Portuguese Water Dog

 

Briefly about the breed:

• The breed is a versatile water dog that thrives on activities both on land and in water.
• It is intelligent and receptive to training and instructions from its owner.
• The breed has strong roots in the USA, England and the Nordic countries.
• The fur requires regular care, including brushing, bathing and clipping.

Owners should provide adequate stimuli:

The Portuguese Water Dog is an active breed that needs both physical and mental stimulation. To ensure that the dog is happy and calm indoors, it is important to give it sufficient activation and tasks to solve. The breed thrives on almost all types of activities, and only the imagination sets limits to what it can do. It is also suitable for lively families with children and is known for its affection and playfulness.

History:

The Portuguese water dog has a long history and was an inseparable companion and work tool for fishermen in Portugal. It had many uses, including assistance during fishing, guarding boats and property, as well as rescuing escaped fish. The dog was also a messenger between boat and land. However, the breed was rarely seen after fishing methods modernized along the Algarve coast. Today, the breed has strong roots in the USA, England and the Nordic countries, and there are around 550 Portuguese water dogs in Norway.

Characteristics/Mentality:

Portuguese Water Dog is a robust and willing to work dog with a wide range of skills. It is known for being positive, forward, and intelligent. The breed also thrives on obedience and agility, in addition to water work. Some individuals are used for hunting, game tracking, service dog work, blind dog work and drug dog work.The breed works well in an active family, but requires attention and tasks to be happy. It is important to look behind the charming creature and understand that it is stubborn and requires physical and mental stimulation to be calm indoors. When choosing a puppy of this breed, one should get help from the breeder to choose a dog that suits one’s needs and lifestyle.

Size and appearance:

The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized dog with a well-proportioned build, powerful muscles and clearly defined muscles. It has great intelligence and shows joy in receiving instructions from its owner. Male dogs have one height at the withers of 50-57 cm (ideal height 54 cm), and bitches have a height at the withers of 43-53 cm (ideal height 46 cm). Male dogs usually weigh between 19-25 kg, while bitches weigh between 16-22 kg.

Fur care:

The breed has a coat without undercoat and sheds sparingly. Owners must be prepared to spend approximately two hours per week brushing, bathing and clipping. The coat should be voluminous with a strong layer of hair that evenly covers the body. A typical cut is the lion cut, which gives the dog optimal mobility while protecting vital organs during swimming.The fur can be of two types: either quite long, wavy and shiny, or shorter and frizzy with compact, cylindrical locks. A third of the tail may be unclipped, giving a tuft of tail. The colors vary from black, white and different shades of brown, with the possibility of white markings on the black and brown dogs.

The breed club

For more information and guidance on the breed, it is recommended to contact the breed club. The breed club has expertise on the breed, an overview of breeders and knowledge of the breed’s health.Good luck!