Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Dog Breed Information

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is one of the smallest of the three Portuguese Podengos. It is now considered a separate breed from the two Podengos (Grande and Medio). They come in two types of coat, long and wirehaired and short and smooth. Both types are single coated. They are small but are very active, lively, outgoing, and playful.

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno’s distinct features are its wedge-shaped head, lively expressive eyes, and a sickle-shaped tail. The ears are straight-up and pointed. The body is small but muscular with short and strong feet. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a hardy dog which is very energetic, and an excellent hunter.

Origin and History

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is an ancient breed. It is believed that its ancestor was brought to Portugal by Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish traders and invaders. They were bred to be a hunting dog.

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno used to hunt rabbit, vermin, and rodents in a small pack or alone. They are very popular and famous in Portugal. This strong and versatile hunting dog use hearing, scent, and sight for hunting.

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno was used as hunting dogs in ancient time but now they are a great family companion. The American Kennel Club recognized Portuguese Podengo Pequeno in January 2013 as a member of Hound Group. It was first imported in the United States in the 1990s.

Is Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Child-Friendly?

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is friendly with children but is best suited for older children. If they are to keep with small kids, they should be raised with them from an early age. They are loving and very protective of the family children and makes a great companion for them. However, while letting them interact with strange children, supervised them.

Temperament, Behavior, and Personality

Temperament: Portuguese Podengo Pequeno have an active, sweet and playful temperament. They get well with all family members and children too. They are friendly with other canine pets too but are not too suitable for small animals like cats and rabbit due too their hunting instinct.

Behavior: Portuguese Podengo Pequenos are of highly spirited nature dog. They are very playful and energetic that sometime they might know on something and injure themselves. They also like the company of their family and if they leave them alone for a long time, they tend to become destructive and might face separation anxiety.

Personality: Portuguese Podengo Pequeno have smart and alert personality. They are quick to sense any odd activity going on in the surrounding. Since Portuguese They are reserved and suspicious of strangers, they make an excellent watchdog who is always willing to protect its family from any kind of harm.

Trainability

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is eager to please their owner, so they are not a difficult dog to train. However, they might be hard to train for an inexperienced dog owner who is not familiar with its behavior. You should be gentle with them and train them with firmness and consistency.

Provide positive methods of training where you reward them with treats, vocal praises and a gentle pat on the back. This will encourage and motivate your Portuguese Podengo Pequeno to respond to your command.

Facts

• Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is known as one of the oldest dog breeds that date back to 3000 years ago.
• It is a multitasking hunter that hunt by scent, hearing, and sight.
• Portuguese Podengo Pequeno either hunt in a pack or separately and jump right at the prey as soon as they see them.

Health Issues

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is usually a healthy breed with only some genetic problems. The average life span of this breed is between 12-15 years. The canine health issues that they might face are explained below.

Hip Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is caused mainly due to heredity where the hip joints are either undeveloped or dislocated. This will cause a lot of pain on the back of your dog that makes it difficult to move from one place to another. Therefore, if you see your Portuguese Podengo Pequeno struggling to move, consult about the disease with the veterinarian.

Patellar luxation: It is a health problem that affects the kneecap, where the bone is dislocated by moving in either side. When their is dislocation of the bone, your dog tends to hold up their leg for a while until it gets in its original position. However, this is a normal health problem unless it continues for days, you should take it to a veterinarian.

Colors

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno comes in different colors and marking. Following are the colors of the coat Portuguese Podengo Pequeno carry.

• Black
• White & Black
• Fawn
• White & Fawn
• Gold
• White & Gold
• Gray
• White & Gray
• Orange
• White & Orange
• Red
• White & Red
• Chestnut
• White & Chestnut
• White & Yellow
• Yellow
• White Markings

Puppies

Cost: The average cost of Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is between $800-$1000 USD. However, getting one from a rescue organization can cost between $200-$400 USD.

Height and Size: The average height of the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is between 8-12 inches and the average weight is between 9-13 pounds.

Similar Dog Breeds to Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

Portuguese Podengo

Jagdterrier

Dachshund

Australian Terrier

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Visit Doglime for more information about dog breeds history, behavior, training, and personality.

• Single Coated Dog
• Small-Sized Dogs