The Podengo Português is the Portuguese counterpart to the Spanish Podenco. It comes in small, medium and large.
The origin of the Podengo Português
Podengos were originally robust Mediterranean hunting dogs. The large types go back to oriental sighthounds. In the course of the centuries, several other breeds crossed over. How exactly the later Podengo Português originated, is no longer comprehensible today.
From 1933 onwards, the Podengo Português was specifically bred from many different regional breeds. Official breed standards in three size categories have existed since 1954.
The breed characteristics of the Podengo Português
Depending on the type, these dogs are quite different. It exists as
- Podengo Português Grande (large)
- Podengo Português Médio (medium)
- Podengo Português Pequeno (small)
The large dog is the most similar to the greyhounds. It is mainly bred in the east of Portugal and is very rare.
As a médio, this dog is quite often encountered as a farm and social dog in the north of the country.
The small one is a rough-coated variety and almost resembles a terrier more. Podengo Português Pequeno are popular house and family dogs.
The FCI lists all three varieties under one breed name and Standard 94, Group 5: Spitz and primitive type dogs and Section 7: Dogs for hunting.
- regionally very different varieties
- in three sizes
- versatile hunting, farm and family dog