The Podengo is an ancient breed their origins can be traced back thousands of years. They came to the Iberian Peninsula with the Phoenicians from Asia Minor in 1000 BC where they were used as rabbit and boar hunters. The breed was already 2,000 years old when it arrived in Portugal and was later shown on Roman mosaics and medallions found. The Moorish Invasion in the 8th Century brought another strain across North Africa which interbred with the strain already in Portugal.

Its history, through the centuries, is deeply interwoven with the history of Portugal and its people. The Portuguese selected the dogs in each generation which proved to be the best hunters giving us today a strong dog with balance and proportion

Podengos are classified by the Federation Cynologique Internacionale (FCI) as Group 5: Spitz and primitive type, Section 7: Primitive type hunting dogs. The FCI breed standard governs all types and varieties of the Portuguese Podengo.

There are three types (sizes) of Podengos: Grande, Medio and Pequeno. Each size comes in two varieties: smooth coat and wire hair. They are strong, intelligent and lively. They are loyal, fearless and make fine companions as well as good watchdogs.

The first purebred Portuguese Podengos came to the United States in the 1990s. They now reside in more than thirty states.