Anyone own a podenco?

[chickensaresafehere]

Looking for a second rescue dog,got our first one last year,she's a JRT,and have come across a rescue that rehomes stray dogs from Spain.
Never come across podenco's before,but as we used to have a greyhound & as podenco's are spanish sighthounds,we are really interested in one.
We have done some research online about them but don't know anyone who has one,so was wondering if any mumsnetters owned one & what they were like?

[monkeywithacowface]

I don't but a friend does. He's absolutely gorgeous, very loving but quite strong willed. Also seems to have the greyhound knack for hogging the sofa

[chickensaresafehere]

Yes I heard that!! They think he is about 1 year old,so hopefully still trainable,but his Spanish foster Mum reports he is good with children,other dogs & house trained.
Hopefully someone else will come along who has one.

[PlayOnWurtz]

Can I ask where the rescue is as the one I know of that rescues podencos is shutting down due to legal action but still importing. All dodgy dealings and no support for the owners or dogs.

[PikachuSayBoo]

I used to have a Podengo which seems to be the Portuguese version. Also used to have a greyhound so wanted a different/unusual sighthound.

What was he like?? Mental, seriously mentally ill. If he was human he would have been a psychopath but I don't think that was breed specific. I think he was one fucked up dog when I got him. He wasn't exactly a rescue, I got him from the breeder at six month so old but I suspect he had been sold previously and returned. Either that or the breeder had just kept him in a barn for six months. He was very unsocialised and scared.

If the dog you're thinking of is good with kids, etc then that sounds really good.

On a positive mine had good recall.

[Costacoffeeplease]

I have two rescue Portuguese Podengos (I live in Portugal). One was handed into our vet as a pup, the other we rescued his whole litter and mum from a field

They're both batshit in different ways - one extremely nervous, the other extremely wilful, which I think is a breed thing

The nervous one is extreeeemely affectionate and attached to us

If you're experienced owners then you'll probably be fine

[TrionicLettuce]

PlayOnWurtz Galgos del Sol rescue podencos as well as galgos and bring them over to the UK. They do a fabulous job over in Spain, putting huge amounts of effort into educating the public about the dogs as well as rescuing them.

[gettingtherequickly]

I second Galgos del sol being amazing.

[Neuromutant]

We have one. Best dog ever! Was warned that he would be a 'killing machine' and completely untrainable but that couldn't be further from the truth. Great with the kids, intimidated by our cats and will try and cross the street to avoid others when we're out, and generally soft as shit. Loves a couple of walks a day, as long or short as you can manage then spends the rest of the day curled up sleeping. I think it does help to find out a bit of background. He was four when we got him from Spain through a U.K. based charity but spent most of his life in the pound so wasn't used for hunting. His recall is now not quite perfect but better than a lot of dogs I know who were trained from being puppies, and he is fine with all other commands. I now know several, all great dogs and I wouldn't have another breed.

[Neuromutant]

Avoid other cats, I meant. He loves other people, although he was very timid when he first got here.

[Neuromutant]

A picture of my soppy boy

[Costacoffeeplease]

My two

[monkeyfacegrace]

I volunteer for sighthound charities but jad never met one in the flesh until today! On the beach. Bat shit crazy

Was on lead and vocal and danced like a frog, but looked like the happiest dog ever 😂

[chickensaresafehere]

Thanks for all the replies.
The charity we are looking at adopting one from is Dogs Watch UK,they seem to mostly bring dogs over from Spain,the dogs are either strays or unwanted.
The one we are interested in has been estimated to be between 9&15 months & is a stray. He is currently in a Spanish foster home,where the lady has children & cats,& she reports he is fine with both & very friendly & housetrained. The charity are bringing him over to the UK next month,where they have a U.K foster home for him,which is where we will meet him.
We are not familiar with this charity (we found them via DogsBlog) but we have had quite a few updates about him from them(including a video) & they will obviously home check us. We will obviously check about ongoing support,if we adopt him. They are asking for a donation of £235 to cover the costs of bringing him here & he will be vaccinated,neutered,have a pet passport & has been tested for Leishmaniasis. So I'm hoping they are a decent & reputable charity,but we will be cautious.
We have sighthound experience but the lazy greyhound kind,so a podenco may be a bit of a change!!!