Content
- Origin of Portuguese Podengo
- Physical characteristics of Portuguese Podengo
- Portuguese Podengo personality
- Portuguese Podengo Care
- Portuguese Power Education
- Portuguese Podengo Health
O Podegco Portuguese is an ancient and iconic breed of dogs from Portugal. Although they are not so recognized outside the Iberian Peninsula, they are very interesting dogs that stand out for having great morphological variety. In addition to their beautiful appearance, the Podengos de Portugal also attract attention for their strong personality and great versatility.
How about learning a little more about this beautiful and striking breed? Join us in this new form of the Animal Expert and we will talk about the origins, the outstanding characteristics, the temperament and the health of the Portuguese Podengo. Let's start?
Source- Europe
- Portugal
- Group V
Origin of Portuguese Podengo
As we mentioned in the introduction, Podengo Português is a very old canine breed, It is classified by the FCI in group 5, which includes Spitz-type dogs and primitive dogs. It is estimated that its first ancestors were introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by the Phoenicians around 700 BC.
However, the appearance and behavior of the current Portuguese Podengos are influenced by the crossing between these primitive dogs and some dogs brought by the Arabs during the invasions that occurred in the middle of the eighth century. After the ideal adaptation to the climate and soil of Portugal, the first puppies were subjected to a selective breeding process, in order to highlight certain morphological characteristics and instinctive abilities that favored hunting.
Originally, they used to accompany their tutors in hunting journeys and its main prey were rabbits, field mice and other rodents. However, with the development of large Podengos, the breed began to be used in larger fighters as well. In addition, all varieties acted as guard dogs, protecting their homes and families. It is estimated that the variety of Portuguese Podengo we know today started to develop in the middle of the XV century, when they accompanied Portuguese sailors in their boats to prevent the proliferation of rodents and the spread of diseases they can transmit to humans. Despite its age, the official Portuguese Podengo standard was only published by the International Canine Federation in 2008.
Currently and for several years, this dog is considered a of the national dogs of Portugal and is the symbol of the Clube Português de Canicultura (also known as the Kennel Club de Portugal).
Physical characteristics of Portuguese Podengo
This breed of dogs stands out for having a great morphological variety among the individuals that compose it. This diversity is already demonstrated in relation to the size and dimensions of your body, as they are recognized three sizes of Portuguese Podengo: small, medium and large. The basic proportions of each size, according to the official FCI standard, are as follows:
Height at withers:
- Small Podengo: 20 to 30 cm.
- Medium Podengo: 40 to 54 cm.
- Podengo Grande: 55 to 70 cm.
Body weight:
- Small: 4 to 6 kg.
- Medium: 16 to 20 kg.
- Large: 20 to 30 kg.
Still, it's possible to identify several physical characteristics common to these dogs, and that's precisely what we'll talk about now. However, before starting, it is important to point out that the small Portuguese Podengo differs from the others by having a rectangular profile, as its body is a little longer than it is tall. In turn, medium and large Podengos are almost square, maintaining a very balanced proportion between height and width of the body.
All Podengos have a symmetrical body with harmonious lines and they must not look rough, coarse, or heavy. Your chest is deep and narrow, your back is straight and supple, and while your loin is arched, your belly is slightly drawn in. The tail is sickle-shaped and set on high, tapering towards the tip and appearing slightly pointed, especially in the harder-haired Podengos.
Among the characteristics common to all Portuguese Podengos, the slender head stands out, with an almost pyramidal shape and a little long in relation to the size of the body. Its skull is flat, making the head appear straight when viewed from above, the muzzle is obliquely truncated, and the end is prominent, with a slight stop. The nose is always darker than its coat color.
The Portuguese Podengo's eyes are a little bulging and very expressive, in part because of the prominent eyebrows that quickly capture attention to the face and, mainly, to the eye region. They usually have brown or honey colored eyes, depending on the predominant shade of their coat. On the other hand, the ears of these puppies are medium, triangular and pointed, with a wide base and oblique insertion on the head. Generally, their ears are straight, but when they are especially attentive they can be tilted slightly vertically forward.
Regarding the coat, there are two varieties of Portuguese Podengo: the dand long and coarse hair and the one of short and straight fur, never with an inner layer of hair. In both varieties, all shades of leonado and yellow are accepted, from very light tones to intense browns, with or without white spots. The white Portuguese Podengo with yellow or lionized spots is also recognised. In addition, the small Portuguese Podengo can also have a brown or black coat, with or without white spots, but this type of coat is not the most sought after.
Portuguese Podengo personality
The Portuguese Podengos are energetic dogs, with a strong personality and quite independent. Obviously, this doesn't stop them from enjoying the affection and company of their guardians and family, with whom they usually share a bond of mutual trust and great loyalty. However, they will never behave like lap dogs and you will need to respect their moments of peace and quiet, such as when they feed and rest, for example.
Since, for generations, they have been selected to also be excellent guard dogs, Portuguese Podengos tend to display a great deal of protective instinct in relation to home and family. Therefore, they may behave suspiciously and reservedly in the presence of unknown people and animals, especially when they enter their home environment. THE socialization it will be essential for your dog to learn to relate in a positive way with the different individuals and stimuli he will encounter throughout his life, in addition to being essential to avoid behavioral problems, such as possessiveness and the protection of resources.
Even today, it is common to find some references to the Portuguese Podengo's behavior as stubborn and disobedient. However, the reality is that these dogs are quite shrewd, active and intelligent, they can be very versatile when it comes to learning tricks, activities and training commands. However, they need to be well stimulated to fully develop their cognitive, emotional, and social skills, often responding very well to positive reinforcement.
Likewise, your strong and stubborn personality it requires more time and dedication on the part of tutors in their education. For this reason, they tend to be better companions for more experienced tutors, who also have the patience and dedication to provide them with an ideal education, a positive environment, and good physical activity days.
Portuguese Podengo Care
The Portuguese Podengo requires simple care to maintain their coat (especially those with short coats) and they don't tend to lose much hair. Still, you must brush it once or twice a week to remove dirt and dead hair, always using the most appropriate type of brush for your furry coat. Baths can only be offered when the dog is very dirty or once a month, but try not to bathe him more than once a week. Excessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally coats and protects puppies' bodies, leaving them more exposed to numerous diseases and skin problems.
On the other hand, Podengos require special attention with their education, socialization and mental stimulation. As smart and versatile dogs, they will need to exercise their minds regularly with intelligence games, toys and activities like searching for dogs. Podengo also needs to exercise daily to maintain a healthy weight, expend energy and maintain balanced behavior. It will be necessary to take the Podengo to walk, at least, about 3 times a day, and each walk can last from 30 to 45 minutes. Also, it will be very beneficial to start him in some canine sport, such as agility, or get motivated and start practicing the canicross along 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 food that you can offer your loyal companion, from choosing an excellent feed as the basis of your diet, offering a homemade diet or opting for the BARF diet, raw and biologically adapted. The most important thing will always be to consult a veterinarian to ensure you are providing the most adequate nutrition for your furry's nutritional needs.
Due to its different sizes, the Podengo is a very versatile companion, able to easily adapt to different environments. Small Podengos can make excellent companions in apartments, while medium and large Podengos tend to adapt a little better to larger spaces, preferably with an outdoor area 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 a enriched environment that stimulates your mind and keeps you entertained when your family members need to be away from home. Still, they shouldn't be alone at home for more than 6 or 7 hours straight.
Portuguese Power Education
Every dog's education should start with the puppy socialization, a stage that starts in its third week and lasts approximately until three months of 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 must ensure that your puppy interacts with all types of people, animals, objects, stimuli and environments, always ensuring that these interactions are safe and positive for everyone involved. A puppy's socialization directly affects its behavior in adulthood. So if you want to have a polite and obedient partner, you must socialize it correctly from his third week of life. Also, it is important to emphasize that it is possible (and highly recommended) to socialize an adult dog, always relying on patience, affection and positive reinforcement.
During the first phase of education of Podengo Português, you also need to teach him to do his needs in the newspaper and to correctly manage his bite so as not to hurt other people and animals. At this stage, you can take the opportunity and introduce the puppy to the house rules, always progressively and positively, without ever using punishments, reprimands and negative methods that can trigger serious behavior problems, such as aggression.
After completing your first cycle of basic vaccinations, you can start taking him to walk abroad and continue your socialization with other dogs, people, stimuli and environments. This will also be the ideal time to teach him to do his needs on the street and start presenting the basic canine training commands, which will be instrumental in promoting obedient behavior and positive communication with other people.
When your puppy finally becomes an adult dog, towards the end of its first year of life, you should regularly continue to work through the already learned obedience commands, as well as introduce new tricks, tasks, and more complete activities to continue stimulating your pet's mind. furry. Once you've completed your basic education, you may also want to consider starting it with some advanced training, using circuits or specialized professionals.
Portuguese Podengo Health
The Portuguese Podengo is characterized by having great physical strength and excellent health. When they receive proper care and live in a positive environment, these dogs rarely get sick, and their life expectancy is 12 to 14 years.
However, these furry ones can also suffer from some common ailments in puppies, such as gastric torsion and dental problems. Like most dog breeds, it has a certain predisposition to develop some hereditary and/or degenerative diseases, such as hip dysplasia. In addition, they can present skin problems and allergies with some ease, so they require special attention to their diet and hygiene, both personal and their environment.
To avoid these conditions and preserve your best friend's good health, it will be essential to visit the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months to check their health status, respect their vaccination schedule and periodically deworm them with good quality products suitable for your size, weight and age.