Maneto

The Maneto is an Andalusian rabbit hound built on very short legs — a podengo-type dog whose proportions let it work under scrub rather than over it.

History

It comes from western Andalusia, where hunters kept short-legged podengos to push rabbits out of dense cover that a taller dog could not enter. It was recognised as a distinct Spanish breed only in the twenty-first century, having existed as a regional working type long before.

Temperament

The breed is known for being lively, tenacious and affectionate with its household, a working hound with considerable stamina for its size.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and secure ground; the prey drive is real. The short legs mean weight and jumping are worth managing. The coat needs little.

Health

Little is documented as specific to this recently recognised breed; short-legged builds generally warrant attention to the back. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.