If you’re looking for an alert, lively, playful, and charming pooch that is compact in size, consider the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno. These dogs, which belong to the AKC’s Hound Group, were originally bred in Portugal as rabbit hunters. Today, they make wonderfully alert, active, and even tempered family pets. If you want to know more about this breed, please continue reading.
In terms of size, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos are small dogs, standing 8-12 inches tall and weighing under 13 pounds. The average lifespan of a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is 12-15 years, so this is a long-lived breed.
In terms of family life and personality, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is very playful and extremely affectionate with family members. These dogs are exceptionally patient and tolerant of young kids. They also get along very well with other dogs.
A Portuguese Podengo Pequeno will be neither overly reserved nor over friendly with strangers. This breed has moderate protective instincts and can make a reasonably good watchdog.
Portuguese Podengo Pequenos are adaptable to changes in routine. They are ideal for apartment dwellers, given their size and temperament. This breed is also a great choice for first-time dog parents. You can leave a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno alone for some time but not too long. Portuguese Podengo Pequenos tolerate hot weather moderately well and cold weather a little less so.
Prospective owners of Portuguese Podengo Pequenos should know that these are hounds with a strong prey drive, so they need to be kept on leash while outside. Early training can help make these dogs biddable and well-mannered as adults.
It is not fairly easy to train a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno with gentle, firm, and consistent reward-based methods as these dogs are intelligent and responsive. They have high energy levels and are easily bored, so short training sessions that are fun usually work best.
A daily brisk hour-long walk or a play session in the yard is usually enough in terms of exercise needs. Portuguese Podengo Pequenos have a moderate barking tendency.
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno’s short smooth or wiry coat is fuss-free and pretty much wash-and-wear in terms of grooming care. It does not require clipping and can be brushed periodically to keep it tangle-free. These dogs are not heavy droolers.
In summary, Portuguese Podengo Pequenos are playful and alert canine companions that love to spend time outdoors but are calm and even tempered when indoors with their families. They have a muscular body, erect ears, and expressive eyes and are ideal pets for families that want a no-fuss dog.
If you want to bring home a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno puppy, check out listings of reputable and responsible PPP breeders on Puppy Hero. We’ve done all the homework for you and shortlisted the best breeders of Portuguese Podengo Pequenos so you can bring home your new four-legged companion with peace of mind.