Ava Williams
Shoulder height: 43 – 57 cm
Weight: 16 – 25 kg
Age: 12 – 14 years
Color: white, black or brown, solid color or piebald
Use: Companion dog
The Portuguese Water Dog – also called “Portie” for short – comes from Portugal and belongs to the group of water dogs. Probably the most famous representative of this dog breed is “Bo”, the first dog of the American presidential family. The dog breed is rare, but it is growing in popularity. With good and consistent training, the Portuguese Water Dog is an affable, pleasant companion dog. However, it needs a lot of activity and exercise – it is not recommended for lazy people.
Origin and history
The Portuguese Water Dog is a fisherman’s dog that did all the jobs that a dog could do for the fisherman. It guarded the boats and the catch retrieved escaped fish and made the connection between the fishing boats while swimming. As the importance of water dogs in fishing diminished, the dog breed had all but disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century. It is still one of the less common dog breeds today, but Portuguese water dogs are enjoying increasing popularity again.
A Portuguese Water Dog named “Bo” is also the first dog in the United States that President Obama promised his two daughters would take to the White House. This has also led to increased demand from breeders.
Appearance of the Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is medium-sized and massive. It is typical of the Portuguese Water Dog that the whole body is covered abundantly with resistant hair without an undercoat. There are two varieties of hair: wavy long hair and shorter curly hair, one color or multicolored.
The monochromatic are predominantly black, rarely also brown or white in different color intensities. The multicolored show mixtures of black or brown with white. Another special feature of this dog breed is the skin between the toes, which helps the dogs swim.
To protect the body from the cold of the water and at the same time allow maximum legroom in the hind paws, the dogs were clipped from the middle of the back down. This is a relic of the past, but it is still kept that way today and is referred to as “ Lion Shearing ”.
Temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is considered to be extremely intelligent and docile. However, it is also endowed with a fierce temperament and cares about a clear hierarchy in the pack. It is territorial, alert, and defensive. As such, the lively dog also requires early socialization with people, the environment, and other dogs. With loving consistency, it is easy to train. However, it needs a meaningful activity and the opportunity to swim and run. Sporting activities such as agility, obedience, or popular sports are also useful. This dog breed is not suitable for lazy people – rather for sporty nature lovers.
The typical lion clip is only relevant for show dogs, in everyday life a short coat is easier to care for.
The Portuguese Water Dog is often referred to as a “hypoallergenic” dog breed. It is said to trigger fewer reactions in people with dog hair allergies.