Plate 178 · Mediterranean
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
小型葡萄牙波登可犬
“Possibly the world's smallest hunting dog.”
- Origin
- Portugal
- Country of origin
- The point is a reference position in the country of origin.
- Era
- Recognized as a breed from the early 20th century
- Today
- Hunting dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Portugal
The smallest of Portugal's warren hounds, hunting rabbits in packs through rough country.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Flushing rabbits from cover, alone or in small packs; once also ratting aboard ships.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Medieval hunting dogs in Portugal were collectively called podengos; dogs of the kind killed rats on Portuguese caravels. The AKC repeats a story of Phoenician and Roman introduction. Recognition as a breed began in the early 20th century; today it has three sizes that are not interbred.
04 · Today
Hunting dog · Companion
A hunting dog in Portugal and a lively companion.
Personality
- Playful
- Charming
- Lively
- Hardy
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Tough and tireless: brisk daily exercise in a fenced area.
- Grooming
- Wash and wear.
- Training
- Quick learner; short, fun sessions.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Smooth or wire single coat; yellow or fawn, with or without white
Field note
Its relatives come in three sizes, from this little rabbit dog up to a hare and deer hound.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Portuguese Podengo, small variety, Group 5, standard 94), Clube Português de Canicultura
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Hound Group, recognized 2013. The AKC registers the small variety as a breed; in Portugal and the FCI it is one size of the Portuguese Podengo.
AKC registrations: ranked 164 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Portuguese Podengo Pequeno — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-podengo-pequeno/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Portuguese Podengo — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Podengo
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Medieval podengos, ratting on caravels, three sizes, early-20th-century recognition, hunting use.
- Portuguese Warren Hound - Portuguese Podengo — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/PORTUGUESE-WARREN-HOUND-PORTUGUESE-PODENGO-94.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Portugal; Group 5, section "Primitive type - Hunting Dogs"; accepted 1954.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.