Portuguese Water Dog (male) Fact Center

This breed as we know it today originated from Portugal. However, the dog bears a striking resemblance to the Poodle, and that has sent canine historians scurrying into the murky areas of ancient speculation. There are a number of speculative theories about this breed’s origins tracing it back to the steppes of Central Asia, near the Chinese-Russian border. Another theory holds that the Berbers found the breed in Asia and then carried it with them across North Africa, where the Moors then took it to Portugal. And then there is the theory that the Goths (Germanic tribes) found the breed on the Asian steppes and took it to Europe, and thence came the Poodle. As previously stated, this is all speculation. What is known is that the breed has lived along Portugal’s coast for centuries, working with and for fisherman in their boats and on the shore. This is borne out by the breed’s skills in swimming, fishing, and performing all manner of chores related to bringing in the catch. In 1954 the Portuguese Water Dog was exported to England where it was accepted by The Kennel Club as a Working Dog. In 1958, the breed came to America, where interest began to grow slowly. It was not until 1981, however, that the American Kennel Club accepted the breed into the Miscellaneous Class. Although not commonly seen on the streets of American cities, The Portuguese Water Dog has a national club of its own and is well established.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a highly territorial dog, like other breeds in the Working Group. He protects what he considers his, and that includes his family. As a result, he barks and barks and barks at whatever he considers out of place or out of line, including other dogs or other people. This dog is quite assertive and demands a lot of attention. Although owners believe him to be a calm animal, he is strong and at times forceful. This is an intelligent dog that is used to deciding for himself if something is not right. The positive aspect of this behavior is that he is a wonderful companion, takes good care of the children in his family, and feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach. He is not aggressive but he is not retiring either.

The Portuguese is a medium to large dog, with males standing between 20 to 23 inches from the shoulder (females 17 to 21 inches). The male weighs between 42 and 60 pounds and the female between 35 to 50 pounds. The coat is thick, profuse with no undercoat, mane, or ruff. The coat is seen in two varieties, tight and curly, similar to the Poodle coat, yet softer and somewhat wavy with a slight gloss. It is seen in all shades of black or brown with or without white markings.

Socializing a puppy of this breed to other people, other dogs, and a variety of places outside his home has many obvious benefits. But one of the greatest benefits is to enhance his ability and desire to accept obedience training with ease and comfort. Because of his high energy and desire to stay active or moving about constantly, it is best to exercise him for at least an hour a day, and especially before any obedience training session. It is part of his nature to require a great deal of attention, and that’s exactly what he gets during training. He is a playful dog as well as a curious one, and although this trait is amusing and heart-warming it can interfere with the training process. The antidote for this is to be assertive and demanding during each training session. Do not allow him to play or let his mind wander while you are teaching the commands. Keep him looking at you and make the sound of your voice deeper than usual, with a demanding tone.

The two unusual features of this breed are his webbed feet (for swimming enhancement) and the fact that his coat hardly sheds at all, which is a blessing for those with allergies. His coat is either medium in length and wavy, or short and curly. Either way, it must be brushed and combed at least twice a week (preferably more) to keep it free of tangles and mats. He must be trimmed from time to time, depending on how fast his coat grows. The most common trim for a house dog is the “working retriever trim,” with a shortened layer of hair covering his entire body. The alternative is the “Lion Trim,” with his face and back half of his body shaved. In either style, the tail is shaved with only a puff of fur left at the very end. When trimming his nails, pay attention to the webbing between his toes and take care not to injure that delicate skin.

Susceptible to hip dysplasia, as are all dogs that are large and fast-growing. The same is true of gastric dilation/torsion (bloat). Other health concerns for this breed are progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and spinal-cord problems.