At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, smooth and dense
A slender, athletic medium-sized hound with a short, dense coat. It is so lean that the outline of the ribs and hip bones shows, and its large upright ears give it an alert look.1
Personality what they are like
An enthusiastic, spirited and courageous dog with plenty of nervous energy. The standard notes that it has presence without being aggressive.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Very high. Bred to hunt rabbits over rough volcanic ground for long hours in the heat, so it needs lots of running and scent work.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat needs only occasional brushing.1
The story where it all began
The breed has lived on the Canary Islands for centuries as the local rabbit hound. The FCI standard links it to ancient Egyptian-type hounds brought by early Mediterranean traders, while more recent genetic work suggests it is closer to other European hunting dogs than long thought.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Its nose, nails and skin tend toward a reddish shade, and it is said to 'blush' when excited.2
- 2
When on a rabbit's trail it gives a rapid, repeated bark that some local hunters call the 'song of the rabbit'.2
- 3
The standard says it can sense rabbits hidden deep in rock crevices and stone walls.1
- 4
Puppies can show hunting instinct at about three months old.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 329, Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 7 (primitive type hunting dogs); accepted 1987.3
- Real Sociedad Canina de España (RSCE)
- Recognised Spanish breed, listed in Spanish legislation.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Podenco Canario. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard N°329 Podenco Canario fci.beused for group, heights, coat, colours, temperament, use, history
- Podenco Canario - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, fun facts, genetic history
- FCI nomenclature: Canarian Warren Hound (329) fci.beused for recognition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.