| Portuguese Podengo | |||||||||||||
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.jpg) Medium variety, wire-haired | |||||||||||||
 Large variety, smooth-haired | |||||||||||||
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| Origin | Portugal | ||||||||||||
| Distribution | Brazil[citation needed] | ||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||
ThePortuguese Podengo, also known as thePodengo Português orPortuguese Warren Hound, is a Portuguesebreed of dog ofwarren hound type. As a breed, the Podengo is divided into three size categories that are not interbred: small (pequeno), medium (médio) and large (grande). The coat is either short and smooth, or longer and wiry. The smooth-coated variety is traditional, whereas the wire-coated variety results from the assimilation of various other breeds during the twentieth century.[citation needed]
In theMiddle Ages, hunting dogs in Portugal were collectively known asPodengos de Mostra ('pointers'}. Dogs of this kind were used to kill rats in sea-going Portuguesecaravels.[1]: 248
Recognition of the Podengo as a homogeneous breed began in the early twentieth century.[1]: 248 Thebreed standard for the large variety dates from 1953.[2]
The Portuguese Podengo is bred in three size varieties: large, medium and small (Portuguese:grande,medio andpequeno).[3][4]: 384 According to thebreed standard, the large stands 55 to 70 cm (22 to 28 in) at thewithers and weighs 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 lb), the medium stands 40 to 54 cm (16 to 21 in) and weighs 16 to 20 kg (35 to 44 lb), and the small stands 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) and weighs 4 to 6 kg (9 to 13 lb).[5]
The Podengo has an affinity for game, regardless of size. The large variety is used mainly for hare, either alone or as a pair;[6]: 86 [4]: 384 it may also be used to run down deer.[7]: 21 The medium and small varieties usually hunt inpacks for rabbit,[6]: 86 but may also be used alone.[4]: 384
