Thanks to their keen senses of sight, hearing and scent, these dogs possess superb tracking abilities.Ġ7.) The first written reference about a Portuguese Podengo was dating back from 1199, during the reign of Sancho I o Povoador, King of Portugal. Wire-haired and smooth-haired Podengos size comparisonĠ6.) Podengos are multi-sensory hounds. There, people often keep them in kennels and they’re primarily used as hunting dogs. In their native country, Medios can often be found in the Norte region, while the biggest population of Pequenos is in the Centro region. These two Warren Hounds were actually developed from Podengo Grande. However, Medio is the most common in its native country. So, if you own a small Warren Hound, you can rest assured your household will be quite safe of mice and rats.Ġ5.) When you look at previous fact, it comes as no surprise that Pequeno ( wire-haired especially) is the most common Podengo abroad. These small hounds kept their habits to this very day and are still very reliable mousers. Contrary to other two Podengo varieties, who are mostly used for rabbit hunting, large one is often used for deer and wild boar hunting.Ġ4.) In the past, Podengo Pequenos were carried aboard the ships of medieval Portuguese explorers in the purpose of vermin control. Unfortunately, Podengo Grande is now almost extinct and can only be found in the Alentejo region in southeastern Portugal. This large dog is a direct descendant of ancient dogs brought 3.000 years ago by Phoenician traders from Egypt and North Africa. Also, smooth-haired dogs are a lot older, dating back to the 5th century, while wire-haired dogs were developed during 1900s through the assimilation of some other dog breeds.Ġ3.) Podengo Grande is the oldest of the three. There is a certain difference in temperament between these two types – the wire-haired Podengos are gentler and more affectionate, while smooth-haired Podengos are more stubborn and independent. They are equally easy to groom, but the wire-haired dogs have beards, which need cleaning from time to time. Smooth-haired dogs are more resistant to cold weather. Both types are suited to warm climates and have no undercoats. Sometimes, Podengo was often referred to as a “dog that hunt the rabbits”.Ġ2.) There are two types of Podengo dogs depending on their coats – wire-haired (feathery, medium-length coat similar to a Fox Terrier) and smooth-haired (dense, short-length coat similar to a Greyhound). The Podengo is in fact a shortened version of a medieval phrase Podengo de Mostra, which was a term for pack-hunting dogs. Now, let’s take a look at ten most interesting Portuguese Podengo facts.Ġ1.) Podengo Português is often translated as a Portuguese Hound, but the truth is in Portuguese language there is no actual word for hound. Positive reinforcement techniques are recommended in this case. When working with these dogs, one has to be firm and confident, but calm and careful. Luckily, Portuguese Podengos are relatively easy to socialize and train, but only in the hands of a dominant and experienced owner. Early socialization is particularly important for a Podengo Grande. They are generally good family companions, but only if they undergo early socialization. In their native country, Podengos are primarily used to hunt rabbits. In general, these are all pack-hunting dogs, but can as well hunt singly. They do not only differentiate by their size, but temperament and working habits to some degree. There are three varieties of Podengos – Podengo Pequeno ( small), Podengo Medio ( medium) and Podengo Grande ( large). This is a primitive type Sighhound best known for its excellent hunting skills. The Portuguese Podengo is the National breed of Portugal.

Portuguese dog podengo