Pondenco Canario

[Atemas]

Last Thursday, DH and I hiked up a volcano on Lanzarote. As we approached the crater - there were a few men with their dogs. I asked our guide what they were and what they were doing. They were Pondencos and they were hunting rabbits. It was the most extraordinary sight seeing these big skinny dogs nimbly running round the edge of a massive crater. (DH took some amazing photos but unfortunately they are too big in size to attach). Apparently they are only allowed to hunt on Thursdays and Sundays. As we climbed down, we passed the vehicles they are transported in - a tiny caged trailer attached to cars. Then on Sunday we were walking elsewhere on the island and several vehicles drove by with trailers full of Ponendcos - we knew what they were going to do

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Podencos come in lots of sizes and flavours, the ones you saw are the biggest ones. Very noble dogs. @snowbunny 's Ginny is a smaller - but equally noble! - type.

I had the pleasure of walking a few back in Spain in the shelter. The larger Canarios aren't as common in Andalusia, but they are still used for hunting alongside the more popular Galgos

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[snowbunny]

Yes, they are one of the archetypal Spanish hunting dogs, and the dog of choice around here. Like there, hunting happens here on Thursdays, Sundays and any public holidays.

Pods, like most working dogs in Spain, don’t generally get a good lot; despite having a natural lifespan of around twelve years, the average is something like four years because they are seen as being disposable. That said, I’m happy to say that the ones I’ve seen working here have looked very healthy and cared for.

They’re beautiful dogs but renowned for being amazing escape artists. The can leap great heights from a standing start, and are excellent climbers. It doesn’t matter how high your fence, a Podenco will find a way over!

This is a wire-haired Podenco at the shelter that the staff called Houdini...

 

[Atemas]

Yes @Emily_Babbelhund, noble is the right word for them. I also wondered about their welfare @snowbunny - they looked so skinny but once I had ‘googled’ them realised that’s the breed. They are beautiful dogs and their ability to climb awesome.

 

[snowbunny]

Yes, like lots of other sight hounds, they don’t hold fat over their ribs and don’t have an undercoat. Even an obese Pod will be ribby!