Canarian Warren Hound (Canarian Podenco, Podenco Canario)

The Canarian Warren Hound (Podenco Canario) is an accomplished hunting dog, which traversed its native Canary Islands since time immemorial. This breed is most treasured for its hunting abilities and superb robustness. According to recent reports it can get accustomed easily to the life of a home companion and commonly thrives in this role.

The Canarian Warren Hound is thought to be the immediate offspring of the Egyptian dog. Some experts reckon it among the most ancient breeds, which managed to survive till present days. Approximate age of this dog numbers seven thousand years although initially it appeared in the Canary region less than 500 years ago. The progenitors of the Canarian Podenco inhabited the coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula. It is said that it was imported to the Canary Islands by such famous Mediterranean merchants as the Greeks, the Carthaginians and the Phoenicians during the first millennium BC. The mummified skeletons of these Scent Hounds as well as various artworks with their pictures were discovered in tombs of pharaohs. In the Canary Island where the breed was developed it is commonly referred as the Podenco Canario.

For centuries the Canarian Warren Hound honed its hunting prowess on such typical local quarries as hare and ferrets. Gradually it evolved into a truly versatile hunting dog, which was capable of tracking prey by both sight and scent. It usually operates in the company of other canines. This hound is known for its fairly remarkable hunting method. It was trained to trail the prey silently and once it located its shelter it was supposed to pinpoint its seat and wait for the hunter’s command to retrieve the dead animal.

The Second World War brought to the verge of extinction many modern breeds and the Canarian Warren Hound was no exception. The fanciers of the breed combed its native islands for scanty remnants of its population and launched the breeding program, which was aimed at the restoration of its former glory. Their efforts were crowned with success so currently the Canarian Podenco is in pretty good shape in its native Spain where it serves both as a hunting dog and a companion animal. The breed was formally recognised by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in July 1, 2006. It was also granted recognition of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) as the primitive breed.

The Canarian Warren Hound virtually lives to hunt and usually makes a wonderful companion for an avid hunter. At the same time it possesses a sociable, docile and well-balanced disposition, which makes it a fairly decent family pet. It usually attaches equally strong to all family members and immensely enjoys their companionship. Vast and early socialisation is a must for this breed if you plan to keep it in the same household with small kids.

As a rule the Canarian Warren Hound is wary of unfamiliar people although it hasn’t been noticed for aggressive tendencies towards a human. Some of its specimens are quite ready to defend the household from any criminal individual and become good watchdogs while others seem to lack interest in such kind of work. On the whole this breed is too out-going and good-natured to make an effective guard dog.

The Canarian Warren Hound must coordinate its actions with dozens of other dogs during a hunting trip so it has high tolerance to other canines. It gets on easily with them but would prefer to live with one or several dogs of similarly vigorous and playful nature. This dog is notable for very powerful hunting instinct and will most probably perceive all moving objects as potential prey. However it won’t bother a household cat if they have been introduced to each other early and accurately enough.

The most common problems for the breed include:

• testicular/ovotesticular disorder.

The shiny and short coat of the Canarian Warren Hound needs rather inconsiderable amount of care. To maintain it in a neat condition the owner should brush it once a week with a firm bristle brush. This breed requires only occasional bath since in the most cases it’s quite sufficient to wipe the dog’s body with a damp soft cloth.

The breeds’ nails should be clipped every other moth as well as its ears need regular examination and cleaning. The Canarian Warren Hound is known for its cold intolerance so it would be wise to shorten daily walk whenever the temperature outside falls below zero. The dog sheds moderately.

The Canarian Warren Hound is an averagely trainable breed. As a typical hound it has fairly limited attention span and it quickly loses interest to the lesson as soon as it has spotted some attractive smell. However this clever dog immediately becomes an exceptionally willing and capable learner when things concern its hunting responsibilities.

With proper training techniques the Canarian Warren Hound is also able to master all basic commands with reasonable amount of repetition. This breed responds adequately exclusively to motivational methods, which are grounded on praise and tasty treats. Rough-housing will only provoke it to disobedient and bold behaviour and ruin all your attempts to build up trustful relationship with this dog.

Being a highly tenacious and resolute hunting dog the Canarian Warren is capable of chasing a prey for multiple hours without any sign of tiredness. This purports that this dog will be hardly satisfied with a daily potty walk and should be regularly released off-leash in a safely enclosed area. Be mindful though that it’s a true escape artist and can dig a tunnel under the fence in a matter of minutes.

Of course the best type of physical activity, which you can offer the Canarian Warren Hound, is hunting and your dog will be endlessly grateful for a regular chance to expand its energy surplus in a good chase. The specimen that is deprived of essential outlets for its buyout nature will most surely demonstrate its frustration with such situation in destructive and disobedient behaviour.