Portuguese Podengo

Photo: Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Medio

The Portuguese Podengo is the name given to the national breed of Portugal. The Podengo comes in three sizes - small (Pequeno), medium (Medio) and large (Grande), each with two hair coats (smooth and wirehaired).

The rarest of all, the Grande, was most likely developed from larger Medios and the Pequeno was most likely developed also from the Medio. Of the three, the Pequeno displays more color variety because of possible outcrossing centuries ago with other breeds, possibly terriers or other ancestors of the Chihuahua. This is evident in the variety of head shape, body type and coloration in the Pequeno.

Each has a different type of temperament but all three love to hunt, as is their heritage and tradition in their native country. Typically, the dogs hunt in a pack with their human companion following them on large tracts of land with lots of game. Their hunting style is of an independant nature, with the dog(s) forging ahead with the hunter within their site range (which can be many acres). When game is found, they will kill it and bring it back to the hunter or wait for the hunter to catch up and shoot it. Each is capable of hunting game that is appropriate to their size. (Pequeno-rabbits, Medio-rabbits, Grande-deer and wild boar).

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Types and Varieties

There are three types of Podengos: Podengo Grande, Podengo Medio and Podengo Pequeno.

Within each type are two varieties: smooth (also referred to as smooth coat) and wirehaired (also referred to as wire coat or rough coat). None of these six types are interbred, therefore technically speaking, there are six (6) 'breeds' of Podengos! But they are currently referred to as one breed for registration purposes.

In a direct English translation from the Portuguese name reference the coat type is at the end of the name:

o Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Smooth Coat

o Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Wire Coat

o Portuguese Podengo Medio Smooth Coat

o Portuguese Podengo Medio Wire Coat

o Portuguese Podengo Grande Smooth Coat

o Portuguese Podengo Grande Wire Coat

Optional is referring to it in correct English semantics with adjectives before nouns (in this case, the size description being used as a noun in itself):

o Smooth Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

o Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

o Smooth Portuguese Podengo Medio

o Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Medio

o Smooth Portuguese Podengo Grande

o Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Grande

Portuguese Podengo Facts

The Portuguese Podengo is a favorite national dog of Portugal, and the Smooth Medio is featured as the Portuguese Kennel Club's mascot on their logo. It is an ancient hunting breed first written about in the 13th century and depicted on the stonework of 11th century Portuguese churches. A remarkably healthy breed, the Pequenos have been known to live twenty years, with the average lifespan of the breed approximately 15-17 years. The Medios can live to be approximately 12-15 years.

• The Portuguese Podengo is recognized in North America by the United Kennel Club, The North American Kennel Club (formerly 'Rarities'), The Canine Federation of Canada/Fédération Canine du Canada, the Rare Breed Club of South Western Ontario, The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI- Mexico, Puerto Rico), The American Rare Breed Association and the American Sighthound Field Association and is recorded in the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service, the first step towards eventual full recognition by the AKC.

• In Europe, the Podengo is classified by the Fédération Cynologique Internacionale (FCI) as Group 5: Spitz and primitive type, Section 7: Primitive type hunting dogs. The FCI breed standard, which originates in Portugal, governs all types and varieties of the Portuguese Podengo.

• Portugal registers the most Podengos, followed by Finland, England and the United States.

• The small Podengo may have traveled aboard the ships of Portuguese explorers such as Magellan and Vasco da Gama. Evidence points to many breeds throughout the world that may trace their roots to those primitive dogs that also eventually became the Podengo.

• The Podengo is a hardy, intelligent and lively breed, excelling at agility and making fine companions. Loyal and fearless, the Podengo is also a good house guard and easy to train for dog experieced people and those that enjoy learning dog behavior.

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

The Pequeno (small) Podengo is an avid rabbit hunter and fine companion with a rich history. Growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, the wire coat Pequeno comprises about 75% of the Podengos residing in the United States. (www.podengos.com). Often referred to as "the big dog in a small package" the Pequeno is lively, hardy, and exceptionally fun loving.

Wirehaired Portuguese Podengo Medio

Appearance

The WPPM is a medium-sized breed with a rough coat that functions as an air conditioner in the hot weather. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed.

Temperament

The WPPM is a friendly, hardy, and intelligent companion. It is very active and is usually good with children and other animals, including livestock, IF it is socialized from an early age, particularly within the age range of 4 to 12 weeks.

They are watchful and observant and will bark when something gets their attention. They enjoy digging and need a secure fence. It is best if they have their own yard they can themselves.

When trained, they can have a good recall when not on leash. In order to obtain this, the use of a 20 foot long line with clip on one end for the dog and tied on one end to a standard plastic sand-filled 10 lb weight is very helpful in training the WPPM to not run off to do some free-lance hunting! They are a very enthusiastic, trainable dog with a knowledgable trainer, as evidenced by their popularity in movies, where they are usually cast as a "scruffy mutt." This publicity has enabled the WPPM to obtain a small but loyal fan base in America, who have turned into the first exhibitors and breeders of the WPPM.

History

The WPPM (and Smooth PPM) has existed in America for decades in small numbers with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings where they have been used for traditional rabbit hunting. Amazingly, they were never popularized outside of their immigrant homesteads. If dog-loving Americans had seen them there is no doubt that this breed would have become known sooner, as they are attractive, nice family dogs, with a touch of mischief.

The WPPM have only recently been shown and developed as a registered (RVB-Netherlands, CPC-Portugal and AKC-Foundation Stock Service), pedigreed breed in the US and Canada.

The WPPM is a very young as a breed in America. There are about 12 breeders worldwide with registered, pedigreed stock. The available bloodlines of WPPMs are extremely limited compared to other breeds of dogs (the coat types are not interbred) and all WPPM are very closely related at this time.

However, with careful breeding of only the best and healthiest dogs, larger bloodlines can be built confidently and strongly. Other examples of this situation are the Saluki and Basenji, both breeds which, within the past 100 years, descended from a tiny handful of registered dogs. With careful breeding of the best quality dogs, those are now healthy, strong hound breeds with much diversity.