First of all, Patas is our very first dog of this breed. Before her, we've had two Yorkshire Terriers, I grew up with those two. Then years later, after they passed away, we wanted to rescue a dog from a Shelter. Our search started on shelters in The Netherlands, but after a while we ended up on the website of AINF: Animal In Need Foundation. Here we found Patas, and right after we saw the pictures we knew we had to check this dog out. At the time she was in a Foster Family in The Netherlands, but on the complete other side of my country than where we live. Once we arrived there we had our first walk with her and we right away felt this click. At the time she was six months old.
Back in Spain, she was found as a pup with her siblings in a field. The mother ran off and they failed to get her back. The pups stayed in the shelter for a few months, after they would all be sent to The Netherlands at the age of two-three months old. But at the time, Patas broke her paw. Although she healed really quickly, which is why they named her Patas, as it means something similar to "Paw" in Spanish, it delayed her trip. Afterwards, at the age of about five-six months, Patas got sent to The Netherlands, and that's when we found her on the website.
Over the years Patas grew more and more attached to us, but also started showing what her breed (Podenco) is made for; Hunting. Patas is a real passionate hunter. Unfortunately due to that, she can't go off leash at many places. This ma'am here would run off chasing rabbits or deers, and come back when she wants to. Although on leash and indoors, Patas listens very well to commands. Also she can be very affectionate at times, but then again; when SHE wants to. Even though I say that, she accepts everything what we do, you can basically lift up all her four paws and she will tolerate it. Of course, we won't do that. But she trusts us a lot and is a very easy-going dog. She even lets us cuddle her in her own basket; In fact she loves it!
Podenco mixes are well-known for their behaviour being very close to the Podenco blood in them, and so we noticed that with Patas. Podencos are actually "half-cats." Outside they are very active, inside they would rather sleep and are very quiet. At times you even forget you have a dog! Haha. We had her DNA tested, by the way - she is a Podenco, German Shepherd, Weimeraner, Alaskan Malamute mix!
Also Patas is very smart, but you have to train her in a moment she feels in for it, because unlike a German Shepherd, she doesn't oftenly have the motivation. Although I am currently training her for a school project and she's doing really well! The tricks she has learnt so far are; Sit, Lay Down, Give paw (both), High five (both), High Ten, Side and Box. (Like when you put your first against someone else's fists, but then with her nose against my hand.) Another trick she really loves to perform is Point. I have taught her to point under what object (for example; there are five objects and underneath one is a treat) the treat is hidden. I am still trying to perfect it by making her sit in front of it. But she loves doing that one. Currently I am trying to teach her to close doors, retrieve my slipper, and she has almost learned to sit in front- and next to me after I call her to me. (But of course, now she can come to me and sit in front or next to me without me needing to call her first.) Also I am still trying to perfect that one. Patas learns really quickly, she learned the basics of the last mentioned tricks in less than five minutes each.
Another thing I love about her, besides her ''Interesting'' cat-dog personality, is the fact she brings you to places you wouldn't see as a ''Normal dog" owner. Normal dogs stay on the paths in woods, etc. Not Patas, she will drag you all the way through bushes, trees, falling over everything, being stuck in plants, etc. But then imagine how much nature you bump into! As myself I like taking Nature Photographs with my phone (It has a very good camera if I say so myself) and she really helps me get wonderful pictures. Walking with her is always an adventure haha.
Patas is usually quiet in the house, but she can be very ''talkative" at times as well, she doesn't oftenly bark to us, but will more of start ''Howling.'' It's almost like a wolf but in shorter parts of time. (Sorry if my English lacks in its terms, I am Dutch.)
When playing with other dogs she can bark a lot, especially if two other dogs are playing and when she wants attention. But once she gets the attention she asked for so much, she completely ignores the dog most of the time.
Patas is a real "Queen" and expects everything to go just as she wants it to go. Yet she's very submissive towards us, which is a good thing. For example she's very good at self-control with food. When we just got her we taught her to sit with distance from her foodbowl, and wait for us to give the sign to start eating. Now whenever we drop something, she won't take it (most of the time. ;-) ) until we say so. I even dropped a whole package of Dog candy once and she just stared at it. I could clean it all up and just give her one. A normal dog would've dived right into it!
It works the same with food on the table, if you give a correction quick enough she'll definitely stay off it. Just for a dog's normal behaviour if you ''leave'' the food, if there are left-overs for the lower ranks, you never expect them to stay off it then, haha.
Besides her being very independent, Patas can get jealous when we are giving attention to other dogs, even when we're outside and she usually doesn't care much about you. (Yes, she has a split personality for real.) She will often start claiming us. Patas would never use aggression though, she never bit a dog before. Their Podenco Breed is known for fleeing instead of confronting one another.
Patas has shown me so much throughout these four years. It feels like she has only just been with us for two years though, it has gone so quickly. She was my first dog who was so skittish and sensitive. (As tis o be expected of a Podenco Mix) She has taught me a lot about dog behaviour, too. Due to her sensitivity she knows exactly how I feel, she can even feel a breakdown of mine coming before I even feel it yet. She often knows exactly what to do to cheer me up, just by being her, actually. I would never wish for her to change in any way. She's perfect and we all love her. <3
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