Dog Breeds 101: Andalusian Hound

Photo – Wikipedia (PD)

The Andalusian Hound (also known as the Podenco andaluz) is a dog breed originating in Spain, particularly in Andalusia. These dogs are similar to other Iberian breeds such as the Ibizan Hound, the Portuguese Podengo and the Maneto. In the Iberian Peninsula, there are cave paintings representing dogs with a strong resemblance to these races which means that the dogs have been bred in the Mediterranean basin since the ancient times. [1]

The Andalusian Hound is a compact, prick-eared sighthound. These dogs are known for being very intelligent – preferring logical over aggressive reactions. They are suspicious without the presence of their masters but always cheerful and playful around their humans making them the perfect watchdogs. They were bred for hunting and have an excellent sense of smell. The Andalusian Hound has a powerful memory which is able to retain information with ease. This is a dog which is not easily frightened or daunted. However, the breed is not suited to live in apartments. It is a guardian dog which requires a strong and confident master who has previous experience with dogs.

The Andalusian Hound requires no initial training for hunting because everything they do on the field runs on instinct. It is not wise to take them off the leash in areas where there are small animals running about; their hunting instincts will surely take over. They almost always comeback though but this may take several hours. The best place to release them is a fenced area where they can’t run away. [2]

Although the breed has existed for many years, research on health issues related to the Andalusian Hound is still scarce. Just like with other hunting dogs, the breed has been observed to be prone to arthritis especially in dogs which have not been exercised regularly. Still, the breed is generally healthy with a lifespan of 10 to 12 years.