Portuguese Podengos can make good family dogs if they are socialised and trained early. They are playful, enjoy the company of family members and other dogs, and generally do well with children when introduced properly. They are also good watchdogs due to their alertness and tendency to bark at strangers. However, they can be wary of strangers, may not be suitable for apartment living due to their high energy and loud bark, and might view smaller pets as prey.