Portuguese Warren Hound Portuguese Podengo: How should an owner handle adolescent behaviour changes?

When a young Portuguese Warren Hound Portuguese Podengo becomes less reliable, return to the last version of the behaviour that was working and rebuild from there. Keep Portuguese Warren Hound Portuguese Podengo close to a calm handler and use reward-based cues during the first repetitions. Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt. Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.

What can change during adolescence

Portuguese Warren Hound Portuguese Podengo's temperament is recorded as Large Podengo: used for hunting big game. Here, that matters because it is a clue about the dog's likely response to people, animals, handling, or change, not a guarantee.

Rebuild the behaviour you want

  1. Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt.
  2. Let the temperament note (Large Podengo: used for hunting big game) set the reinforcement, session length, and distance from distractions.
  3. Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.

Arrange an assessment if

Escalate for sudden personality change, pain, disorientation, or aggression that cannot be safely managed.

References

Official FCI name: PODENGO PORTUGUÊS
FCI nomenclature page > breed name

FCI group: n°5 - Spitz and primitive types
FCI nomenclature page > Group

Country of origin: PORTUGAL
FCI nomenclature page > Country of origin of the breed

FCI standard date: 3/30/2009
FCI nomenclature page > English standard date

FCI standard PDF: https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/094g05-en.pdf
FCI nomenclature page > English standard PDF link

Utilization: Hunting dog, watch dog and companion dog
FCI standard PDF page text > utilization

Temperament: Large Podengo: used for hunting big game. Medium Podengo: also known as Warren Hound, its natural aptitude as a rabbit hunter is well used, hunting either in a pack or alone. Small Podengo: used for searching rabbits in holes and rocks. All varieties are also used as watch dogs and as companion dogs
FCI standard PDF page text > temperament

General appearance: Upright when seen from back and sides; well muscled and lean; parallel to the main body line. Thigh: Long; of medium width; well muscled. Stifle joint: Femur-tibia angle approximately 135º. Second thigh: Inclined; long; lean, strong, well muscled. Hock: Of medium height; lean; strong; open hock angle, approimately 135º. Metatarsus (Rear Pastern) : S trong;…
FCI standard PDF page text > general_appearance

Coat: Silky and/or with undercoat. SEVERE
FCI standard PDF page text > coat

Weight: Small: 4 to 6 Kg Medium: 16 to 20 Kg Large: 20 to 30 Kg
FCI standard PDF page text > weight

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