Portuguese podengo is a breed of hound used for hunting in packs. The dog has a pyramid-shaped head with ears that stand upright. Its coat is yellow or fawn (light beige), with or without white markings. It has two coat types: smooth and wire. The smooth coat is short and thick. The wire coat is long and rough. Podengos with a wire coat also have a bearded muzzle. Podengos are split into two sizes. The medio stands from 16 to 22 inches (41 to 56 centimeters) tall at the shoulder. The grande stands from 22 to 28 inches (56 to 71 centimeters) and weighs from 35 to 66 pounds (16 to 30 kilograms).
The Portuguese podengo was bred from ancient hounds brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenician traders around 1000 B.C. The breed was developed to hunt in the harsh terrain of Portugal, penetrating the thickets to get at rabbits and such large game as deer and wild boar. The dogs were bred for endurance to hunt all day long, day after day.
The Portuguese podengo is affectionate, alert, intelligent, and lively. They can be found in packs throughout Portugal. The grande is now rare in its home country.
