The Podenco Canario is an ancient breed of dog descended from the hounds used by the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt for hunting. A podenco or Izbizan hound type dog is depicted in hieroglyphics dating from around 3000 B.C.

The Podenco Canario

They are a gentle natured dog even though they are a hunting breed. They live well in a family environment and are very loyal to their owners. They can be wary of strangers but are generally good with other dogs and children. They are naturally a clean dog making them a good house dog and are on the whole quite quiet but they will ‘watchdog’ bark making them good guard dogs.

As a hunting breed, care needs to be taken if there are small animals like rabbits or rodents in the home. These types of small prey are what the podenco canario is bred to hunt. They are of the group of dogs known as the sight hounds which use their vision as opposed to their sense of smell to track prey and for this reason any fast moving small creature can bring out the hunter in them.

They are ideally suited to families with plenty of time to take them out for long walks. They love to run and have immense stamina, and will happily keep up with a long bicycle ride. They can run all day and show no signs of tiring. They can live quite happily in an apartment as they are fairly inactive in the home, but only if they have access to two or three good walks daily. It is best if they have access to a garden but it needs to be secure as podencos can jump garden fences with ease.

They live an average of 12-14 years.

Training the Podenco Canario

The Podenco Canario is an intelligent, loyal and affectionate dog. They are eager to please and with the right training they are a joy to have in the home. They can be very sensitive and nervous and with rough handling can develop fear issues.

Podencos need treating gently and calmly. Any harsh training methods will only create a fearful, untrusting dog. They are very sensitive to human body language and can read our emotions very well. If all the training is undertaken calmly you will see results, if you lose your temper you will lose their trust.

They excel at games based around their hunting abilities, so a good game of fetch is a frequent must with the Podenco. Play is essential as they can get bored easily and a bored Podenco can get into all sorts of mischief!

The biggest training challenge facing any Podenco owner is that of the recall. Once off lead and running they seem to lose their hearing and will not return. This takes plenty of time, patience and practice to achieve but it is possible. Remember that a Podenco is at his happiest when allowed to run at full speed, so it will be a challenge to return him to the lead at first.

To successfully train a Podenco takes patience and consistency. The more time and effort put into training, the better the results. A well trained Podenco makes a beautiful, loyal, family dog.

You can follow the training of Salvador a nervous Podenco Canario here

Care of the Podenco Canario

Grooming is minimal, podencos only need occasional brushing to remove dead hair and massage the skin. They shed an average amount. Their shiny coats can be kept  in condition by running over with a rubber glove. The ears also need to be checked occasionally and kept clean and the claws kept short.

Podencos appreciate comfy soft bedding and a special place in the home where they can go and feel secure. They don’t like the cold and like to be nice and warm so if they are to live outside, they need a good shelter.

They have no specific dietary requirements but care should be taken not to overfeed. Podencos should be a slight breed that does not carry any excess fat. They should be on the slender side with ribs and hip bones visible.

As with all dogs, especially in the Lanzarote climate, the Podenco Canario should always have access to clean fresh water.

Podenco Canario Blog

Follow Peter who recently adopted Mami, a Podenco Canario, from a shelter in Gran Canaria on his blog The Beauiful Podenco Canario