" The term orito refers to a type of two-tone coat (black and gold or brown and gold) that can appear in certain breeds of dogs, such as the Andalusian Podenco or water dogs."
The Spanish Podenco orito is a dog with an athletic appearance and a docile temperament that stands out for its exceptional sense of smell, which makes it a wonderful tracker, much appreciated in the Andalusian countryside, from where this breed is native. In this PlanetAnimal file, we will see together the characteristics of the Podenco orito and we will examine its temperament as well as the education it needs!
Happy reading!
Origin
- Europe
- Spain
Physical Characteristics
- Rustic
- Proportional
- Short ears
Size
- Average
Height
- 45-55
Adult Weight
- 10-25
Life expectancy
- 12-14
Recommended physical activity
- High
Character
- Society
- Very loyal
- Smart
- Active
- Affectionate
Ideal for
- House
- Walking
- The hunt
- Sports
Recommendations
- Harness
Recommended climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Short
- Smooth
- Big
Origin of Podenco orito
The Podenco orito is a dog of Spanish origin historically associated with hunting small and large game. In reality, this dog is a specific type of the Andalusian Podenco which, because it has a two-tone coat, has been excluded from the official breed standard, which only accepts cinnamon and white colors, as dictated by the Royal Society. canine spanish (RSCE).As a result, over time, the number of Podencos oritos has decreased, almost disappearing, breeders preferring to obtain specimens that comply with the standard. However, some hunters greatly valued them due to their versatility and strength, so they mobilized in order to avoid their extinction through selective breeding, managing to increase the population again and even requesting that it be recognized as an independent breed. Thus was born the Asociación Nacional del Podenco Orito Español. (National Association of Spanish Podenco orito).
" Today, and in comparison with other breeds with similar characteristics, there are very few specimens of the Podenco orito and still no institution has declared it an official breed, although the RSCE has granted it the category ethnic group in 2012 and that it is working to create a definitive standard that differentiates Orito from the standard Andalusian Podenco."
Characteristics of the Spanish Podenco orito
The Podenco orito is a medium-sized dog. Although there is great variability in its proportions, the most common is that males and females measure between 40 and 50 centimeters at the withers and weigh around 20 kg.
He has a muscular, compact and athletic body, with strong limbs that allow him to run and move with great agility in difficult terrain, such as brambles or streams, areas he frequents for the hunt. Its skin is remarkably thick and tough compared to other breeds, and its coat is thick and short (about 5cm long), but it is usually longer in some places, such as on the tail.
It has a long snout and a powerful jaw, but arguably one of the most striking physical characteristics of the Podenco orito are its large, triangular ears. His eyes, on the other hand, are small, round, and honey-colored, though their shade may vary slightly from individual to individual.The tail of the orito is low and of medium length and it does not completely cover the hocks, when at rest, its end is curved slightly upwards.
Colors of Podenco orito
There are two coat varieties for the orito: black orito (gold and black) and chocolate orito (gold and brown). In turn, the chocolate orito can be of different shades, from a very intense brown to a liver tone. As a general rule, and according to the provisional breed standard, the golden parts appear above the eyes, on the muzzle, on the chest, on the belly, on the inner side of the limbs and under the base of the tail. Additionally, some individuals may also have small white markings, especially in areas such as the chest, toes, or tip of the tail.
A curious aspect of this dog is that the color of its nose is in harmony with the color of its coat, because black orito podencos have a black nose, while chocolate orito podencos have a brownish nose. However, they all have an exceptional sense of smell.
Character of the Spanish Podenco orito
The Podenco orito is a docile, noble and very affectionate dog with his guardians, with whom he always wants to be in contact. He is very sociable and enjoys the company of other dogs and people, but will generally be a bit shy around strangers, especially if they approach him too abruptly and too intrusively.
Although he is a sensitive dog, he has a very rustic character and shows great physical endurance and courage to cross rough terrain, to enter areas lush vegetation or even to jump into the water and swim. Podencos orito are very intelligent, attentive and problem-solving dogs, so if you use positive reinforcement, it will be very easy for you to teach them obedience commands and directives. basic.
Although this is a dog traditionally associated with hunting, it easily adapts to family life in a house or apartment. They are playful and affectionate with children, as well as with adults and the elderly. Thus, and provided that their guardians are committed to meeting their physical and psychological needs, they can therefore flourish perfectly in an urban environment.
Spanish Podenco orito care
Like all hunting dogs, the Podenco orito is very lively and energetic, so it needs guardians who have time, are very active and like to take long walks and occasional hikes in the bush or in the countryside. It is also essential for their well-being to stimulate their sense of smell frequently, since it is their main sense and, in the case of the orito, it is extremely developed. To do this, we can play tracking games by hiding food in the house, in the garden or by using carpets or stuffed toys for the dog to search for.This way we stimulate him mentally and allow him to relax.
On the other hand, you must control his diet, offering him quality products, whether it is high-end foods, home-cooked meals or the BARF diet, and always following instructions from a veterinarian specializing in canine nutrition. The orito needs to get enough calories and nutrients in order to maintain its energetic temperament. We will therefore adapt the amount of food to his age and lifestyle to avoid overweight and ensure that he is always in good shape.
It is not necessary to wash the Podenco orito too often, it is enough to do it from time to time or when you see that it needs it. However, it is strongly recommended to brush it frequently, at least two or three times a week. In this way, we eliminate dead hair and dirt that may have stuck to it and we keep its coat he althy and shiny.
Spanish Podenco orito training
The education of the Podenco orito must begin as soon as the dog arrives at home, which should never happen before he is two months old. It is important to start socializing him from an early age with different stimuli and to ensure that he has positive experiences with other people, objects and animals. At the same time, we can begin to strengthen our bond with the puppy, especially through play, and teach him some basic rules. Find out how to properly socialize a puppy in this other article.
The Podenco orito is a very intelligent dog that likes to learn new things, but it is also a sensitive dog, so never try to educate it by punishing or scolding it. As a good hunting dog, he is very attentive to everything that happens around him and can be easily distracted. The best thing to do is therefore to carry out short and dynamic training sessions and to always use reinforcers which motivate him a lot.
It is also essential to practice the call as soon as the dog is small in order to prevent him from wandering off following tracks in the countryside or chasing after a smaller animal. It is precisely this hunting instinct that can sometimes complicate the coexistence between a Podenco orito and other animals such as cats or rabbits.
Here are some articles that can help you:
- How to train a puppy?
- How to socialize an adult dog?
Spanish Podenco orito he alth
Podencos are dogs that throughout their history have been bred and selected for their functional rather than aesthetic excellence. This fact allows them to currently enjoy a good state of he alth, since, having a very high genetic variability, they are quite resistant to hereditary pathologies that frequently appear in other breeds, such as hip or elbow dysplasia.
The Podenco orito generally does not suffer from major he alth issues and is not as prone to developing food or environmental allergies as is the case with other hunting dog breeds. However, as he is an active and tireless dog, it is essential to keep him well hydrated and to offer him shaded places where he can rest when you take him to the countryside or to the mountains in order to prevent him from suffering from heatstroke.
On the other hand, to keep the Podenco orito he althy, prevention is essential and, for this purpose, we must respect the vaccination schedule and perform internal and external deworming throughout the year , but especially during the warmer months, when the dog is more likely to be infested with fleas, ticks or suffer the bite of a mosquito.
How to adopt a Podenco orito?
Unfortunately, in Spain hunting dog breeds are very often abandoned, especially when the season ends or when the dogs get old, get injured or get sick and are no longer able to keep up with others. Many Podencos of all ages and sizes are waiting to find families in shelters and kennels across the country and, while it is true that Podencos orito are not the most abundant nationally, in Andalusia can be found for adoption more easily.
It is important to note that Podencos rescued by shelters often suffer from fear-related issues, such as trauma, phobias or insecurities, as they are quite sensitive animals. In these cases, the ideal is to have the support of a specialized ethologist or a dog trainer to help us in the process of adaptation of the dog to its new home.
Photos of Spanish Podenco orito
