Portuguese Podengo
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| Portuguese Podengo | |||||||||||||||||||
 Wire Coat Portuguese Podengo Pequeno |
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| Other names | Podengo Portugues Portuguese Warren Hound |
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| Country of origin | Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||
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| The UKC does not have an official breed standard | |||||||||||||||||||
The Portuguese Podengo is an ancient multi-sensory hound (sight, scent and hearing) breed of dog from Portugal. The Podengo comes in three sizes - small (Pequeno), medium (Medio) and large (Grande), each with two hair coats (smooth and wire coat).
All three sizes were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Phoenicians. Contrary to popular belief, neither the Grande nor the Pequeno are derivative of the Medio. For complete breed history of the Podengo, see O Podengo Portugues, copyright by the author Vitor Veiga in June 2001, first English translation copyright September 2005.
Each has a different 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 independent 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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[edit] 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 wire coat (also referred to as wire hair or rough coat). All of these types are called 'Portuguese Podengo' as a 'breed,' although none of these six types are interbred.
- Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (Smooth Coat)
- Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (Wire Coat)
- Portuguese Podengo Medio (Smooth Coat)
- Portuguese Podengo Medio (Wire Coat)
- Portuguese Podengo Grande (Smooth Coat)
- Portuguese Podengo Grande (Wire Coat)
Interestingly, in its home country, the Podengo is called Small Podengo, Medium Podengo or Large Podengo. It is completely acceptable for the hair description to come before or after the 'type' name.
[edit] Portuguese Podengo History
The Portuguese Podengo's probable origin, like all other Mediterranean prick-eared breeds, is from unspecialized, primitive dogs used for various game (all once called 'kelb tal-fenek' or 'thin dogs' ) obtained and distributed by Phoenician traders during the circumnavigation of Africa in 600 BC. They reached the Iberian Peninsula and the land that became Portugal (Port of Gaul, the ancient region of Western Europe) in the 8th Century BC (evidence of 8th Century BC Phoenician presence in Portugal has been found under the Lisbon Cathedral, which was built in 1147). They traded and traveled extensively in this land, which was between their famous city of Gadir (Cadiz) in Iberia and Cornwall, England (where they obtained the valuable tin needed to make bronze). They also moved goods via river transport from their Iberian trading cities as well as stored goods safely on the island of Ibiza. It is entirely possible that the Phoenicians brought dogs with them to these areas at that time as it is very likely that hunting dogs were a valuable commodity for them. When the Moorish (North African) soldiers and their people invaded and occupied the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal and France) for 400 years (from the early 8th Century - to the mid- 12th Century*) they probably brought their own version of these primitive dogs with them, which would have had further influenced and refined Iberian breeds such as the Podengo in Portugal, Podengo Galego in Spain and the Charnigue Hound (or Charnègre Hound) in France.
The Portuguese Podengo was developed with 6 varieties, each suited to different climates, terrain, type of prey and hunting style. Each is a very versatile hunter and companion that uses all of its senses combined with agility, speed and endurance, running singly or in packs. The Wire Coat variety is better suited for hotter climates with its more open coat texture which provides better cooling and the Smooth variety is better suited for cooler climates with its tighter, more dense coat which provides better insulation.
The Grande ('grand' - large) was developed for deer and wild boar hunting. It will exhaust and hold down the prey and await the hunter's gun. The Grande is now very rare in its home country.
The Medio ('mee-dee-o' - medium or 'middle') was developed for rabbit chasing, flushing, hunting and retrieval. Its hunting style includes catlike stalking and, similar to the Ibizan Hound, it often jumps above the prey before landing on or near it to flush it out of dense brush, rock crevices or burrows. It will dig if necessary to flush prey.
The Pequeno ('pee-kenno' - small) was also developed for flushing rabbits from cover. It is also a good vermin exterminator and was probably kept on board explorer ships after *King Alfonso Henrique's defeat of the Moors.
Sources: 1) Phoenicians: Lebanon's Epic Heritage by Sanford Holst, leading expert on the Phoenician people 2) Golden Age of the Moor by Ivan Van Sertima 3) Nature Knows No Color-Line by J. A. Rogers 4) Encyclopedia Phoeniciana by Salim George Khalaf
[edit] Other Portuguese Podengo Information
The Portuguese Podengo is a national breed of Portugal, and is featured as the Portuguese Kennel Club's mascot on their logo. 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 Médios can live to be approximately 12-15 years.
- The Portuguese Podengo in the U.K. is represented by The Portuguese Podengo Club of Great Britain, (www.podengos.org)and the Podengo Pequeno was fully recognised by the Kennel Club in 2003. The Breed Standard was approved on January 1st, 2006. The Pequeno Podengo was transferred from the Import Register into the Breed Register on January 1st, 2008 at the Kennel Club. The Podengo Pequeno now has its own breed classes at Championship Shows and Open Shows (the other sizes are in the process of being included). The Podengo Pequeno will be shown at Crufts for the first time in 2009. There are approximately 400 Podengos (primarily Pequeno) now resident in the U.K.
- The Portuguese Podengo is represented in the United States by the Portuguese Podengo Club of America (www.podengos.com) and is recognized in the US by the United Kennel Club, American Rare Breed Association, Rarities (North American Kennel Club) 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. The Portuguese Podengo participates in AKC's Companion Events - obedience, rally and agility - and in the performance event of lure coursing. Their are approximately 300 Podengos in the United States, most of them of the Pequeno size.
- In Europe, the Podengo is classified by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (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 the United Kingdom, Finland, and the United States.
- In both the United States and the U.K. the Portuguese Podengo is classified in the Hound Group.
- All Podengo types are a hardy, intelligent and lively dogs, excelling at agility and making fine companions. Loyal and fearless, Podengos are also good house guards and are amenable to training for dog experienced people and those that enjoy primitive (unrefined) dog behavior.
[edit] Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
[edit] Appearance
- WIRE COAT
The WPP is a small-sized type with a rough coat. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed but not very much. The dedicated website in the United States for this variety is www.podengosusa.com.
- SMOOTH COAT
The SPP is a small-sized type with a dense smooth single layer coat that is extremely low maintenance. It naturally sheds dust and dirt and dries very quickly. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed but not very much.
[edit] Temperament
Both kinds of Podengo Pequeno are small, friendly, hardy, lively and intelligent companions. They are very active and usually good with children and other animals when socialized from an early age. They enjoy time with their human family.
Like their Medio relatives, they are very watchful and observant and will bark when something gets their attention. They enjoy digging and sunshine and must have a secure enclosed fence. The Podengo Pequeno is trained well with positive techniques and should be kept on leash all of the time during training as they can be quite autonomous and have their own ideas about what constitutes proper behavior. They can be remarkably silly in the home, running around and jumping off furniture with abandon, therefore care must be taken to not allow them free roam of the house (where they have the option of being destructive) or hurting themselves by jumping from too high a perch. A walk with many Pequenos can be a delight and they will continually come back to the owner to make sure they are coming along.
[edit] History
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno may have accompanied Portuguese explorers on their ships for ratting purposes after the Portuguese took back their country from the Moors in the 11th century, (after the Moorish 400 year occupation).
Wire Coat Pequenos were first shown in the United States in 2001. Smooth Pequenos were first shown in the United States in 2003.
Wire Coat Pequenos were first imported to the U.K. in 2002. The smooth coated Pequeno followed in 2004.
80% of purebred Portuguese Podengos in the United States consist of the Pequeno size, mostly of the wire coat variety.
[edit] Portuguese Podengo Medio
[edit] Appearance
- WIRE COAT
The WPM is a medium-sized type with a rough coat that functions as an air conditioner in the hot weather. This coat was preferred in the South of their native Portugal, which is very warm. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed but not very much.
- SMOOTH COAT
The SPM is a medium-sized type with a dense smooth single layer coat that is extremely low maintenance. It naturally sheds dust and dirt and dries very quickly. For that reason the Smooth Coat variety is preferred in the North of their native Portugal, which has rainy winters. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed but not very much.
[edit] Temperament
Both kinds of Podengo Medio are friendly, hardy and intelligent companions. They are very active and usually good with children and other animals, including livestock, especially when socialized from an early age.
They are watchful and observant and will bark when something gets their attention. They enjoy digging and need a secure fence, optimally enclosing their own yard. As they are very agile, regular fencing might not be enough, as they are excellent jumpers and climbers. The best way to address this is with a high enough fence to prevent jumping and a "fence" below the ground, preferably of hardware cloth.
When trained, Podengo Medios can have good recall when not on leash. While hiking with them, they generally stay in visual distance and "check" on their owners frequently, always being aware of their position (although that can mean a few acres away). Of course, they must be trained with a reliable recall first.
They are an enthusiastic, trainable dog. This trainability led them to star in a number of movies in the 1990's, including Three Wishes, Zeus and Roxanne and Soccer Dog.
[edit] History
The Portuguese Podengo Medio, both smooth coat and wirehaired, has existed, unregistered, in the United States for decades in small numbers with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings, where they have been used for traditional rabbit hunting. They were never really popularized outside of their immigrant homesteads. They are attractive, nice family dogs, with a touch of mischief. The first group of Podengo Medio fanciers met in the US in the early 90's via the early internet Gopher (protocol) system and rec.pets.dogs.breeds.
Smooth Podengo Medios began being shown in America in 2004 and Wirehaired Podengo Médios began being shown in America in 2005.
They are still rare. Breeders in Portugal primarily breed for rabbit hunting, not pets. They are hunting dogs, often kept in kennels, not in homes. The idea of Wirehaired Podengo Medios being kept more as house pets began with breeders in Europe. Similarly, American-born Medios are socialized and tempered to household life.
[edit] Portuguese Podengo Grande
[edit] Appearance
- WIRE COAT
The WPG is a large-sized type with a tough but even temperament and a rough coat that primarily functions as a briar-protectant when hunting wild boar. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed but not very much. Registered WPGs are very rare, even in its home country and is not yet available to export.
- SMOOTH COAT
The SPG is a large-sized type with a dense smooth single layer coat that also functions as a briar-protectant when hunting wild boar. The registerd SPG is still rare in its home country, with very few individuals available for export.
[edit] Temperament
Both kinds of Podengo Grande are known to be tough, hardy and intelligently observant animals. They must be socialized very well and carefully by a primitive breed-experienced handler. They are used primarily for hunting wild boar in large packs, where they are released from kennel trucks and sent to chase the boar to its den. They then continue to harass it until it emerges in its attack mode. The dogs then jump in and attach to the boar from all angles and dispatch it swiftly. The waiting hunter can then retrieve the prey.
They will be good guardians and require a securely fenced (at least 6 ft tall preferably with hot wire at top) yard. They enjoy digging dens, also, like their other Podengo relations. It is most closely related to the Podengo Medio, in fact, Podengo Medios which grow too tall for the Medio standard may be classified as Podengo Grandes. This arrangement does not exist in any other way within the Podengo group.
Training will be firm but fair with the Podengo Grande as it must have respect for its handler and be amenable to training.
[edit] History
The Portuguese Podengo Grande may have existed, unregistered, in North America with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings, where they have been used for deer and wild pig hunting.
The first Podengo Grande was imported to the US in 2008.
Breeders in Portugal continue to breed primarily for hunting and the PG is kept and raised in kennels.
There is a unique system currently in place in Portugal where unregistered dogs (denoted by the kennel club of Portugal as R.I. or 'Registration Incomplete') may be evaluated by breed experts and used in a breeding program. Succeeding generations, also evaluated by said experts, may eventually result in a 3 generation pedigree of known, evaluated, 'R.I.' dogs which would thus create a full pedigree for certain formerly "RI" Podengos. This process is carried forth under rules established by the CPC and is not exportable to other countries as it relies on the presence of indigenous wild specimens of the breed.
[edit] External links
Media related to Podengo Português from the Wikimedia Commons.
