PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
APPEARANCE
Portuguese Water Dogs are robustly built, with stout legs, and their tails are left naturally long and undocked. They have webbed toes, for swimming, which one can notice by trying to pass one’s finger between the dog’s toes. Their eyes are brown, and their coats can be black, reddish brown, white, or black and white. The height of the Portuguese Water Dog is around 17-21 inches for females and 19-23 inches for males. These dogs weigh in at around 34-50 pounds for females and 53-60 pounds for males.
PERSONALITY
The Portuguese Water Dog has is very fun loving and enjoys the company of others. He can be somewhat protective making him a great candidate for watch dogging, although he should not display any aggressive tendencies. This water loving dog is courageous and has plenty of stamina and enthusiasm for everything that he does. These dogs love to be in the thick of the action, whether it is work or play, and are not suited to those with little time for their pets.
TRAINING
This being such an intelligent breed, he does well in obedience and agility. He needs a lot of mental stimulation, and will not take kindly to being ignored or neglected. Loyal and loving, the Portuguese Water Dog will bark to raise an alarm, making him an effective protector - the good news is that he doesn’t tend to bark unnecessarily. Destructive behavior can stem from boredom with the Portuguese Water Dog, and these dogs also love to chew, so keep plenty of appropriate toys to hand.
EXERCISE
The Portuguese Water Dog loves a little retrieving practice or playing catch on water every now and then. It does well with daily workouts of both mind and body, and will make a good companion for jogging and long walks.
SOCIALIZATION
He tends to get along well with children, who he will treat as friends, and with proper socialization also gets along with pets, although he can sometimes be jealous or territorial. He is usually polite - even friendly - with strangers when properly socialized. The Portuguese Water Dog is a good choice of family pet for active families with plenty of time to devote to a pet, but not the right choice for those with little time or energy.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Apartment living, with access to a small yard, is possible with the Portuguese water dog, as long as it gets sufficient exercise. It needs to live around its family and spend the day in the backyard to keep it happy.
GROOMING
Regular combing and brushing this breed is necessary. This breed has a very thick and close-knit coat which can easily get tangled or matted, so daily combing should be provided. Bathe only when necessary. Brushing with a wire brush or a fine-toothed comb would work best. Checking for burrs in the coat should be performed if this dog is to have free roam in a fenced yard. This breed is a minimal shedder when properly groomed, and is ideal for those that suffer from allergies.
HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Portuguese Water Dog is around 12-14 years, and this is a generally healthy breed. You should look out for some connected health issues, such as allergies, PRA, HD, and GM-1. The parents of the Portuguese Water Dog should have CERF and OFA certificates and you should also ask about clearance for glycogen storage disease (GM-1).
HISTORY
Originating from the Algarve in Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog enjoys a long history. Used as a water retriever and to help fishermen, the Portuguese Water Dog was registered with the AKC in 1983.
your dog`s daily magazine » Michelle Obama: White House Dog Coming Soon! on February 26th, 2009
[...] soon be frolicking on the South Lawn? Mrs. Obama says she thinks she is going to look for a rescue Portuguese Water dog who is “old enough” and a “match” for the family [...]