hounds are immune to leishmaniasis is widespread. It is true that indications have been found that this breed could have some resistance to the disease, but they are not totally immune to it, so it is still essential to protect them from mosquitoes through repellent collars or pipettes.
Finally, we must bear in mind that both breeds are very sensitive to low temperatures, so we must protect them from the cold by wearing coats or preventing them from spending the night in gardens or patios during the winter, as this can seriously affect your he alth.
