The Portuguese Podegco is an ancient and emblematic breed of dogs of Portugal. Although they are not so well known outside the Iberian Peninsula, they are very interesting dogs that are distinguished by a great morphological variety. In addition to their beautiful appearance, the Podengos of Portugal also attract attention for their strong personality and great versatility.
How about learning a little more about this beautiful and amazing race? Join us in this new Animal Expert archive and we will talk about the origins, striking characteristics, temperament and health of the Portuguese Podengo. Start?
- As we have already suggested in the introduction.
- The Portuguese Podengo is a very old dog breed.
- Classified by the FCI in 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 700 BC.
However, the appearance and behavior of today’s Portuguese podens are influenced by the cross between these primitive dogs and some dogs brought by the Arabs during the invasions that took place in the mid-8th century. After an ideal adaptation to the climate and soil of Portugal, the first dogs were subjected to a selective breeding process, in order to highlight certain morphological and instinctive characteristics that favor hunting.
Originally they accompanied their guardians on hunting days and their main prey were rabbits, country rats and other rodents. However, with the development of the great podens, the race also began to be used among the great fighters. In addition, all varieties acted as guard dogs, protecting their homes and families. It is estimated that the Portuguese variety Podengo as we know it today began to develop in the middle of the fifteenth century, when they accompanied the Portuguese sailors in their boats to avoid the proliferation of rodents and the spread of diseases that they can transmit to humans. Despite the age, the International Canine Federation did not publish the official Portuguese standard of Podengo until 2008.
Currently and for several years, this dog is considered one of the national dogs of Portugal and is the symbol of the Portuguese Kennel Club (also known as the Kennel Club of Portugal).
This breed of dog is distinguished by a wide morphological variety among the individuals that compose it. This diversity is already demonstrated in relation to the size and size of your body, as three sizes of Portuguese podengo are recognized: small, medium and large. The basic proportions of each size, according to the official FCI standard, are:
Height to the cross
Weight:
However, it is possible to identify several common physical characteristics in these dogs, and that is precisely what we are going to talk about now. However, before starting, it is important to note that the small Portuguese Podengo differs from the others in that it has a rectangular profile, because its body is a little longer than high. In turn, the medium and large podengos are almost square, maintaining a very balanced ratio between the height and width of the body.
All Podengos have a symmetrical body with harmonious lines and should not have a rough, rough or heavy appearance. Its chest is deep and narrow, its back straight and flexible, and while the kidney is arched, its belly is slightly raised. The tail is scythe-shaped and tall, narrows towards the tip and appears slightly pointed, especially in the harder-haired podens.
Among the characteristics common to all Portuguese podengos, the thin head stands out, almost pyramidal in shape and a little long in relation to body size. Its skull is flat, which gives the head a straight appearance from above, the snout is cut obliquely and its end is prominent, with a pronounced stop bass. The truffle is always darker than the color of its fur.
The eyes of the Portuguese podengo are slightly bulging and very expressive, partly because of the prominent eyebrows that quickly capture attention on the face and, mainly, in the eye area. They usually have brown or honey-colored eyes, depending on the predominant shades of their fur. On the other hand, the ears of these dogs are medium, triangular and pointed, with a wide base and an oblique insertion in the head. Usually, their ears are straight, but when they are particularly attentive, they can tilt slightly vertically forward.
As for fur, there are two varieties of Portuguese podengo: long and rough hair and short, straight hair, never with inner hair. In both varieties all shades of yellow and yellow are accepted, from very light tones to intense browns, with or without white spots. White Portuguese podengo with yellow or yellow spots is also recognized. In addition, the small Portuguese podengo may also have a brown or black fur, with or without white spots, but this type of hair is not the most sought after.
The Portuguese Podengos are energetic dogs, with a strong and very independent personality. Of course, this does not prevent them from enjoying the affection and companionship of their guardians and family members, with whom they generally share a bond of mutual trust and great loyalty. However, they will never behave like head dogs and you will have to respect their moments of peace and tranquility, as when they eat and rest, for example.
As, for generations, they have been selected to be excellent guard dogs, Portuguese podens tend to show a great protective instinct towards home and family. As a result, they may behave suspiciously and privately in the presence of unknown people and animals, especially when entering their family environment. Socialization will be essential for your dog to learn to positively identify with the different individuals and stimuli that it will find throughout its life, as well as being fundamental to avoid behavioral problems, such as possessiveness and the protection of resources.
Even today, it is common to find references to the behavior of Portuguese podengo as stubborn and disobedient. However, the reality is that these dogs are quite cunning, active and intelligent, and can be very versatile when it comes to learning tricks, activities and training controls. However, they need to be well stimulated to fully develop their cognitive, emotional and social skills, generally responding very well to positive reinforcement.
Similarly, their strong and stubborn personality requires more time and dedication on the part of the tutors in their training. Therefore, they tend to be better colleagues of more experienced tutors, who also have the patience and dedication to provide them with an ideal education, a positive environment and good days of physical activity.
Podengo Portuguese requires simple care to maintain their fur (especially those with short hair) and do not tend to lose much hair. However, it should be brushed once or twice a week to remove dirt and dead hair, always using the type of brush most suitable for your fur. Bathrooms can only be offered when the dog is very dirty or once a month, but try not to bathe it more than once a week. Excessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally coats and protects the body of dogs, exposing them to many diseases and skin problems.
On the other hand, podengos require special attention with their education, socialization and mental stimulation. As they are smart and versatile dogs, they will have to exercise their minds regularly with intelligence games, toys and activities like looking for dogs. Podengo should also exercise daily to maintain a healthy weight, expend energy and maintain balanced behavior. Podengo will have to be taken for a walk at least 3 times a day, and each hike can take 30 to 45 minutes. In addition, it will be very beneficial to start in certain canine sports, such as agility, or to motivate yourself and start practicing canicross with your best friend.
Like all dogs, Podengos also need a complete and balanced diet to stay healthy physically and mentally. There are many types of foods that you can offer your faithful partner, from choosing an excellent diet as the basis of your diet, offering a homemade diet or choosing the BARF diet, raw and biologically adapted. The most important thing will always be to consult a veterinarian to make sure to provide the nutrition that best suits the nutritional needs of your fur.
Because of its different sizes, Podengo is a very versatile companion, able to easily adapt to different environments. Small Podengos can be excellent companions in apartments, while medium and large Podengos tend to adapt a little better to large spaces, preferably with an outdoor space, such as a patio, terrace or garden. Of course, everyone will need a calm and positive environment to develop, a comfortable place to rest and sleep, and an enriched environment that stimulates and entertains their minds when family members need to be away from home. However, they should not be alone at home for more than 6 or 7 hours in a row.
The education of each dog should begin with the socialization of the puppy, stage that begins in its third week and lasts about three months of its life. Therefore, the ideal is to start educating your Portuguese podengo when it is still a puppy, preferably in its first weeks of life.
During the socialization period, you should ensure that your puppy is connected to all kinds of people, animals, objects, stimuli and environments, always making sure that these interactions are safe and positive for all involved. The socialization of a puppy directly affects his behavior in adulthood. So, if you want to have an educated and obedient partner, you can’t help but socialize properly from the third week of life. Likewise, it is important to emphasize that it is possible (and highly recommended) to socialize an adult dog, always with patience, affection and positive reinforcement.
During the first phase of the education of Podengo Portugues, you must also teach him to make known his needs in the newspaper and to manage his bite so as not to hurt other people and animals. In this step you can enjoy and present to the puppy the rules of the house, always gradually and positively, without ever resorting to punishments, reprimands and negative methods that can trigger serious behavioral problems, such as aggression.
After completing your first basic immunization cycle, you can start taking her for a walk outside and continue her socialization with other dogs, people, stimuli and environments. It will also be the perfect time to teach you how to meet your needs on the street and start introducing basic canine training commands, which will be critical to promoting obedient behavior and positive communication with others.
When the puppy finally becomes an adult dog, about at the end of its first year of life, it should continue to work regularly on the obedience commands already assimilated, as well as present new tricks, tasks and more complete activities to continue stimulating the mind of your furry. After completing your basic training, you may also want to consider starting it in advanced training, using specialized or professional circuits.
The Portuguese Podengo is characterized by great physical strength and excellent health. When properly cared for and living in a positive environment, these dogs almost never get sick and have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
However, these hairy dogs may also suffer some common diseases in dogs, such as gastric torsion and dental problems. Like most breeds of dogs, it has a certain predisposition to develop certain inherited and/or degenerative diseases, such as hip dysplasia. In addition, they may have skin problems and allergies with some ease, so they require special attention for their diet and hygiene, both personal and their environment.
To avoid these conditions and preserve the health of your best friend, it will be essential to go to the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months to monitor your health, respect your vaccination schedule and revitalize it periodically with good quality products adapted to your height, weight and age.