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Portugese Podengo

History

The Portuguese Podengo is an ancient hunting breed whose origins trace back more than 5,000 years to northern Africa. Most likely introduced to Portugal by the Phoenicians, its first pictorial representations are found in the Roman ruins in Conimbriga (Portugal) on mosaics and medallions. It’s first written reference is in 1199 AD, during the reign of Portugal’s King D. Sancho I. To this day, the Podengo retains the characteristics of its early ancestors and has a low incidence of inherited diseases or disorders. There are three types of Podengos: Podengo Grande, Podengo Medio and Podengo Pequeno. Within each type are two varieties: smooth-coated and wire-haired. The Grande, or largest, is almost extinct and is used in wild boar hunting. The Medio, or medium-sized, is a popular dog used for rabbit hunting and is the logo of the Clube Portugues de Canicultura (Portuguese Kennel Club). The Podengo Pequeno, the smallest of the Podengos, was also in danger of becoming extinct. In the 1960’s, under the careful guidance and direction of Podengo Pequeno aficionados in Portugal, it began to experience a comeback. This breed is encountered mainly in the north of the country. According to their natural disposition, these dogs are used for hunting rabbits, singly or in a pack. This is the reason why it also goes by the name of Warren Hound. Podengos are also appreciated as good watchdogs.

General Appearance Of medium size and substance, well balanced in proportions, well muscled and with strong bone.
Behavior &Temperament ** Very lively and clever, unassuming and robust.
Head ** Lean, shaped like a four-sided pyramid with a large base, diminishing considerably towards its pointed end. Longitudinal axes of the skull and fore face divergent.
Skull: Flat, almost straight in profile. Superciliary ridges prominent. Frontal groove hardly perceptible; the region between the ears horizontal; occipital bone prominent.
Stop ** Barely defined.

Nose Tapering towards the slightly protruding tip; frontal plane of the nose slightly slanting; its color always darker than that of the coat.
Muzzle ** Nasal bridge rounded (in cross section); straight when seen in profile. Muzzle shorter than skull and broader at its base than at the front end.
Lips **Close fitting thin, firm and horizontal.
Jaws/teeth ** Regular, with strong white teeth. Normal bite.
Eyes ** Very lively expression; barely protruding from the eye-sockets; color varies according to coat color, from honey to chestnut brown; small and set obliquely; color of eyelids darker than coat color
Ears ** Set on medium high and oblique; carried erect, very mobile; vertical forward when the dog is attentive; triangular shape, broad at the base, tapering to a point; ear leather thin; length of ear remarkably greater than width at set-on. Neck ** Harmonious transition from head to body; straight, suitably long; strong and well muscled. No dewlap.

Body Topline: Straight or slightly arched.
Back ** Long, straight or slightly sloping.
Loins ** Straight or slightly arched; broad and muscular.
Croup ** Of medium length, broad and well muscled; straight or slightly slanting.
Chest ** Forechest slightly accentuated, muscular, not too wide; chest deep and long, of medium width; long sternum rising towards rear; ribs hardly rounded, oblique.
Belly *flanks: Lean, with a slight tuck-up.
Underline ** Slightly rising.
Tail ** Set on high rather than low, strong, thick, of medium length tapering towards a fine point; in repose hanging between hind legs with the tip slightly curved upwards; in movement carried horizontally with a slight upward curve or carried upright in sickle shape; never curled up into ring shape.

Limbs Forequarters General * Seen from the front and from the side, vertical and straight, well muscled and clean. Shoulders and upper arm: Long and oblique; strong and well muscled; forming a blunt angle at shoulder joint.
Forearm ** Vertical, long and muscular.
Pastern joint ** Clean, not prominent.
Pastern: Strong, short, slightly slanting.
Front feet ** Round; long, strong, tightly bunched and strongly arched toes; nails strong, short, preferably dark; pads hard and resistant.
Hindquarters ** General ** Seen from behind and from the side, straight and parallel; well muscled, clean.

Upper thigh Long, of medium width, muscular.
Second thigh ** Long, slanting, strong, muscular, clean.
Hock joints ** Set on medium high, clean and strong, forming a blunt angle.
Hocks ** Well boned, short, slanting; without dew claws.
Hind feet ** Round; long, strong, tightly bunched and strongly arched toes; short, strong, preferably dark nails; hard and resistant pads. Gait/Movement ** Swift and light-footed. Skin ** Mucous membranes preferably with black pigment or in any case darker than coat color Skin thin and close fitting.

Coat Hair ** Short or long coat, of medium thickness; smooth in the shorthaired variety; wiry (similar to the bristles of a wild boar) in the longhaired variety. The short coat is denser than the long coat. With the long coat there is a distinct “beard” underneath the lower jaw. No undercoat or fluff.
Color ** Predominant colors are yellow, fawn (in all shades from light to very dark) black (diluted or faded); self-colored with or without white markings; or white as basic color with markings in the listed colors. Size and weight ** Height at withers: 40-55 cm
Weight ** 16-20 kg ** Faults ** Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Eliminating faults General appearance: Any sign of crossing with a Galgo (Spanish sighthound) or a Perdigueiro (Portuguese Pointer). Jaws * Incorrect bite, badly placed teeth. Eyes * Of different colors. Ears * Tipped over or folded. Neck * Arched. Body * Topline distinctly arched. Croup * Exaggerated slope. Belly * Too much tucked up. Tail * Curled up. Dewclaws * Undesirable (affect the grading of the dogs).

N.B. * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

LARGE PORTUGUESE PODENGO The breed characteristics of the Large Podengo, a nearly extinct variety in the country of origin, are almost identical with those of the medium size Podengo, with the following exceptions General appearance: Strong dog with plenty of substance, mainly used for hunting deer. Height at withers 55-70 cm

SMALL PORTUGUESE PODENGO The breed characteristics of the Small Podengo are also nearly identical to those of the medium size Podengo, with the following exceptions General appearance A small dog somewhat elongated in proportions which is used for hunting rabbits as well as driving them from their burrows or rock clefts. Skull Flat or slightly arched. Body Length of body exceeds height at withers. Limbs Short. Forearm straight or slightly turned from outwards to inwards in its whole length. Height at withers * 20-30 cm Weight: 4-5 kg**