What is a Spanish Podenco?

Podenco is a type of dog, primarily found in Spain, used for hunting. They are a group of breeds rather than a single breed and encompass a wide variety of appearances and sizes, but they all share the characteristics of being sighthounds with large, often pricked ears.

Here’s a closer look at what defines a Podenco:

  • Origin: Believed to have descended from ancient Egyptian hounds like the Pharaoh Hound, brought to the Iberian Peninsula by traders and invaders.
  • Hunting: Podencos are skilled, multi-sensory hunters, utilizing their sharp eyesight, powerful sense of smell, and keen hearing to track and capture prey. They are traditionally used for hunting small game like rabbits, but some larger types, like the Podenco Campanero, hunt larger prey such as deer and wild boar.
  • Physical Traits: They are typically agile, slender, and lightly built dogs with a variety of coat types (smooth, wire, or long-haired) and colors, with shades of red and white being common. Their most striking feature is their large, highly mobile, upright ears.
  • Temperament: Podencos are generally intelligent, loyal, and affectionate towards their families. They can be playful and even mischievous at times. They are known for their athleticism and require a significant amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation. Some may be reserved with strangers, but they are generally not aggressive.

Notable Characteristics

  • Prey Drive: Due to their hunting heritage, Podencos possess a strong prey drive and may chase small animals like squirrels and rabbits.
  • Independent Nature: They can have a stubborn or independent streak that requires patience and consistent positive reinforcement training. Stubborness is typical in hunting dogs, it’s what makes them good hunters.
  • Jumping Ability: They are known for their exceptional agility, including the ability to jump great heights from a stand, sometimes even climbing trees.  6 foot fence is mandatory if considering adoptin
  • Podenco Andaluz
  • Podenco Canario
  • Podenco Ibicenco (Ibizan Hound)
  • Podenco Maneto
  • Podenco Orito
  • Podenco Campanero 
Types: Several types of Podencos exista, often distinguished by their region of origin and size, including:

Important note: Unfortunately, Podencos in Spain are often subjected to abuse and neglect by some hunters, who consider them as tools rather than companions. As a result, many Podencos are abandoned or mistreated after they are no longer useful for hunting. Charities in Spain are working to rescue and rehome these dogs internationally, leading to their increasing recognition in countries like the US.  Grateful Greyhounds is one of the organizations that works hard to find adoption homes for this wonderful breed.