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
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height
8-12 inches
Weight
9-13 pounds
Life Expectancy
12-15 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
About the Breed

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
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Patella Evaluation
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
Exercise
Training
Nutrition
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.”