Setting rules and boundaries in terms of what constitutes as “prey” is extremely important when it comes to this breed as they have extremely strong hunting instincts. Pequenos also get along well with children and other animals, provided that they are socialized early. This makes them a good choice as a guard dog for a small home or apartment. Pequenos are also extremely brave for their size and are alert for any intrusions into their territory. When placed in the hands of a weak leader, Pequenos can often become stubborn and willful and develop undesirable behaviors. The ideal Podengo Pequeno owner should be able to display a calm and assertive style of leadership consistently. Podengo Pequeno Pequenos are lively and companionable and make excellent pets for the right dog owner. The first Podengo Pequenos arrived in America during the late 1990s. The tiny Pequenos are also said to have accompanied Portuguese explorers on their ships as ratters. The Pequeno was bred specifically to flush out and hunt small game such as rabbits in the harsh terrains of Portugal. The Portuguese Podengo is an ancient breed that is believed to have derived from the hounds brought into the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenician traders from Asia Minor. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is an ancient, no-nonsense hunting hound from Portugal. They are also extremely faithful to their owners and make excellent companions.

As it’s a highly intelligent breed with an agreeable personality, they are often easy to train. Pequenos, like all Podengos, are hardy, active and extremely intelligent. The tail tapers off into a point and is curved like sickle. The dog’s back is fairly elongated and muscular. The smallest of the three Podengos, the Pequeno has a distinctive wedge-shaped head, pointy erect ears and expressive almond-shaped head. Podengos also comes in two coat variants – wiry haired and soft haired. These three sizes are generally not cross-bred and each has their own purpose. They are multi-sensory hounds that hunt using both their sight and scent and come in three distinct sizes: The smallest Pequeno, the medium sized Médio and the large Grande.

Portuguese podengo smooth