Breed information
Group:
Hound
Life span: 10-12 years
Height male: 35–43 cm / 14-17 inches
Height female: 32–41 cm / 13–16
Weight male: 5–11 kg / 11–24 pounds
Weight female: 5–11 kg / 11–24 pound
Character: Excellent sight, Hearing, Smell, Hunting
History
Despite being a native ancient breed, it was not until 1990 that it entered the world of official cynology with the formation of a breed club to promote the development of breed standards. Phillipe Bloque-Rentón and colleagues at the University of Córdoba's veterinary medicine faculty undertook the research work required to specify the breed; their study, presented at the second Simposium de las razas caninas españolas (Spanish dog breeds symposium) in 1992, was recognized by Real Sociedad Canina de España (Royal Spanish Dog Society, RSCE) in April of that year as a defining breed standard. In Spain, Andalusian hounds were included within Group V - Spitz and Primitive Types, under Section 7, Primitive type - Hunting dogs. However, the breed is recognized neither by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) nor by any other international dog breeds association, due to the large number of matches with the Portuguese Podengo standard — a fact which casts doubt on its claim to be regarded as a separate breed.
In January 2015, the Andalusian Hound was nationally recognized in Germany.
Description
Andalusian Podencos, like other hounds, have excellent sight, hearing and smell, which makes them good hunters, often employed for hunting rabbits. Andalusians and mastiffs form the heart of the rehalas (teams of 20 to 24 hunting dogs) of central and southern parts of the Iberian Peninsula; medium and smaller dogs search out deer or wild boar, whilst the larger hounds are used for attacking the prey. One of the most typical functions of the large Andalusian hound was that of the so-called quitaor accompanying the Spanish greyhound colleras during hare hunting. The quitaor‘s job consisted primarily of flushing out the hares from their home or hiding place and killing them; then, together with the greyhounds, retrieving them for the owner. In Andalusian farmhouses the larger hounds were used as watchdogs, and the smaller hounds were used to kill rodents.
Height male: Small: 35–43 cm / 14-17 inches Medium: 43–53 cm / 17-21 inches Large: 54–64 cm / 21-25 inches
Height female: Small: 32–41 cm / 13–16 inches Medium: 42–53 cm / 17–21 inches Large: 53–61 cm / 21-24 inches
Weight male: Small: 5–11 kg / 11–24 pounds Medium: 10–22 kg / 22–49 pounds Large: 21–33 kg / 46–73 pounds
Weight female: Small: 5–11 kg / 11–24 pounds Medium: 10–22 kg / 22–49 pounds Large: 21–33 kg / 46–73 pounds
Health
As an ancient breed, the Andalusian Hound is not prone to many serious health problems. Some of the conditions that have been seen to affect this breed include ear infections, eye conditions, and arthritis.
Personality
The Andalusian Hound is an intelligent breed and it can sometimes be a little over-energetic, though these dogs typically do fine when they get enough daily exercise. These dogs are playful and cheerful in the home and the smaller versions of the breed generally do well with children. This dog has a natural desire to please and does well with a strong authority figure. Andalusian Hounds can be somewhat protective and suspicious of strangers, so they make good watchdogs.
Activity Requirements
The Andalusian Hound was developed for hunting hare, so these dogs have high stamina and fairly high energy levels. This breed requires a long daily walk and will appreciate having additional time to run in a fenced yard.
Trainability
As is true for all dogs, the Andalusian Hound should be started with socialization and training as early as possible. Because this is a hunting breed, it is intelligent and typically responds well to firm and consistent training. This dog is not easily frightened or intimidated so they require a handler who will be an authority figure. This hound can be socialized and trained to work alongside other breeds but no amount of training will eliminate their prey drive, so they may not do well in homes with cats and other small pets.
Best Training Equipment Trainers Recommend
Shedding
The Andalusian Hound has a compact but muscular build befitting a hunting breed. Not only does it come in three distinct sizes, but it also comes in three separate coat types – wirehair, longhair, and smooth. None of the three varieties have an undercoat but regular brushing is encouraged to reduce shedding and to prevent matting in longer coats. Coat colors for the Andalusian include various shades of white and reddish brown.