Breed introduction
| Current breed status |
| * Extremely popular in Portugal and already very well known internationally. |
| * Basically it is the most used hunting breed in Portugal. |
| * It also has a distinctive personality. |
| The podengo exists in 3 sizes: Grande, Medio & Pequeno and 2 coat varietes: smooth & wiry. |
| The pequeno (small) is one of the smallest hunting dogs of the world. |
| The standard of the breed |
| The first standard was written in 1953. The same standard is used for the 3 varietes with minor |
| differences fo the pequeno. |
| The standard was modified in 2008 by the C.P.C and approved by the F.C.I. |
| Portuguese podengo pequeno |
| Important proportions: |
| * Pyramid head, wedge shaped, with erect ears, sickle tail, well proportioned and well muscled |
| body with sound skeleton. |
| * Slightly longer in body and of small stature. Body length/height at withers relation of 6/5. |
| Chest height at withers relation of 1/2. |
| * Size 20-30 cm, weight 4-6 kg. |
| Body: |
| The body is slightly longer than higher with a straight top line. |
| * The withers are not prominent. |
| Straight and long back with straight, wide and muscled loin. |
| * Straight or slightly sloping croup, medium sized, wide and muscled. |
| * Chest down to the elbows, of medium width, with long, ribs slightly sprung and inclined. |
| Behaviour and function: |
| * A hightly functional small dog without exagerations. |
| * Very lively, intelligent, affectionate, sound and rustic. |
| * Searches for rabbits in holes, dense shrubs and on rocks goes into small crevices to |
| flush rabbits. |
| * Hunts in small packs and is quite fearless, the high pitched barking shows the excitement |
| of the hunt. This barking sound is called maticar. |
| Coat varietes and colours: |
| * Smooth: short hair, smooth, dense and of medium thickness. |
| * Wire: long hair, harsh and rough, of medium thickness. In this variety it is longer in the |
| muzzle forming a distinctive beard. |
| * In both varietes the skin is thin and tight. No undercoat. |
| * Colour: yellow and fawn, in light, medium and dark shades. Solid, white-patched or white |
| with patches of these colours. |
| * Accepted but not preferred colours: black and brown in all tonalities with or without white. |
| White with patches of black or brown. |
| * Coat faults: silky coat, the colours of brindle, black and tan, tricolour, solid white. |
| Portuguese podengo pequeno shortly: |
| * A hunter by nature. |
| * Lives well in a pack. |
| * Very alert and watchfull. |
| * A sound and healty companion. |
| * Lives to very old age (15/17 years). |
| * An easy dog to keep in the house. |
| *Very intelligent and independent. |
| * Enjoys human companionship. |
