Portuguese podengo pequeño is a breed of small hound known for its intelligence and hunting ability. The dog has a wedge-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. Podengo pequeños with a wire coat also have a bearded muzzle. Podengo pequeños generally weigh from 9 to 13 pounds (4 to 6 kilograms). They stand from 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) tall at the shoulder.
The Portuguese podengo pequeño 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 its prey, usually rabbits. Portuguese podengo pequeños were bred with endurance to hunt all day long, day after day.
Portuguese podengo pequeños are energetic and easy to train. They require regular exercise and mental stimulation.
