A little look at life together.
Getting to know the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small rabbit-hunting hound with upright ears and smooth or wire coat varieties. Make outdoor boundaries secure and choose coat care that matches the individual variety.
An everyday routine
Make space for substantial daily activity and short learning sessions. A busy weekend cannot replace a dependable weekday routine.
Coat care to plan for
A relatively straightforward coat still needs routine checks, appropriate brushing, and attention to nails and teeth. Ask a groomer to demonstrate tools that suit this coat.
Before deciding, meet the individual dog and ask about their history, handling preferences, and current routine. Breed tendencies are a starting point, not a promise about personality.
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno questions
Do Portuguese Podengo Pequenos shed?
Moderately, somewhere in the middle. Both the smooth and the wire coat have no undercoat, and upkeep is simple, with routine brushing, a monthly bath and no clipping.
How big does a full-grown Portuguese Podengo Pequeno get?
Adults stand 8 to 12 inches tall and weigh 9 to 13 pounds. The body is about a fifth longer than the dog is tall, so a Pequeno looks distinctly longer than it is tall.
How long do Portuguese Podengo Pequenos live?
Pequenos typically live 12 to 15 years. That is a breed-wide figure, not a prediction for one dog. The breed is healthy overall, and knee, hip and eye evaluations are the tests to ask a breeder about.
Are Portuguese Podengo Pequenos good family dogs?
Many are. The Pequeno gets along very well with young children and with other dogs, and its temperament is playful, charming and lively. It is only moderately open to strangers, so allow a little time for introductions.
Do Portuguese Podengo Pequenos bark a lot?
About average. This little hunter is also happy to act as a watchdog, so expect to be told when someone is at the door.
How much exercise does a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno need, and can it go off leash?
This is a rabbit hunter in a small body. The breed needs brisk exercise every day, such as a vigorous walk, play in a fenced yard or a dog sport. Pequenos should only be off leash inside a secure fence, because a hunting dog that picks up a scent will follow it without a second thought.
What is the difference between a smooth and a wire Portuguese Podengo Pequeno?
Only the coat. The smooth coat is short and very dense, and the wire coat is long and harsh with a beard on the muzzle. The wire variety had been lost and was rebuilt by a small group of breeders starting in the 1980s.
Is the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno the same breed as the Portuguese Podengo?
No, they are separate breeds in the United States. The Pequeno is the smallest Podengo, at 8 to 12 inches. The Portuguese Podengo covers the two bigger sizes, medium at 16 to 22 inches and large at 22 to 28 inches.
