Portuguese Hound Dog Breed

Portugal

The Portuguese Hound (which should not be confused with an Ibizan Hound) exists in three sizes: large, medium and lapdog. The breed is used mainly for rabbit hunting and the largest of the three varieties is used to run after a hare. The breed has a lot of blood of various types of not well-defined sight hounds. The large variety has a physical constitution that is similar to the Ibizan Hound; the smallest variety has a resemblance with the Chihuahua.

The hound has a pointy snout, a well-marked stop and big, pricked and movable ears. The tail is thick and of medium length, it is frequently taken very straight and high or slightly over the loin. The hair is smooth or pure. The most common color is fawn.

The height at withers of the large hound is 55 to 70 cm; in medium sized dogs it is 40 to 55 and in the lapdog variety it is from 20 to 30.