Podenco Valenciano

		Podenco Valenciano
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Spain
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

Usage

Its main function is rabbit hunting in all its forms and lands, with an ultra-modern attitude perfectly suited to the wide variety of ecosystems that exist throughout the Mediterranean region, particularly in the east of the Spanish peninsula and the Ebro valley.

Brief historical summary

Neolithic rock engravings in south-eastern Spain depict animal silhouettes clearly identified as podencos, and later, in Iberian times, numerous fragments of handicrafts already show a type of podenco dog similar to today's Xarnego. It is curious to note that all the territories occupied by the tribes of the Iberian people practically coincide with the territory occupied by the breed from time immemorial to the present day. The last Roman invasion left many samples with artistic representations (sculptures, paintings, mosaics...) of podencos very similar to our own throughout the Mediterranean, the backbone of their empire.
The Romans later, but perhaps even earlier than the Phoenicians and Greeks, ensured that the separation of our racial frontier from native podencos spread along a more than likely west-to-east route. This is how they contributed to the formation of other Mediterranean Cincum-eared dog breeds. The Xarnego is perhaps the oldest of the peninsular hunting dogs. It represents an original type that is generous with its blood. Described by various film and hunting writers throughout the Mediterranean. Due to the historical context and morphological type with which the breed arrived today, the Xarnego represents the authentic podenco type which, with greater integrity in its structure, has been able to protect itself from the envy of other exogenous influences. No doubt thanks to the reason for its very existence: its ability to function over the centuries in its own geographical environment. The paradox that, being the original recognized trunk of the podenco type, has become the last representative of its typology to knock on the doors of twentieth-century officialdom.

General appearance

Lupoid type, associated with wild canids, with conical head, erect ears, medium size, sublongitudinal legs, harmonious, solid and muscular. Noble, lively, haughty, restless, dynamic, confident, totally loyal and attached to their master. The breed has three phenoptic varieties; smooth, hard and sedentary coat for the same size and type.

Behaviour / temperament

They have big ears and great eyesight, and an enormous, unbeatable sense of smell that makes them versatile hunting dogs. He has a legendary resistance to extreme heat and is able to evolve in a dry environment, virtues that have made him the most appreciated type of podenco by hunters in these regions, who don't hesitate to use him for other small hunting tasks, even as a recoiling pounder in big game. It's an all-round powerhouse that disintegrates.

Head
Cranial region
Head		Conical, truncated at base. Total sense of proportion to the body. Relatively broad base accompanying the general structure of the head. Substantial in males, more graceful in females.
Skull		Slightly longer than broad, subconvex facial profile. Marked occipital bone.
Stop		Slightly pronounced.

Facial region
Foreface		Profile of face is subconvex. Face slightly longer than skull.
Nose		Broad, open and deep, color harmonized with the coat.
Lips		Thin and taut, with mucous membrane color harmonized with the nose.
Jaws and teeth		Well developed, strong, complete jaws with 42 well-positioned teeth, pincer bite.
Cheeks		Cheeks are fairly fleshy and consistent, clean and close to the bone.
Eyes		Small, oblique, almond-shaped, harmoniously colored with the coat and nose, well-pigmented eyelids, radiating dynamism, intelligence and vivacity.
Ears		Strong insertion, broad-based, perfectly triangular with never very fine tips, well rounded, moderately fleshy, therefore solid, mobile and absolutely erect when alert and well cared for.

Neck

Of medium length, slightly curved in its insertion at the head, without dewlap, perfectly rounded, very taut skin, haughty, elegant.

Body
Body		Both sexes have the impression of being longer than they are tall, a characteristic more pronounced in females, due to the logical fact that the reproductive system is housed there.
Topline		Straight.
Withers		Insertion of broad, powerful, slightly marked neck.
Back		Straight, long, powerful, moderately fleshy.
Loin		Long, broad, muscular.
Croup		Long, slightly sloping.
Ribs		Deep, long, fairly broad, developed, arched ribs.
Underline and belly		Stuffy belly, not overly flanky, very sticky skin. From the above, referring to the chest, the great thoracic power of this breed must be clearly detached, enabling it to house large, powerful lungs, an essential condition for continued work without maximum wear and tear and which needs rapid aerobic recovery in a short space of time, in extremely hot weather.

Tail

Of low insertion, its tip reaches the hock at rest, its thickness is slightly thicker at birth and tapers towards the tip. Crescent-shaped, more or less closed.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Symmetrical, proportionate to their average appearance, plumb, with good bone substance.
Elbows		Strong, parallel to the body.
Carpal		Solid, parallel to the body.
Pastern		Slightly oblique.
Forefeet		Rounded feet, straight, moderately curved, solid, intermediate (neither cat nor hare). Pads hard but supple.

Hindquarters
Generality		Plumb, perfectly solid, with very pronounced muscle development in the thighs.
Hock		Angulation of open hock, hock at mid-height, appearance of very strong, robust tendons.
Hind feet		The rear feet have the same characteristics as the front.

Gait and movement

Racing, agile and fast in pursuit of prey, the race is a full-speed gallop, the maximum expression of these agile and fast characteristics.

Skin

Medium-sized, attached to the body, with no folds anywhere, the color of the skin is also in harmony with the dog's coat.

Coat
Hair		In the Xarnego, there are three well-defined coat types for a single size: Stiff hair, about 1.5 cm long, with a difference of ± 0.5 in the lower part of the neck and on the back of the thigh. Stiff, glossy, clean hairs stuck to the skin. Some specimens have tufts on the tail and bangs on the hind legs. Hard hairs, over 2.5 cm, which we define as bearded, with piggy hairs on the body and a tail covered with piggy hairs no longer than the beard. Approximately semicircular hairs that look rough against the skin. No undercoat. Sedentary hairs, from 4 cm. Although, in some areas of the body, they may be shorter. Sedentaries don't have beard hair, but they do on all other parts of the body, emphasizing the shoulders, tail and chest, where it's usually copious in winter, sometimes even luxuriant. The hair is fine, supple, soft and dense, the longest sometimes wavy. There is no undercoat.
Colour		All documented colors of the racial group are accepted. The breed classics are: cinnamon, fawn, black and chocolate brown, single-colored or preferably mixed with white areas appearing on the face, neck, shoulders and belly. Similarly, it rarely manifests itself in predominantly white, solid or brindle base coats. The incidence of masks, leg tips and white tail tips is very high in the color range.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males 55 to 61 cm, females 50 to 57 cm.
Weight		Males: approximate weight ± 20 kg, females: approximate weight ± 18kg. These weights are based on the resting season. In the hunting season, variables of up to ± 4 kg. per dog can be indicated, denoting the extraordinary wear and tear they can put on doing their job.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Disqualifying faults

Overshot or undershot mouth.

Monorchidism or cryptorchidism.

Lack of teeth.

Lips falling away from cheeks.

Drooping ears.

Any sign of cross-breeding with similar breeds.

Elongated head with non-existent stop.

Lifted belly.

Atypical tail.

Aggressiveness.

Faults of non-confirmation

Very tall and thin specimen.

Presence of dewclaws.

Hollow or saddled back.

Tail lying flat on spine, or completely curled over.

Extremities with obvious deformities, both standing and moving.

Excessively timid character.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 11 February 2024; Hits: 913

Podenco Valenciano