Portuguese Podengo

Breed Overview

The Portuguese Podengo is a rare and ancient breed of dog that originated in Portugal. It is a small, hardy breed that is active and alert. It has a distinctive look with almond-shaped eyes and pricked ears. The Portuguese Podengo comes in three sizes – small, medium and large – and three coat types.

Care and Grooming

The Portuguese Podengo is an easy breed to care for and does not require a lot of effort when it comes to grooming. All three sizes come in smooth, wire and mixed coats, and each coat type needs a slightly different level of care. The smooth coat requires minimal effort since it does not require brushing or trimming. The wire coat needs some brushing to prevent matting. The mixed coat is a combination of smooth and wire coats, so it needs some brushing but less than the wire coat.

Training and Socialization

The Portuguese Podengo is an intelligent breed that is generally eager to please, making it a great choice for training and socialization. Positive reinforcement training methods work best for this breed. Early socialization is also recommended with plenty of exposure to different people, animals, sounds, and experiences.

Health and Wellness

The Portuguese Podengo is generally a healthy breed, with few breed-specific health concerns. To ensure the continued health of the breed, proper diet and exercise should be provided. Additionally, yearly veterinary checkups and preventative care should be provided.

Living Environment

The Portuguese Podengo is an adaptable breed and can do well in a variety of living environments. It can make a great housedog or apartment pet, though outdoor living is preferred, if possible, to ensure the breed’s happiness. It has a moderate activity level and does best with daily walks or trips to the local dog park.

Temperament and Personality

The Portuguese Podengo is an intelligent and affectionate breed that loves people and gets along well with other animals. It has an independent temperament and is known to be brave and alert. This breed has an instinct to protect and guard its family; however, it is rarely aggressive or territorial.

Common Challenges

The Portuguese Podengo can be prone to barking, especially when bored or not given enough exercise. It is also known to be somewhat independent, so leadership and firm training are necessary for this breed. Additionally, they can be sensitive to certain breeds of dogs, so introducing them to other animals and getting them socialized is important.