For my talk at the PAES Conference in Murcia in October 2015, I presented estimated annual figures regarding the uncontrolled overbreeding of podencos. These figures are conservative and they are by no means to be taken as firm; it is quite likely that the numbers are even greater.

Figures for cazadores/podenqueros are more difficult to obtain than for galgos, partly because there does not appear to be one overall federation governing the different hunting associations – Federacio Andaluz de Caza seems the nearest. BUT we know there are dozens of small localised associations, some having as many as 3-4,000 members. The main podencos used by these cazas are Ibicencos and Andaluz. Some of these cazadores may have as many as 15 dogs each.

So as a guestimate, let’s say there are 10,000 cazadores each with, say, 4 dogs. That’s 40,000 podencos. Say a quarter – 10,000 – are bitches each having 4 pups – 40,000 podencos puppies (most have 6-8 pups). That’s not counting the Podenco Campanero, Maneto, Orito, Erbano – used in much smaller numbers. Just on mainland Spain.

On the Canary Islands there are about 300 members of each hunting association on the 3 main Islands – Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, plus say another 100 on Fuerteventura and El Hierro. That’s 1,000 podenqueros/cazadores. Say each has 2 Podenco Canarios, that’s 2,000; say a third are bitches – 660 – who each have 6 pups, 3,600 podenco puppies.

There are other breed of hounds used for hunting the moufflon in the Canaries.

It is estimated there are 85,000 podencos in the Canary Islands.

And these figures do not include the number of cazadores in Portugal who hunt with podencos.

Nor do these figures include the number of podencos in Rehalas – there can be as many as 40 dogs kept for hire for hunting.

And remember – bitches can have 2 litters/year – many podencos are used as breeding machines for maybe 6 or 7 years.

Bit exaggerated, you think?! Take a look at the Milanuncios.com website – for podencos…you’ll get the idea of the magnitude. There is at least 1 podenco every 5 mins advertised for sale, including bitches with pups.

That’s not counting the podencos abandoned to live on the campo, covered by any dog in the vicinity producing yet more puppies!

A least 90% of them will be abandoned, dumped, murdered. The cazadores/podenqueros will only choose one or two pups they think will make good hunters.

And these figures don’t include the podencos with unregistered hunters and gitanos.

NB As emphasised above, these figures are guestimates. Constructive input will be welcome.