Portuguese Podengo Dog Names

Surprisingly, for such a rare breed, the Portuguese Podengo can be spotted in a number of big-budget Hollywood films. One of the earliest films to feature a Podengo is the 1995 fantasy film entitled Three Wishes, starring Patrick Swayze. The plot of the film revolves around Jack, played by Swayze, and his Podengo named Betty Jane. A car with a family inside accidentally runs over Jack, who breaks his leg as a result. Out of guilt and concern, the family invite Jack and his dog over to their home and ask them to stay there until Jack’s broken leg heals.

During their stay at the Holman household, Jack and his dog develop a strong bond with the family. It was also revealed in the movie that Betty Jane was not actually a dog but a genie. As Jack’s leg heals completely, he decides to go on his way, despite protests from the family, who wants him to stay. Determined to go, Jack and his dog say goodbye to the family, but not before secretly granting them their individual wishes, thanks to Betty Jane.

A Podengo also plays one of the titular characters in the 1997 family-comedy entitled Zeus and Roxanne. The premise is centered on the friendship of Zeus, a Podengo, and Roxanne, a dolphin. In the film, Zeus spots a dolphin and is instantly amazed by the ways it moves. In an attempt to get close to a dolphin, Zeus follows his neighbor Mary Beth, who is a marine biologist, to work. Here, he meets Roxanne, a dolphin being researched on by Mary Beth. The two soon form an unlikely bond due to their ability to do “interspecies communication”. Their friendship starts a series of hilarious events, some mishaps and a romance between Mary Beth and Terry, Zeus’ owner.

Another film with a Podengo in a starring role is the 1999 made-for-TV movie called Soccer Dog: The Movie, which is about a dog, named Kimble, with a weird but impressive ability to play soccer. While not aired on the big screen, the film received moderate success and even spawned a sequel, entitled Soccer Dog: European Cup.

Other renowned Hollywood films where the Podengo can be spotted include Dante’s Peak, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Cheaper by the Dozen, Secondhand Lions and The Lake House. Because of the frequent features in big-budget films, the Portuguese Podengo eventually became a more well-known breed outside of Portugal and left a mark in the hearts of people from all over the world.