PORTUGUESE PODENGO PEQUENO
Proposed Breed Standard
Approved 1 June 2008
The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a primitive type dog, its probable origin lies in the ancient dogs brought by the Phoenicians and Romans to the Iberian Peninsula in the Classic Antiquity. This breed adapted itself to the Portuguese territory and climate, originating what is today known as the Portuguese Warren Hound. From the 15th century on, the Pequeno was used as a ratter on the discovery sailing ships. Today the Portuguese use the breed as watchdogs and rabbit hunters in dense cover. The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno was first imported to the United States in the 1990’s and they are rapidly becoming beloved companions. Their lively, playful, fun loving nature has allowed them to adapt quickly to life in the United States where they excel at obedience, agility, rally, lure coursing and other performance events as well as conformation.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
These little hounds have a quadrangular pyramidal shaped head, with prick ears. They have a well-proportioned body slightly longer than tall, well muscled with moderate bone and sickle-shaped tail. They are very lively and intelligent; wary and alert with highly mobile ears. They exist in two coat types smooth and wire-haired.
SIZE & SUBSTANCE
- Height at the withers is 8 to 12 inches.
- Weight range of 9 to 15 pounds; in lean working condition.
Disqualification: Under 8 inches or over 12 ½ inches.
HEAD
The head is lean with a flat or slightly arched skull. Shaped like a 4-sided pyramid, tapering towards a slightly protruding nose tip. Occipital bone is moderately defined. The stop is moderately defined. The planes of the skull and muzzle diverge.
MUZZLE – The muzzle is straight in profile; shorter than the skull; broader at the base than at the tip. Lips are close fitting, thin, firm, and well pigmented.
TEETH – The teeth should meet in a scissors bite.
NOSE - The nose is tapered and prominent at the tip. It is always darker in color than the color of the coat.
EYES - The eyes are very expressive, moderate in size, not prominent, set obliquely, color varies according to coat color from honey to brown.
Fault: Eyes of two different colors.
EARS – The ears are triangular in shape with their length greater than their width at the base. They are carried erect. Highly mobile, the ear can point forward, sideways, or be folded backward, according to mood. The lowest point of the base is at level of the eye.
Fault: Rounded, bent or hanging ears.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
NECK - The neck is straight, strong and well muscled. It transitions smoothly from head to body and is free from throatiness.
TOPLINE – The top line is straight or slightly arched.
BODY - Length of body slightly greater than height at withers. Ribs moderately well sprung and well carried back. The chest is moderately deep and not too wide. The croup is straight or slightly sloping, broad and muscular. There is a slight tuck up.
FOREQUARTERS
The angulations of the front shoulders are moderate. The fore legs are straight, lean and well muscled, with elbows held parallel to the body. The pastern joint is not prominent and the pasterns are short and strong. The wrists are very elastic and flexible.
HINDQUARTERS
The angulations of both the stifle and the hock are moderate. The rear pasterns are strong, short and straight and there are no dewclaws.
FEET
The feet are strong and round, toes tight and well arched, nails strong and short, with firm pads.
TAIL
The tail is set moderately high, thick at the base tapering to a fine point, and at rest it falls in a slight curve between the buttocks. When the dog is in motion it rises to the horizontal and is slightly curved or it may go up to vertical in a sickle shape. The hair is fringed on the underside of the wire coat tail.
Disqualification: Curled tail touching the back.
COAT
There are two types of coat:
- Smooth coat which is short and very dense with undercoat present.
- Wire coat which is rough and harsh, not as dense as the Smooth coat, and without undercoat. The Wire coat produces a distinct beard.
The coat is to be shown in a natural state, the face and feet may be trimmed, but no other trimming or shaving is to be condoned. The coat does transition as the new coat grows in the old coat dies and come out in large sections starting at the base of the neck, down the center of the back and then down the sides of the body. The coat is not to be penalized in this state of change.
Fault: Silky or soft coat.
COLOR
Yellow & white or fawn & white of any shade or primarily white with patches of any shade of yellow or fawn.
The following colors are also acceptable, but they are not preferred: tones of black or brown, with white patches or white with patches of black or brown.
Fault: Brindle and solid white.
GAIT
The movement should be swift and light-footed. Front action is straight and reaching moderately forward. Going away, the hind legs are parallel and have moderate drive. Convergence of the front and rear legs towards their center of gravity is proportional to the speed of their movement, giving the appearance of an active agile hound, capable of a full day’s hunting.
TEMPERAMENT
They are an intelligent, independent, affectionate, alert breed, however they can be wary with strangers and this should not be considered a fault in the judging process.
FAULTS
- Eyes of two different colors.
- Rounded, bent, or hanging ears.
- Silky or soft coat.
- Brindle and solid white.
DISQUALIFICATION
- Under 8 inches or over 12 ½ inches.
- Curled tail touching the back.
