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A little bit about the Podenco Andaluz
To see the RSCE standard in Spanish go here
http://www.rsce.es/razas/razas.htm and click on
Podenco Andaluz
Country of
Orgin: Spain
Registry:
RSCE (the Podenco Andaluz is
not recognized by the FCI)
Breed
History: All of the breeds of Mediterranean
prick-eared sighthounds are believed to share a common origin in
Ancient Egyptian dogs spread across the Mediterranean Sea by
ancient traders. The ancestors of the Podenco Andaluz were no
exception when they arrived in the southern Spanish region of
Cadiz by way of the Phoenicians.
While the ancestors of most of the other Mediterranean
prick-eared sighthounds arguably remained isolated and therefore
possible direct descendants of the Ancient Egpytian dogs, those
of the Podenco Andaluz did not. Spain, has throughout its
history, frequently been invaded by other cultures, which in
turn brought with them dogs. The Moors in particular are thought
to have influenced the modern breed with the addition of pariah
types from Africa.
Despite its long history, the Podenco Andaluz has only recently
attracted the attention of the show world with national
recognition by the Real Sociedad Canina de España (Spanish
Kennel Club).
Appearance: The Podenco Andaluz is a compact
breed of prick-eared sighthound that occurs in three different
sizes and coats.
The sizes are:
- Tall (Podenco Andaluz Talla Grande): males
21 to 25 inches (54 to 64 cm), females 20 to 24
inches (53 to 61 cm). Both sexes range in weight from 46
to 73 pounds (21 to 33 kg).
- Meduim (Podenco Andaluz Talla Mediana): males 17
to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm), females 16 to 20 inches (42 to 52
cm). Both sexes weigh from 22 to 49 pounds (10 to 22 kg).
- Small (Podenco Andaluz Talla Chica): males
14 to 17 inches (35 to 42 cm), females 12 to 16
inches (32 to 41 cm). Both sexes weigh from 11 to 24
pounds (5 to 11 kg).
Three types of
coat: All three varieties lack an
undercoat. The hair on the head and legs of both the wirehaired
and longhaired varieties is shorter than that found on the rest
of the body.
- Wire type: hair that is strong and 1.575
to 2.362 inches 94 to 6 cm) in length.
- Longhaired type: hair that is silky and
2.362 to 3.937 inches (6 to 10 cm) in length.
- Shorthaired type: hair that is smooth,
close lying, hard, and 0.3937 to 1.181 inches (1 to 3 cm) in
length.
Coloring:
The Podenco Andaluz may be white of various
shades, cinnamon of various shades, or white and cinnamon.
Head:
The head is medium sized. The stop is smooth and barely
pronounced.
Muzzle:
The muzzle is
shorter than half the length of the head. The width and depth of
the muzzle are about equal.
Nose:
The medium sized
nose is round and honey in color.
Bite:
While the Podenco
Andaluz is preferred to have a scissors bite, a level bite is
also accepted.
Eyes:
The small, round
eyes may be any shade of honey or hazel. The ears are medium
set, wide at the base, triangular in shape with blunt tips, and
carried erect.
Neck:
The medium sized,
straight neck is tight and forms a forty-five degree angle with
the body.
Body:
The chest is quite
deep and possesses slightly arched ribs. The back is straight,
short, and very wide.
Legs:
The legs are long,
muscular, straight, and parallel.
Feet:
The feet are tight
and round with toes that are so little arched as to appear
almost straight. The wide, strong nails are either brown or
white in color.
Tail:
The low-set, medium
thickness tail should not reach to the hocks. The tail should
never be docked. In motion the tail is carried upwards as more
or less a moon. When at rest, the tail is carried downwards as a
saber towards the hocks.
Personality and Uses: The Podenco Andaluz is
considered a specialist in the hunting of hare, and wild boar
due to its natural instincts, remarkable sense of smell, and
abundant stamina. This is not to say that this is all the breed
is capable of however. The Podenco Andaluz is also able to serve
as a retriever, both on the land, and in the case of ducks, in
the water. It
is a dog born to hunt, with an excellent sense of smell, and
very resistant to the fatigue, is not intimidated before
anything, methodical and fast in the search, barking while after
its prey.
It
is a dog of high intelligence, nobility, sociability, and
is always alert.
As a
companion, the Podenco Andaluz is very affectionate,
submissive, and loyal with its family, but it will break this
bond with unjust punishment.
Here are some
different links to look through for more pictures and
information on the Podenco Andaluz. All the websites are
in Spanish.
www.elpodenquero.com - A great place to learn more about
Podencos. There are many photos, videos, a forum.
Podenco
Andaluz - Description, pictures, and videos
http://campobrana.iespana.es/ - Pictures and Videos of
different Podenco Andaluz and Maneto events. In
this website you can see lots of pictures of the different
varities of the PA
El
Podenco Andaluz - National club of the Podenco Andaluz
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