Podencos are considered under the hunting dog classification, since they have been used mainly for this. Most of them have a body of medium or small stature, with the characteristic of being slim but with muscles. Because of this, these dogs are quite skilled, light, and perfect for hunting prey. Podencos also have a highly developed sense of smell.
These days, it is more common to see people adopting these dogs for their company or as protectors of their home. If you are looking to share your day with these loyal and friendly dogs, In the following article we will talk about the different podencos that exist, in addition to that you will know the characteristics and what makes each one of them particular.
Features
Podencos are dogs that have been growing in Europe, however, the origin of some of these breeds can be traced back to Egypt, Phenicia and some Asian areas. The size can be between medium and small and they usually have a not so long coat. His body is slim, however, he can be compact and muscular.
Much of these breeds began to be bred to be used in hunting seasons or to regulate the population of vermin. In these kinds of tasks, these small dogs can be quite useful, since they are agile and can go into small places, such as burrows.
How many types of hounds are there?
Today you can get eight breeds of these dogs that are recognized by international federations. In addition to this, it is eight breeds that have not yet been accepted are likely to be found.
Portuguese Podenco
From Portugal, the ancestors of dogs can be traced back to the Phoenician population. The variety that is known today had its development in the course of the XNUMXth century, when it began to be bred as a buzzard.
The Portuguese podenco has a small, medium or large size. The dog's coat can be smooth to rougher and it can be short or long, being of a uniform color or with spots. The tones that are accepted for this breed are yellow and fawn in any of their versions. Regarding the personality of the podenco in PortugueseThey are quite attentive and faithful, which is why they are trained as watchdogs.
Canary hound
This breed is native to the Canary Islands, Spain. However, it would be transferred to the islands by an ancient civilization, although it is not known if it was the Phoenicians, Egyptians or Greeks who would introduce these dogs. The estimate that is had of this type of race is of about 7000 years. El canary hound It was specialized for hunting rabbits.
They are medium in size and have a sleek and elegant body. The chest is broad and its morphology is muscular, despite this it has a slight appearance. Regarding its coat, it is short and smooth, it has a mixture of whites with some different shades of orange and red. The breed stands out for having a fairly developed nose, ideal for hunting and large ears than other breeds of these dogs.
Ibizan Hound
La Ibizan dog breed It comes from Spain, to be more specific from the Balearic Islands Mallorca and Formentera. The origin of this dog is estimated to be from the year 3400 BCTherefore, their arrival on the islands was also by an ancient civilization, be it the Romans, Phoenicians or the Carthaginians.
They are dogs with a medium-sized body, with symmetry and proportionate. The coat of this dog is long or short, it can be found in red or white colors or with fawn mixes. The Ibizan breed is used to hunt rabbits and hares. They are highly intelligent, skilled and fast dogs. They are dogs that work as a team and enjoy outdoor activities.
Valencian Podenco
The last breed of these dogs is the Xarnego or Valencian, which was found in southeastern Spain when the Neolithic passed. It is likely that after the invasion of Rome, This canine would reach parts of Europe and would help to form other breeds of these dogs.
They have been specialized to hunt rabbits and other smaller animals, they are agile dogs and have a developed sense of smell. They are also dogs that have great resistance to the high temperatures of the area.
The Valencia dog is medium to large in size. It has a long neck, sturdy legs, and a prominent chest. You can get 3 types of mantles, smooth and hard. These can be found in various colors, such as black, chocolate, fawn and cinnamon, both pure or mixed with spots. In the same way, they have areas of the body that have the most extensive fur, such as the tail, neck and ears.
Andalusian hound
The Andalusian breed has a highly developed sense of smell and since its origin they have specialized to hunt different species, such as ducks or rabbits, for example. They are quite resistant dogsThey are agile, far from what their friendly face shows.
These dogs can come in different sizes, so it can be said that there are 3 types of Andalusian breeds, large, medium and small. They also have a hard, smooth, long and short coat.. The coat can be cinnamon or white, with varied tones.
Pharaoh hound
This type of breed is from Malta, although its breeding takes place in Great Britain. Its main characteristic is an alert and cheerful personality to hunt, A task in which he excels thanks to his developed hearing and smell.
Pharaoh's dogs are thin and medium. It has a very strong scissor jaw and beautiful amber eyes, being one of its most outstanding features. The coat is silky and short, they can come in different colors, such as red and brown with white areas, as in the case of the fingers or the chest.
Apart from those mentioned, there is another class of hound dogs that are not yet recognized by the International Cynological Federation (FCI), the American Kennel Club (AKC) or the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE). These dogs are the Galician, French, Cretan, Palmerian, Iron dwarf and Tunisian hounds.