Podenco Canario

Temperament:

Independent, Clownish, Committed
Size: Medium
Height: 53-64 cm
Weight: 20-30 kg
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Coat: Shorthair
Colors: White-orange, Deer color, White, Red, Red-white
FCI Group: Spitz and primitive types

The Podenco Canario - also known as the Canarian Warren Hound - is one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. It owes its popularity above all to its excellent abilities as a hunting dog. It is not necessarily the easiest dog to train. But if you invest a lot of time and patience in training him, you will be rewarded.

Podenco Canario
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Characteristics

With a shoulder height of 53 to 64 centimetres, the Podenco Canario is a medium-sized dog. It is lean and muscular and therefore has the ideal basic requirements for a good hunting dog. It weighs between 20 and 30 kilograms and has virtually no underfat.

Its smooth, dense coat is mostly white-orange. Different shades of color are not uncommon. The Podenco Canario has an elongated head with amber-colored eyes. The ears are pointed. It belongs to FCI Group 5, Spitz and primitive type dogs.

This sporty dog was trained as a hunting dog from the outset and is still its main area of use today. He is reserved indoors and hardly attracts attention. However, if you take him outside, he shows just how much temperament he has. He has a pronounced hunting instinct, but is not aggressive.

The Podenco Canario needs a firm hand when it comes to training. Even if he is quite temperamental outdoors, his nature is friendly and he loves his owner unconditionally. It feels most at home in a stress-free environment where it can move around freely. The Podenco Canario is only suitable as a family dog to a limited extent.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.

Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.

Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.

Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Health & Care

The short coat of the Podenco Canario is easy to care for and only needs to be brushed occasionally.

As with other dogs, the ears should be checked regularly for dirt and debris and cleaned if necessary. The teeth should be cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste suitable for dogs. The paws should be checked for thorns etc. after every walk and removed if necessary. If the claws do not wear off by themselves, they should be trimmed regularly.

More time must be invested in keeping the dog occupied. Long walks and tasks where the dog can live out its hunting instinct are a must for every owner of this breed.

Suitable accessories

The Podenco Canario is a sighthound, which means it needs to be kept busy and needs plenty of exercise. He loves to let off steam. Retrieving toys can give your dog the opportunity to let off steam.

As the Podenco comes from warmer regions, it can get a little cold in winter. It is therefore advisable to buy a dog coat for your Podenco.

Your dog will also need a collar or harness with a lead, a dog basket or dog mat as a retreat, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, a transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It is best to ask your vet what belongs in the first aid kit.

Podenco Canario History

Origin & History

Experts are not entirely in agreement about the origin and history of the Podenco Canario.

According to one theory, it is related to the Tesem. The Tesem is an ancient Egyptian dog breed that is now extinct. And indeed: if you compare the Podenco Canario with the dogs in the pictures from ancient Egypt, a similarity cannot be denied.

Another, more likely theory is that the dog came from the Canary Islands. Of course, it could also have arrived there via detours from Egypt. Most examples of the Podenco Canario can still be found on the Canary Islands today. The dogs are used there to hunt rabbits and hares, as they are excellent trackers.