Portuguese Podengo

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Podengo Portugues Portuguese Warren Hound

Basic Info

The Portuguese Podengo is the name given to the national breed of Portugal. The Podengo comes in three sizes - small (Pequeno), medium (Medio) and large (Grande), each with two hair coats (smooth coat and wire coat). The WPPM is a medium-sized breed with a wire coat that functions as an air conditioner in the hot weather. The single coat (without undercoat) does shed.

Health

However, with careful breeding of only the best and healthiest dogs, larger bloodlines can be built confidently and strongly. Other examples of this situation are the Saluki and Basenji, both breeds which, within the past 100 years, descended from a tiny handful of registered dogs. With careful breeding of the best quality dogs, those are now healthy, strong hound breeds with much diversity.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The WPPM is a friendly, hardy, and intelligent companion. It is very active and is good with children and other animals, including livestock, if it is socialized from an early age. They are watchful and observant and will bark when something gets their attention. They enjoy digging and need a secure fence. It is best if they have their own yard they can 'customize' themselves. When trained, they can have a good recall when not on leash. They are a very enthusiastic, trainable dog with a knowledgable trainer, as evidenced by their popularity in movies, where they are usually cast as a "scruffy mutt." This publicity has enabled the WPPM to obtain a small but loyal fan base in America, who have turned into the first exhibitors and breeders of the WPPM.

Origin

Portugal

History

The WPPM (and Smooth PPM) has existed in America for decades in small numbers with Portuguese-Americans in private home settings where they have been used for traditional rabbit hunting. Amazingly, they were never popularized outside of their immigrant homesteads. If dog-loving Americans had seen them there is no doubt that this breed would have become known sooner, as they are attractive, nice family dogs, with a touch of mischief. The WPPM have only recently been shown and developed as a registered (RVB-Netherlands, CPC-Portugal and AKC-Foundation Stock Service), pedigreed breed in the US and Canada. The WPPM is a very young as a breed in America. There are about 25 breeders worldwide with registered, pedigreed stock. The available bloodlines of WPPMs are extremely limited compared to other breeds of dogs (the coat types are not interbred) and all WPPM are very closely related at this time.

Common Foods

pellet dog food