Portuguese Podengo Pequeno: temperament, size, care and health

About the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is the smallest of the Portuguese Podengo sizes, a light, fine-boned hound with large erect ears, a long muzzle and a slender body. Dogs stand roughly eight to twelve inches high at the shoulder. The coat comes in two types: a short smooth coat and a longer, harsher wire coat with a beard. Colors run from yellow to fawn to chestnut, usually with white markings.

Podengos in all sizes were used on the Iberian peninsula to hunt rabbits. The Pequeno is the one that goes into brush and rock to flush them, working by sight, scent and hearing. These senses are useful in the home as well, where the dog tends to be alert, curious and very much aware of everything going on. The breed is rare in North America but has a loyal following.

Temperament and family life

A Pequeno is bright and playful. It is affectionate with family members and tends to shadow them, though it is not a lap dog by nature. It is reserved with strangers at first and will often announce visitors with a few sharp barks. With early socialization, it settles into a polite attitude with guests.

The breed can live with children who treat a small dog with care, but it is delicate and active, and it may not enjoy rough handling. It generally gets along with other dogs, particularly when raised with them. The prey drive is intense, so small animals outside the family are targets, and a loose Pequeno can disappear in a flash after a rabbit or a squirrel. Cats that grew up with the dog are often accepted.

Exercise and training

The Pequeno has the stamina of a hunting dog in a small body. It needs a brisk daily walk, play sessions and chances to run in a fully fenced area. It is an excellent jumper and digger, so fences must be tall and have secure bases. It is happy with games that involve chasing and searching, and it does well in agility, lure coursing and scent games. It must not be off leash in an unfenced area.

Podengos are smart and trainable but independent. They respond to reward-based methods, with short, interesting sessions, and tune out when drills become repetitive. Recall needs lots of practice. A Pequeno left bored for long hours will find its own amusements, which often means digging, climbing or escaping.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming is simple. The smooth coat needs a quick weekly brush with a soft brush or mitt, and the wire coat benefits from brushing once or twice a week and an occasional hand-stripping or tidy-up. Baths are rarely needed. Shedding is light for both types.

Ears are large and upright, so they let in air, but they should be checked for wax and debris. Teeth are crowded in many small dogs, so regular brushing and dental checks matter. Nails need trimming. The short coat gives little protection from cold, so a sweater is sensible in winter.

Health

The Pequeno is generally a healthy and long-lived breed. Conditions that sometimes occur include patellar luxation, dental problems from crowded teeth, some eye diseases and skin allergies. Because the breed is rare, the gene pool is small, so careful choice of a breeder is important. Breeders commonly check knees and eyes. What is written here about the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is general, and only a veterinarian can advise on an individual dog.

History

Podengos are Portuguese hunting dogs, hounds of a primitive type used to hunt rabbits. The Portuguese breed has three sizes, Grande, Medio and Pequeno, and the medium and small sizes are the ones usually hunted in packs for rabbit. The American Kennel Club recognized the Pequeno in 2013.

Is the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno right for you?

A Pequeno suits an active adult or a family with sensible children, and a household that can offer a high fence, daily exercise and a good amount of attention. It is not right for those who cannot contain a fast-moving prey-driven dog or who want a calm lap pet.

For similar prick-eared Mediterranean hounds, compare the Pharaoh Hound, the Ibizan Hound and the small Cirneco dell'Etna.