Guicho

The Guicho — also called Quisquelo — is a small Galician hunting dog, one of the four breeds recognised as native to Galicia by its regional government in 2001.

History

It has hunted rabbit across Galicia's gorse and bramble country for a very long time, and Galician writers connect it to the pre-Celtic and Celtic peoples of the north-west. The name comes from guichas, the local word for its upright pointed ears. Regional recognition arrived only recently; the working dog is much older.

Temperament

The breed is known for being restless, lively and remarkably bold — small enough to go into thick cover and game enough to take on a fox.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and a secure garden, since it hunts and it digs. The coat needs little. Training works best in short, interesting sessions.

Health

Generally robust; nothing is widely documented as specific to the breed. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.