

They are excellent climbers and jumpers, so a high fence is needed in the yard. Legg Calves Perth, a degenerative condition of the hip joint, and luxating patella, a looseness in the stifle joint (knee), have occasionally been reported in the breed. The Pequeno is a very hardy, healthy breed with few health issues. Talents: Agility, obedience, lure coursing, watchdog, and companionship.The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno’s trot is light and agile, well suited to hunting for hours at a time over rough terrain. Coat color ranges from yellow to dark brown or black, although yellow and fawn are preferable. The coat can be either smooth (short and dense) or wire (rough, long, and harsh). The feet are oval with toes slightly arched. When raised, it should have a sickle shape. The tail should be strong and tapered with light feathering along the underside. The back is straight and long the belly is lean and slightly tucked up.

The triangular ears should be set at the level of the eyes, and are carried upright or tilted forward when attentive. The eyes should be almond shaped, honey to dark brown in color, with a lively expression. The muzzle is pointed and the stop is barely defined.

Small in stature and rectangular in shape, the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno has a wedge-shaped head and erect ears. The Pequeno was accepted into the AKC Hound Group as of January 1, 2013. In Europe, the dog comes in three sizes-small, medium, and large-but in the United States the breed has been split into the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (small) and the Portuguese Podengo Medio/Grande (medium/large). It is also still a popular hunting dog due to its ability to locate prey via sight, sound, and smell. The breed, which can have either a smooth or wire (rough) coat, excels in agility, obedience, and rally, as well as lure coursing. The first Portuguese Podengo Pequeno came to the United States in the 1990s as of 2011, there were several hundred of these dogs in this country, valued as both pets and athletes. Farmers in Portugal used the dog for hunting rabbits and small game, and they were bred to have tremendous endurance, be able to penetrate thickets, and hunt alone or in small packs. The breed can still be seen on eleventh-century churches in Portugal and in some literature dating back to the fourteenth century. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno arrived on the Iberian Peninsula with the Phoenicians more than 2,000 years ago.
