![]() She lives out in Connecticut and has a big backyard, something Sophie didn’t get to enjoy, living in NYC. Here Izzy, who is around Sophie’s age, is being a regular pup, doing what regular pups love to do – racing around! In this shot, Sophie is being chased by Izzy, a stunning smooth coat Podengo, who went on to win awards as a show dog. At this time, Marilyn had five Podengos, both smooth coat and wire haired. This was the first of several visits we made with Sophie to meet her tribe. Marilyn turned us onto the breed, when we met her at the very first Meet the Breeds event in NYC, back in 2009. ![]() We were visiting her Aunt Marilyn Piurek, who was the first person to bring the Portuguese Podengo Pequeno into the U.S. This photo was taken when Sophie was about seven months old. For this week’s 52 Snapshots of Life Photo Challenge, I’m taking a little walk down Memory Lane. The Portuguese Podengo can live up to 10-12 years or more.Dogs love to run and Sophie is no exception. That said, it is possible for them to develop Legg Calves Perthes disease (a blood supply deficiency to the femur, causing lameness) or luxating patella. The Portuguese Podengo is a generally healthy breed, and rarely demonstrates genetic diseases. Common Diseases and Disorders of the Portuguese Podengo Secure fencing should be considered so the Podengo cannot escape by digging under a fence, or by hopping over it. For these reasons, caution should be exercised when they are spending time outdoors. Portuguese Podengos enjoy digging, and they can also jump extremely high. ![]() Weekly brushing (of either the short or longer coat), regular nail trimming, teeth brushing, and ear cleaning are recommended. The Podengo is a low-maintenance breed, and bathing is rarely needed. Once trained, they have excellent recall when unleashed. Positive rewards such as play, praise, or food are most likely to reinforce good behavior. Portuguese Podengos are naturally intelligent and benefit from short but frequent training sessions to lessen boredom. They are naturally alert to their surroundings, which makes them excellent watchdogs. They do have a high prey drive, so this should be taken into consideration when introducing new pets to the family, or even when taking the Podengo for a neighborhood stroll. The Podengos are friendly family members, and are good with children and small pets (such as cats or small dogs) if raised with them from a young age. Home and Family Relations with the Portuguese Podengo At least 30 minutes of activity daily (including free play) is beneficial. Their natural athleticism enables them to excel at dog sports such as agility, lure coursing, obedience, rally, or tracking. Most hunting breeds enjoy regular exercise and stimulation, and the Portuguese Podengo is no exception. Most Portuguese Podengos are yellow or fawn-colored. Each size can come with a short, smooth coat or a longer, wirehaired coat. The Portuguese Podengo comes in 3 sizes: small (Pequeno, 10 to 13 pounds), medium (Medio, 35 to 45 pounds), and large (Grande, 44 to 66 pounds). Fun fact: Portuguese Podengos have starred in movies such as “Dante’s Peak,” “Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco,” and “Soccer Dog: The Movie.” Appearance and Size of the Portuguese Podengo They use their very keen senses of sight and smell to aid them in hunting their prey. As there is a resemblance to several other breeds (such as the Pharaoh Hound, Ibizan Hound, and Cirneco dell Etna), the Portuguese Podengo likely developed from these ancestral breeds. ![]() Hailing from the country of Portugal, this ancient sighthound dates back to as early as the 5th century. History and Origin of the Portuguese Podengo
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |