The joyful and perceptive Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, a hound, is a swift and agile rabbit hunter with a long history. When outside, pequenos enjoy running, romping, and chasing, but they make charming and polite housemates. Of Portugal’s three Podengo varieties, the Pequeno is the smallest, standing 8 to 12 inches at the shoulder and weighing no more than 13 pounds. The wedge-shaped skull with expressive almond-shaped eyes and pointy, upright ears is a distinguishing trait. The strong, long-backed body is covered in a short, thick, or long, wiry coat. The tail is tapering and sickle-shaped. Overall, it has the appearance of a bunny dog that hasn’t been ruined by fads.
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
playful / charming / lively
Hound Group >>
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
8-12 inches
Weight
9-13 pounds
Life Expectancy
12-15 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
The joyous and astute Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, a hound, has a long history as a quick and nimble rabbit hunter. Pequenos love to run, play, and chase when outside, yet they make lovely and respectful housemates. The Pequeno is the smallest of Portugal's three Podengo kinds, measuring 8 to 12 inches at the shoulder and weighing no more than 13 pounds. One identifying feature is the wedge-shaped head with expressive almond-shaped eyes and pointed erect ears. A short, thick, or long, wiry coat covers the sturdy, long-backed body. The tail has a sickle-shaped taper. It appears to be a bunny dog that hasn't been destroyed by trends overall.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Patella Evaluation
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno has two coat types—smooth and wire—and is a straightforward, wash-and-wear kind of dog. He will remain in excellent condition between monthly baths with routine brushing, followed by combing the hair to remove any tangles in the wire coat, and the occasional wipe-down with a damp cloth on the smooth coat. It is not necessary to snip or scissor. Brushing your teeth on a daily basis will help you get started on a proper dental care regimen and reduce the likelihood of problems later on. A nail clipper or grinder should be used to trim nails on a regular basis.
Exercise
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a simple, wash-and-wear breed of dog with two coat types: smooth and wire. Regular brushing, followed by combing the hair to remove any tangles in the wire coat, and the occasional wipe-down with a moist cloth on the smooth coat will keep him in excellent shape between monthly washes. Snipping or scissoring is not required. Daily tooth brushing will help you establish a good dental care routine and lessen the possibility of issues in the future. Regular nail trimming should be done using a clipper or grinder.
Training
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a straightforward, easy-to-care-for dog breed that comes in two coat varieties: smooth and wire. He will remain in excellent condition between monthly washes with regular brushing, followed by combing the hair to remove any tangles in the wire coat, and the occasional wipe-down with a moist cloth on the smooth coat. It is not necessary to snip or use scissors. You may create a solid dental care regimen and reduce the likelihood of future problems by cleaning your teeth every day. Using a clipper or grinder, regular nail clipping should be performed.
Nutrition
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is made commercially or at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.
History
The Pequenos are an old breed. It’s believed that several waves of Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish traders and invaders brought their ancestors to Portugal in antiquity. The Portuguese modified this breeding stock to hunt rabbits in the rugged Iberian landscape. Working alone or in small packs, pequenos aid hunters by routing rabbits from their hiding spots and into open country. They have been dubbed “probably the world’s smallest hunting dog.”
