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Breed Characteristics
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Portuguese Podengo
| Other Names | Smooth Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, Smooth Portuguese Podengo Medio, Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Medio, Smooth Portuguese Podengo Grande, Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Grande, Portuguese Warren Hound |
| Country of Origin | Portugal |
| Weight | Small 9 - 13 lbs. (4 - 6 kg) Medium 35 - 44 lbs. (16 - 20 kg) Large 44 - 66 lbs. (20 - 30 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Small: 8 - 12 in. (20 - 31 cm) Medium: 15 - 22 in. (39 - 56 cm) Large: 22 - 27 in. (55 - 70 cm) |
| Coat | Within each size type are two varieties: smooth (also referred to as smooth coat) and wire (also referred to as wire coat, wirehaired, longhaired or rough coat). All of these types are called 'Portuguese Podengo' as a 'breed,' although none of these six types are interbred. 1.Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (Smooth) 2.Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (Wire) 3.Portuguese Podengo Médio (Smooth) 4.Portuguese Podengo Médio (Wire) 5.Portuguese Podengo Grande (Smooth) 6.Portuguese Podengo Grande (Wire) In its home country, the Podengo is referred to as Small, Medium or Large Podengo. It is acceptable for the hair description to come before or after the 'type' name. |
| Colour | Colours may include yellow, fawn or black with white markings. |
| Litter Size | 1 - 9 puppies; average of 4 Varies by size type. |
| Life Span | 12 - 14 years |
| Origin & History | The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno accompanied Portuguese explorers on their ships for ratting purposes after the Portuguese completed the reconquest of their country from the Moors in the 13th century. Wire Coat Pequenos were first shown in the United States in 2001 when Chicharro de Viamonte, owned by Marilyn Piurek and Kip Bergstrom, was exhibited at an ARBA show in Boston. He was the first Podengo to ever be shown in the United States and the first Podengo Pequeno champion in ARBA and Rarities. Smooth coat Pequenos were first shown in the United States in 2003. Wire Coat Pequenos were first imported to the UK in 2002. The smooth coated Pequeno followed in 2004. Most (75%)of the purebred Portuguese Podengos in the United States consist of the Pequeno size, and most of these (85%) are of the wire coat variety. The Portuguese Podengo Médio, both smooth and wire-haired, has existed, unregistered, in the United States for decades in small numbers with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings, where they have been used for traditional rabbit hunting. They were never really popularized outside of their immigrant homesteads. They are attractive, nice family dogs, with a touch of mischief. The first group of Podengo Médio fanciers met in the US in the early 90's via the early internet Gopher (protocol) system. Registered purebred Smooth Podengo Médios began being shown in America in 2004 and registered purebred Wirehaired Podengo Médios began being shown in America in 2005. The first Wirehaired Podengo Médio to be shown in North America was AM/CDN Ch Evita V.D. Kleiheuvel, owned by Mary Dixon at a United Kennel Club show in Belleville, Michigan. Evita became the first WPM United States Champion (with United Kennel Club) and the first Canadian Podengo Champion (with Canine Federation of Canada). The first Podengo Médio born in North America was Ch Marcos de Retrouvaille and was bred by Dixon. The first Podengo to earn an American Kennel Club Tracking Dog title (on February 17, 2008) was Jolena De Retrouvaille WM, bred by Mary Dixon. Still rare, breeders in Portugal primarily breed for rabbit hunting, not pets. They are hunting dogs, often kept in kennels, not in homes. The idea of Wirehaired Podengo Médios being kept more as house pets began with breeders in Europe. The Portuguese Podengo Grande may have existed, unregistered, in North America with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings, where they have been used for deer and wild pig hunting. The first Podengo Grande was imported to the US in 2008 and the first litter born in 2009 as well as the import of 4 Grande of the wire coat. 2010 brought the second litter of Grande. Breeders in Portugal continue to breed primarily for hunting and the PG is kept and raised in kennels. There is a unique system currently in place in Portugal where unregistered dogs (denoted by the kennel club of Portugal as R.I. or 'Initial Registration') may be evaluated by breed experts and used in a breeding program. Succeeding generations, also evaluated by said experts, may eventually result in a 3 generation pedigree of known, evaluated, 'R.I.' dogs which would thus create a full pedigree for certain formerly "RI" Podengos. This process is carried forth under rules established by the CPC and is not exportable to other countries as it relies on the presence of indigenous wild specimens of the breed. In the United States the American Kennel Club (AKC) has determined that the Médio and Grande size together are to be called 'Portuguese Podengo' as one breed. It will be registered by the AKC in the Hound Group |
| Personality | The Podengo Portugueso Medio is probably the fastest of three Podengos. It is an intelligent, lively dog. Courageous and a good watchdog it is affectionate, making a good family companion. Many Portuguese owners favor the Medio over both of its brothers, the Grande and Pequeno because they feel its size is ideal—not too big and not too small. Regardless of its size, the Medio is a wonderful companion dog and super-efficient hunter. Socialize this breed at an early age and be sure to teach it simple obedience like walking on a leash. They need a firm, but calm, confident, consistent handler. Proper canine to human communication is essential. |
Care Requirements
| Health | There are no known breed-specific health concerns. |
| Grooming | The Podengo Portugueso Medio needs little grooming. Occasionally comb and brush to remove the dead and loose hair. This breed is an average shedder. |
| Exercise | This fast and very active breed needs a lot of daily exercise, including a daily, long, brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. |
| Other Considerations | The Podengo Portugueso Medio is not recommended for apartment life. This breed is well-suited for hot sunny climates and can live and sleep outdoors so long as they have adequate shelter. The Grande (large) was developed for deer and wild boar hunting. It will exhaust and hold down the prey and await the hunter's gun. The Grande is now very rare in its home country. The Médio (medium) was developed for rabbit chasing, flushing, hunting and retrieval. Its hunting style includes catlike stalking and, similar to the Ibizan Hound, it often jumps above the prey before landing on or near it to flush it out of dense brush, rock crevices or burrows. It will dig if necessary to flush prey. The Pequeno (small) was also developed for flushing rabbits from cover. It is also a good mouser and was probably kept on board explorer ships when the Portuguese initiated the European worldwide explorations in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the United States, the United Kennel Club (UKC) represents the breed as shown in Portugal and all FCI countries — the three sizes, all with two coat varieties — as one breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has divided the breed into the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno and the Portuguese Podengo (includes the médio and grande size). This breed Portuguese Podengo is represented by the American Portuguese Podengo MedioGrande Club. The Pequeno entered the AKC Misc class in January 2011 and entered the Hound Class in January 2013. The Portuguese Podengo (which includes the Médio and Grande), will enter AKC Miscellaneous Class on January 1, 2014. |
