Portuguese Podengo vs Papillon - Breed Comparison

With his eye-catching butterfly-look-alike feathery ears, the Papillon, also called the Continental Toy Spaniel or the Squirrel Spaniel, is one of the oldest of the toy spaniels.

You can see that the history of the Papillon goes very far back as the dog has been depicted in early works of art dating back to the 1500s. They were at first bred for the companions of noblewomen, appearing in many paintings where they are seen in royal courts.

The AKC registered its first Papillon in 1915. It is believed that the dog hails from France and Belguim. The Papillon was first recognized by the AKC in 1935 and the Papillon Club of America was also formed.

The Portuguese Podengo is an ancient hound dog from Portugal. It is available as a small dog, medium and large dog.

The coats can be short and smooth or longer and wiry. They were imported into the United States in the 1990's and they are also recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in Europe. They are also recognized by the United Kennel Club. In America they are part of the Rare Breed Association.

Papillon means 'butterfly' which refers to the dog's fringed upright ears. You also get the floppy eared variety which is known as phalene, meaning 'moth'.

The Papillon dog stands at between 20 – 28cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4.5kg. The tail arches over the back in a feathery plume. His coat is thick and silky but he doesn't have an undercoat. The coat is white with tan or white with black.

When you look at his bright little face, you can see that he is an intelligent dog who can be trained and socialized with ease. In fact he loves to be occupied with something challenging, so it will be a good ides to buy him some stimulating toys to play with.

Temperament:

When you first see the Papillon dog you might think he is fragile like a butterfly – a typical lap dog – but this isn't so at all. He is tough, robust, energetic, alert and friendly. Bright and alert, they also make great watchdogs.

He'll be able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside. Even though he is good with children and pets in the home, he'd prefer to live with adults as he couldn't handle undisciplined rough and tumble children who haven't learned how to respect dogs, especially little ones that can get hurt easily.

This is such a sweet-natured little dog that you want to do everything you can to keep him content

The Portuguese Podengo is available in three sizes. He stands roughly at between 20 to 30 cm and weighs between 4.1 to 5.9 kg. The dog is similar in looks to other hunting dogs native to the Mediterranean, such as the Pharoah Hound.

They are small to medium sized dogs. The eyes are brown, the ears are erect and the tail long and thick, held low and with a bit of a curve when at rest.

The body of the dog is lean and well muscled and the head wedge shaped. The coat is essentially short and smooth though you also get the longer, wiry coat. The coat is found in shades of fawn or yellow and with some white markings.

Temperament:

This Portuguese sighthound is energetic, comical sometimes, sweet and loving. Being alert, he also makes a good watchdog.

He is intelligent, he is easily trained and socialized and gets on well with children in the house if they have been disciplined to respect and be kind to animals.

He is somewhat aloof around strangers and this is actually what makes him a good watchdog.

It is said that the Portuguese Podengo isn't bred to be a companion dog, being bred exclusively as a working hunting dog. This explains why it doesn’t have such a ‘companionable’ temperament as some other dog breeds.

The Papillon is a bright, intelligent and energetic little dog. When you bring him into your home you must remember that small though he is, he will require lots of mental and physical exercise.

You're going to love having the Papillon in your home as he is guaranteed to make the sweetest, most loving pet and companion.

The Portuguese Podengo loves pleasing his human owners – loving to be in the company of his human family.

He is an independent dog who will benefit from training and socialization. He is wary around strangers, but this makes him a good watchdog.

He loves lots of exercise and will want mental and physical stimulation to be happy and content and as bright as he is.

Provide him with good care and he promises to make you a wonderful pet and companion.

As a responsible dog owner you want to make sure that your pet has the best chance to reach the age of 14, 15 or 16. Unfortunately, there are always some common dog illnesses that you need to be aware of -

Patellar Luxation:

This condition occurs when the dog's patella or kneecap is dislocated and then it can only be returned to its normal position once the quadriceps in the hind legs of the dog relax and lengthen. You’ll see dogs with this condition holding up a hind leg. This joint abnormality is more common in toy breeds like this.

Collapsing Trachea:

The windpipe of a dog is made out of tissue membranes and when the dog breathes, air quickly moves through the trachea, causing the pressure inside of it to go down. A weak cartilage in the windpipe causes a collapsed trachea in dogs, and occurs almost exclusively in small dogs such as the Papillon.

Many small dogs are born with cartilage that is strong enough to hold the trachea open. As cartilage ages though, it weakens. You’ll notice your dog has a rasping cough when he is excited. Sometimes it is mistaken for kennel cough which can be remedied fairly quickly while a collapsed trachea in dogs is a lifelong syndrome.

The Portuguese Podengo is a robust, healthy dog that can get to 14 years of age if he is looked after well and exercised.

The dog doesn’t battle with genetic disorders. It is thought that the most common problems with this dog are the injuries he gets from being such an outdoor, hunting dog. He could well rip his nail or have porcupine quills in his muzzle.

Some common dog diseases to be aware of are cancer, bloat,skin diseases and eye problems.

Grooming:

Papillons are average shedders so they will require brushing at least twice a week. Certainly the long ear fringes will need to be washed and brushed, after all this is this little dog’s trademark.

Diet:

You’ve got to be careful with a small dog like the Papillon as it can easily become overweight and that in itself can bring on health problems. There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods for small breed dogs that have the right amount of minerals and vitamins in them. Choose the best quality ones.

Home-made food such as chopped-up boiled chicken, some brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes can keep your little dog healthy and fit. Dogs just want simple, nutritious meals which aren’t changed often as it could upset their digestive system.

Keep things consistent and avoid human foods such as chips, chocolates, coffee and spices Never leave your pet without a steady supply of fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Provide your pet with a nice warm, dry bed.

If you bring a puppy into the home, check on puppy vaccines to avoid some deadly diseases.

Get your dog neutered or spayed if you don’t want it to become a parent.

Exercise your pet and provide him with love and attention.

Exercise:

The Podengo is always game and ready for a good time and likes nothing more than a good walk as well as the chance to get off his leash and have a bit of free time. He also loves ball games, being pulled along while he holds tightly on to a piece of rope and he loves darting back and forwards with a frisbee.

Diet:

Many things can change a dog’s longevity, and diet is one. A good nutritious diet with vitamins and minerals will give your dog less of a chance to get sick. If you go for the best quality commercially manufactured dog foods, you’ll find they are both convenient and well balanced.

To provide your dog with just a bit of variety in his diet, some home-made food added into the dry kibble from time to time will delight your pet.

No need to make preparing the food a huge issue either. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and as a treat, add smaller portions of it into the dry kibble. This is a real treat for your dog. You’ll see his thanks in his bright eyes and wagging tail.

Try to include a bit of raw meat occasionally and never let your dog be without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

General Care for your pet:

Make sure his puppy vaccines are up to date.

Have your dog spayed or neutered if you don’t want your dog being a parent.

Provide your dog with a warm, dry, comfy pace to sleep.

Trim his nails and check inside his ears for redness and infection.

Check for fleas and ticks when you brush him.

Get him to the vet when you can see he s sick.