The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a tiny primitive breed originally bred to hunt rabbits and go after vermin on ships. In Europe, they are considered one of the three sizes of Portuguese Podengos – which is classified as a single breed. They are fairly new to the AKC, despite being around for hundreds of years, and have been split into their own breed in this country. They are classified as a sighthound by some organizations although they hunt by sight, sound and smell. These little dogs are alert and active, although make great pets for those who can provide them what they need to thrive. They are playful and have very big personalities stuffed inside such small frames!
The PPP can live with kids of all ages, but do best with supervision around toddlers because their small size makes them more susceptible to injury. They are hardy, agile and athletic and are hunters rather than lapdogs. Don’t let their size fool you – this is not a dog that will lay around and watch TV with you. They need homes with fenced yards and owners that can exercise them regularly as they are fairly active and need ways to burn off this energy. They usually do fine in multiple-dog homes as well as they are truly pack dogs, but do best particularly with dogs that are similar in size. Because they bond strongly with their owners, some may develop problems with separation anxiety.
Podengo Pequenos make very good watchdogs as they will alert the whole household whenever anyone approaches. Some will bark only when necessary although others may become quite loud if they think that every little sound requires an alert bark from them! Although tiny, they are courageous and won’t back down if they think the family is in danger. They are wary of strangers and therefore require socialization while they are puppies so that their natural suspicion won’t turn into fear. Socialization combined with training will help them become the loyal friends they are supposed to be, without sacrificing their natural watchdog abilities.
Portuguese Podengos are intelligent and generally considered easy to train. Their speed and stamina makes them great in dog sports such as agility and lure coursing, although shouldn’t be trusted off-leash because of their high prey drive. They are capable of being off-leash trained but the owner must always be aware that a running rabbit or squirrel may “bypass” their training. Although they love to please, they tend to think independently and won’t usually respond in the same way as a Border Collie or Golden Retriever. This said, they need training and activities to keep their brains active.
PPPs come in two separate coat varieties – rough and smooth. The rough coat is wiry in texture while the smooth lies flat to the body, and neither sheds very large amounts. Both varieties require only minimal grooming and both varieties are healthy and long-lived, with records of some members living to twenty! Despite their overall great health and general hardiness, the breed’s coat is not enough to protect them from extreme weather and they therefore should never be outside-only dogs. They need to live inside with several trips to the outdoors for exercise and play.
The PPP has a silly side that he shares with his family often. Always happy, optimistic and playful, he enjoys racing around the house and launching himself off of furniture. For this reason, they can easily be too cramped in an apartment. These little guys pack a lot of energy and a big heaping of comedic antics! This is why exercise is so important – these guys are very high energy. Without enough outlets for the energy they can become destructive.
