Podenco Canario

Although the Podenco Canario is an outstanding hunter in his native region of the Canary Islands, rabbit hunting is done in association with the ferret, which is also a born hunter. The two species work very well together and form a great team, thus increasing the hunter's chances of having an excellent hunting day.

Height 53 to 64 cm
Weight 24 to 25 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 15 years
Home country Spain

Quick Overview of the Podenco Canario

Temperament

  • Dynamic and courageous
  • Passionate and restless
  • Affectionate
  • Fiery temperament

Appearance

  • Light and slender silhouette
  • Very sleek appearance
  • Lean and well-developed muscles
  • Short, smooth, and dense coat

Health

  • No particular pathology
  • No congenital diseases
  • Generally robust and solid
  • Rarely ill

Temperament of the Podenco Canario

Dynamic, restless and sometimes nervous, this medium-size sighthound is a born hunter. Everything about the Podenco Canario is specially designed for hunting, particularly rabbits.

His physique, as well as his temperament, make him an excellent companion, very useful for lovers of this sport.

His highly developed sense of smell allow him to work in all kinds of conditions, being able to detect the presence of game in thorny bushes, piles of stones on the edge of ploughed land, wall cracks, as well as natural cracks of any terrain.

Once flushed out, this excellent tracking dog usually takes the rabbit in his mouth.

A hunting dog at heart, he also makes an excellent life companion. Compatible with all family situations, he is generally well-balanced in the family.

He appreciates contact with everyone, even children, and shows great patience towards them, even if he is sometimes a little nervous.

Very committed to his family, he tends to be rather reserved towards strangers. Never aggressive, he does keep a certain reserve towards strangers entering his territory.

Very close to his family, he remains at all times rather distrustful of newcomers.

Breed Appearance

podenco canario

This medium sized dog has a light and long silhouette. In spite of his rather fragile appearance, his physique is endowed with exceptional resistance.

With a very slender appearance, his fat-free constitution easily reveals his lean, developed muscles and strong skeleton.

The Podenco Canario is specially built for hunting.

Height

Between 55 and 64 cm (21.65 to 25.20 inches) for the male
Between 53 and 60 cm (20.87 to 23.62 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 24 and 25 kg (52.91 to 55.12 pounds) for the male
Between 24 and 25 kg (52.91 to 55.12 pounds) for the female

Color

The color of his coat is essentially red and white, which can vary in shades of a more or less intense red, ranging from orange to carmine, of which all possible combinations are allowed.

Hair

The short hair of his red and white coat is smooth, dense and tight.

Morphology

His head, with a rather flattened skull, has a stop which is not very marked. His dark eyes are small and almond-shaped.

His large ears, carried erect, are quite big. His nose is flesh-color. His tail is sickle-shaped or hanging and does not extend below the hock.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 5, section 7 and is #329

Podenco Canario puppies near me

Tips About this breed

Endowed with a very fiery temperament, the Podenco Canario possesses great energy and endurance.

His education must be firm, and begin very early in order to contain his ardour and control his impulses.

His socialisation must be undertaken at a very early stage as well, and must aim to curb this natural fear of strangers, so that it does not increase with age.

His socialization and education are generally easy, as he is very intuitive and intelligent, so he quickly understands what his master expects of him.

His strong natural instinct for hunting makes it difficult for him to live with other domestic animals.

If he has to hang around other animal species, then early socialisation is essential.

Because of his size and good character, he can live anywhere, as long as he can benefit from exercise suited to his overflowing energy.

Apartment life is no issue for him as he does not bark a lot and can easily adapt to all kinds of owners.

Health of the Podenco Canario

Not suffering from any particular pathology or congenital disease, the dog is generally robust and very strong.

The Podenco Canario is rarely sick, usually enjoying excellent health and a very good life expectancy.

GROOMING

Despite his short coat, regular brushing is necessary to keep it clean and healthy. No other special care is required.

History of this breed

Of very ancient origin, the ancestor of the Podenco Canario would have been imported from Egypt by the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Phoenicians and even by the Egyptians themselves.

Although he is known to the Egyptians since antiquity, he is believed to have arrived in the Canary Islands around 1000 BC.

Of this ancient breed, about 7,000 years old, many dog relics were found on statues; engravings and carvings from the tombs of ancient pharaohs can be seen in famous European museums such as the British Museum or even the Louvre.

The ancestor of this little Greyhound evolved differently depending on the region where he was bred. In the Canary Islands, the specimens evolved towards the Podenco Canario, in the Balearic Islands towards the Ibizan Hound, on the island of Malta towards the Pharaoh Hound and in Sicily towards the Cirneco dell'Etna.

This canine specimen has extraordinary hunting skills. He adapts very easily to any terrain, no matter how difficult it is.

Using his hearing, sight and prodigious flair, he can easily withstand all temperature variations, making him suitable for hunting at nightfall and at the crack of dawn. This hound is well suited for hunting rabbits.

In addition to his hunting qualities, he has excellent aptitudes as a companion dog, making him a very pleasant life companion, adapting to all family situations.

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