Collection: Personalised Portuguese Podengo Gifts

The Portuguese Podengo is the national dog of Portugal and a breed which the country is very proud of. Rather like the Poodle, the Podengo comes in three different sizes but only the small Podengo is currently recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK.

All three types of the Podengo are considered separate breeds and not interbred. The name means ‘rabbit hunter’ in Portuguese. Quite a rare breed in the UK, they were first seen in this country in 2003. Puppies are scarce and you usually have to join a waiting list.

The Podengo was a farmstead dog bred to hunt rabbits, catch vermin and guard the home and has a history dating back to the Roman Empire and the Phoenicians. The Podengo is thought to be a descendent of the ancient Pharaoh Hound around during the time of the ancient Egyptians and moved throughout the Mediterranean by traders around 700 BC.

Their history in Portugal traces back as far as the 15th century and it was about this time that the dogs were carried on board ship to keep the vessels free from vermin on their expeditions to the Americas.

Alert and high-energy, the Portuguese Podengo is best suited to an active or rural home where there is lots of room and he can take plenty of exercise. They are not the best breed for first-time dog owners as they can be quite a handful like many former working breeds and need strong and experienced handling. However, they can reward early input and training to become a loyal and engaging family pet.