WARNING !! This breed is known to become addictive and habit forming....

Think potato chips.... (it's hard to stop at 1....)

Is the Podengo Pequeno the right breed for your family?

The Podengo Pequeno is a small primitive hound that was developed and is still used to hunt rabbits in packs or individually in it's native Portugal. Although they resemble terriers, they are NOTHING like a terrier. They are Hounds and they will come back, unlike most hounds.  They are designed to run over rock piles and under thick brush where the larger sized Podengo Medio/Grandes cannot.

The Pequeno is a completely separate breed from the Medio/Grande. Pequenos are close cover, short distance rabbit hunters while Medio/Grandes are bred for open field Hare, Boar and Deer hunting. Medio/Grande instincts are much stronger for prey and they have been bred to be much more vocal than Pequeno's due to the distance they hunt from their owners.

Due to the manner in which Pequeno's hunt, their feet are flexible and soft like a cat so they do not wear their nails down. Bi-Monthly clipping is necessary. Many of my Pequeno videos include normal sound under the music while the dogs are out in my back yard hunting for Squirrels or Lizards. You will become immediately aware that the dogs are quiet. Unless disturbed, they do not bark throughout the day and do not bark unless they are calling the Pack to their treed prey. Everyone who visits us here at Falcao comment about how quiet the dogs are. I highly recommend visiting us here at Falcao if you are seriously interested in Pequeno's. This way you can get your hands on all ages and both sexes of Pequeno. You can see how the pack interacts with each other and visitors both inside and outside the house.

They are NOT suitable for all homes and family types! No single breed is right for all families regardless of claims to the contrary.

Regardless of how much heavy Socialization you do, when a Pequeno encounters something that upsets them, no amount of encouragement will change their mind. They have to learn to deal with it and move on. This breed was/is bred to Hunt, not spend weekends at dog shows or be on display in large venues with hundreds of people touching them. Keep that in mind when you raise a Pequeno to be a show dog.

If the things I listed above are not a problem for your family to live with, then you might be a Potential Podengo owner. Now that you are aware of this breeds "quirks", I'll discuss the breed so you can get a better idea of what a Podengo is. Make sure you click though my Video collection (link on home page)  so you can see what my dogs are like in various situations.

The wires are often mistaken for terriers because they resemble a small terrier but that is as far as the comparison goes. The wire or Longhair is not as coarse as a terrier and when they change coats the loose hair combs out very easily. Look at the photo of Sultan on the left. You can easily see his hair has a part down the center and the hair appears to be clumping. This indicates that the old coat has reached it's peak and is dying off (starting to fall out). As it dies off, the new coat growing underneath is pushing the old coat up and lifting it. The old coat is dry and falls off to the touch. During this time, I use a simple fine toothed flexible plastic comb to remove the loose dead hair. Once the old coat is removed, you will see a distinctive dark hair line along the center of the back (photo below right). This is the new hair growing in. Initially, the new hair is softer but as it lengthens, it becomes harsher. The Podengo Pequeno wire coat is progressive and must be combed out more often to remove the dead hair when it starts to change. This only happens about once or twice a year depending on the type/length of coat your Pequeno has.  

If left to progress on it's own, the coat can molt large sections of hair starting from the shoulder region then moving along the top of the back and sides towards the rear. The coat can also slowly loosen and continue to fall for several weeks again starting from the shoulder and progressing to the rear. There is no need to strip (using a striping knife) on companion dogs as the coat can be easily pulled off with a comb while it's changing. If you are showing, depending on the length of coat, it may need to be removed either by using the comb and pulling it off or using a stripping knife to make pulling off the dead hair easier. To remove an old dead coat takes about an hour. The photo on the right shows Sultan after his dead molting coat was removed. Dogs that have shorter, harsher coats like Hanna and Star do not molt in the same manner so when their coat changes, it is barely noticeable. Otherwise, the coat doesn't require much attention. Most wires do not have an undercoat so they cannot tolerate very cold temperatures or wet weather for long periods of time. 

They are hounds, not terriers, so they spend a great deal of their day sleeping unless disturbed. Since they are hounds, they do have brief flurries of activity at various points throughout the day or if they are disturbed in some way. These flurries are short-lived bursts of energy unlike other breeds that go non-stop all day long. Pequeno’s are content to find a nice soft place to curl up and take a nap. Often times they choose a nice couch, your lap or your bed. Of course the current state of the bedding they intend to use is never good enough so they must rearrange it to meet their needs. Pequeno puppies however are bundles of energy and enjoy playing all out in-between naps.  

This is a primitive breed that has a wide range of diversity regarding type, color and temperament. They are devoted family members, sensitive, tolerant and love a good game of tug or ball play. Some Pequenos, typically females, are very friendly and loving towards all people while some, typically males, are more reserve when they initially meet new people. A Pequeno prefers to get to know someone and decide if they want that person’s attention or not. They do not care to have strangers force their attention onto them. They are primitive or Feral like in nature especially with strangers. If you watch the "Dog whisperer" Cesar, you'll understand how to initially meet a Pequeno. Always possess calm, assertive behavior when meeting dogs, especially when meeting a primitive breed such as the Podengo Pequeno. The Alpha dog or Pack leader does not use Baby talk or squat down. This is a Pack breed and they interact with humans as they would with another dog in their pack. As Cesar says: Be the Pack Leader

Pequenos are very alert and have extremely sensitive hearing. Their ears are highly mobile as they pick up faint sounds around them. Their hearing and sense of smell is much more acute than my German Shepherds. This is a highly intelligent breed so they are able to figure things out very quickly. They have extremely high food drives and will do just about anything for a treat. They take to training very quickly and thrive on regular mental stimulation much the same way a border collie does. They can have a willful streak to them so early leash training is essential. They will comply with most requests but often times they just tolerate them. They definitely let you know if they like what you’re asking them to do or not. They are extremely expressive and fun loving little dogs. They love all other breeds and they’re always looking for another dog to play with. They are a pack dog and prefer to be in the company of other dogs even though they truly enjoy human attention and companionship. A Pequeno just won’t develop properly unless there are other dogs around for them to interact with. Pequeno’s are hearty little dogs that get along well with most large breed dogs, although I would be quite worried if they were allowed to play with St. Bernard’s due to the size of the paws! They are very tough dogs, so don't mistake them for a toy. They WILL guard their food from other dogs no matter the size. I always feed mine separately as there is no need to have a spat during dinner time. They might argue with one another at times but nothing serious will come of it unlike terriers or shepherds. Podengo’s absolutely love children of all ages. They make wonderful playmates for children and offer excellent companionship for elderly people. Very few breeds of dogs are as versatile as the Podengo these days due to targeted breeding programs for various sports. They are safe, playful, funny, fun-loving clowns that brighten up the lives of everyone around them. They will play ball and tug-o-war, bark if someone comes to the door and provide you with constant companionship. They require minimal grooming, very little food, no health concerns and they are not snappy like most small breeds.

This breed does require mental and physical stimulation. When they can't get out for a good brisk walk or run...consider doing a workout on the treadmill.

Here at Falcao's Pod-Fitness club, our pack eagerly jump onto the treadmill. Zen and Moky like it so much they kept getting on even when it was someone else's turn.

When you decide this is the right breed for you, then what? This is a RARE BREED so there are not that many people breeding them in the US. There are less than 10 people breeding at this time. Most are producing puppies to sell so little care or attention is paid to the long term development of the breed. More than likely, you will NOT find a breeder in your area or region. Do your research and find a Knowledgeable breeder whether they are nearby or across the country. Don't let Geography limit your selection.

Don't let someone talk you into purchasing an Import through them. (Brokering is unethical).  Often times, the worst examples of the breed are shipped out of Foreign Countries, so don't be to upset when you end up with a pet quality dog and you wanted something to show. It happens to everyone more often than you realize.

Once you go Podengo...you'll never go back !!

Last updated: August 29, 2010 04:22 PM