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Portuguese Water Dog Breed Introduction
Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized innate swimmer from Portugal. It was bred to retrieve broken nets or lost tackle, herd the fish into the nets of the fishermen, and also act as courier from ship to ship or ship to shore. The popularity of Portuguese Water Dogs skyrocket after been the chosen dog breed by the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. This is also an empathetic and intelligent breed that excel as a service and therapy dog.
Portuguese Water Dog Origin | History
Portuguese Water Dogs originated from Algarve, Portugal before spreading to all of Portugal Coast. Following the modernization of fishing in the 20th century, Portuguese Water Dogs almost became extinct. Fortunately, Vasco Bensuade, a wealthy Portuguese dog lover stepped in to save the breed. The breed standards were written by the fans of the breed. Later on, these dogs started to appear at dog shows. Eventually, Portuguese Water Dogs made their way to United States and England. The breed’s club was formed in the United States in 1972. AKC recognized the Portuguese Water Dogs in the early 80s’.
Portuguese Water Dog Lifespan | Life Expectancy
A Portuguese Water Dog has a lifespan of 11 to 13 years. However, some may live up to the age of 14 years.
Portuguese Water Dog Grooming
The Portuguese Water Dog has a single-layered coat that may either be loose and wavy or tight and curly. Daily brushing and combining is recommended using a slicker brush and metal comb to prevent matting of the body hair which can cause skin irritation. Before brushing the coat, a pet parent may spritz it using a detangling spray or water conditioner solution to prevent hair breakage. A Lion cut or a Retriever Cut is recommended every 6 to 8 weeks.
Portuguese Water Dogs need occasional baths every 4 to 6 weeks unless it rolls into something messy. Before bathing your pet, ensure your brush the coat to remove mats and dirt. Matting tends to get messier when the coat is wet. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to bath your pooch. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Wipe the face using a clean damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes instead of soapy water that irritates the eyes. Dry off the coat using dry towels. Line brush the coat once more using a slicker brush to ensure the it will not form mats.
This is an innate swimmer that loves spending sometime in the water. After a swimming activity, it is important to rinse the coat with clean water to remove chlorine, salt, dirt, and other debris. Failure to rinse the coat would make it harder to brush and comb the coat potentially causing skin problems. Weekly ear cleaning is recommended using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax, dirt, or debris.
While cleaning the ears, remember to look out for redness, odor, and a dark discharge that are signs of dog’s ear infection. Ear plucking is recommended on a regular basis since the hair grows inside the ear canal of the Portuguese Water Dog. Clip the nails every two weeks using a grinder or nail clippers. Overly grown nails make walking and running painful for a Portuguese Water Dog. Brush the teeth of your pet at least twice a week if not daily using a tasty canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush.
Portuguese Water Dog Hair Cut | Grooming Styles
Portuguese Water Dogs may a wavy or curly coat that may either have a retriever cut or a lion clip. To achieve a retriever cut, the hair on the body is trimmed to about an inch long with a third of end tail left with its natural fur length. Whereas, a lion cut involves keeping the entire coat in its natural length but clipping the rear end( from last rib cage) and muzzle short. Just like the retriever cut, 1/3 of the natural hair is left on the tail.
Portuguese Water Dog Shedding | Shedding Problems
A Portuguese has a single-layered coat that lacks an undercoat. It sheds at minimal levels all-year round. Fortunately, Portuguese Water Dogs don’t experience heavy shedding problems since the coat doesn’t experience the seasonal change.
Portuguese Water Dog Coat | Coat Type | Hair
A Portuguese Water Dog has a profuse single coat that may either be wavy and loose or curly and tight.
Portuguese Water Dog Hypoallergenic
Portuguese Water Dogs are regarded hypoallergenic dogs since they shed at minimal levels all-year round. This breed may either have a curly or wavy coat that tends to trap the shed hair preventing the release of dander and fur into the environment. However, apart from dander and hair, dog’s mucus, saliva, and urine have a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Portuguese Water Dog Training | How To Train A Portuguese Water Dog
A Portuguese Water Dog is intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please. This breed responds well to obedience training. However, Portuguese Water Dogs often have an independent nature and may sometimes challenge the will of the owner. Therefore, it is important to train the dog from an early age. Pet owners should also create a pecking order where they identify themselves as the pack leaders. This may be done by eating and getting through the door first before the dog. This makes the dog to respect the owner since he or she is the source of all valuable resources including food, treats, and toys.
To raise a well-socialized and a well-mannered Portuguese Water Dog, start socialization training. This training begins from the age of 3 weeks when the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks when the pup is in its new home. Most owners take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. However, socialization training may continue even after the age of 16 weeks to ensure the dog has a well-rounded temperament for the rest of its life. To socialize Portuguese Water Dogs, expose them to a wide variety of people, animals, surfaces, places, experiences, sights, smell, situations, and sounds such as lawn mowers, baby crying sounds, sirens, washing machine, vacuum cleaners, and whistles.
Enrolling a Portuguese Water Dog in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide a controlled environment where the dogs can interact. A Puppy class not only assist the pet parent to identify and correct bad behaviors but also have access to training information and assistance. Use of positive reinforcement methods (use of treats, toys, petting, playtime, and verbal praise) encourages good habits. Owners should refrain from using harsh correction methods such as use of prong or choke collars when training, yelling, or beating the dog.
Start teaching basic command words such as come, down, sit, stay, heel, leave it, etc. one at a time until the pet understands before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid issuing a command while too frustrated or excited since it won’t sound the same for your Portuguese Dog. Keep the training sessions short, fan, and challenging to avoid boredom. Train Portuguese Water Dogs for a span of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day. The training session span will increase to at least 10 minutes after the dog matures.
Effectively housebreak Portuguese Water Dogs by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training. Crate training helps in reducing the severity of separation anxiety since the dog is taught to be confident in staying alone. A Crate also helps the owner to monitor the pup for signs that it wants to eliminate such as sniffing, squatting, whining, restlessness, circling, and trying to lift the leg against the crate wall. Naturally, Portuguese Water Dogs and other breeds will avoid soiling where they sleep.
In order to get positive outcomes when potty training, it is recommended to take the Portuguese Water Dog to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, every 2 to 3 hours, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, following an exciting activity such as a car ride and playtime, and before bedtime. The potty breaks will increase to every 6 to 8 hours after the age of 8 months. This is because the bladder and bowel muscles of a puppy increases as the puppy matures.
Portuguese Water Dog Temperament | Personality
- Intelligent.
- Eager to please.
- Athletic.
- Confident.
- Loyal.
- Tireless.
- Loving.
- Independent.
- Friendly.
- Playful.
- Outgoing.
- Sociable.
- Affectionate.
Portuguese Water Dog Exercise
This is an athletic and tireless breed that requires vigorous exercise daily to keep him happy and healthy. Exercises may be in form of play sessions with the owner and long daily walks. Portuguese Water Dogs can also exercise mind and body by participating in canine sports such as dock diving, rally, agility, tracking, and obedience.
Portuguese Water Dog Barking
A Portuguese Water Dog has a multi-octave voice. However, it tends to be a quiet breed but it will bark when someone is approaching the home. Portuguese Water Dogs possess a loud and distinctive bark. They are known for communicating their desires behaviorally and vocally to their owner. Sometimes, they also whine.
Portuguese Water Dog Height
A Male Portuguese Dog has a height of 20 to 23 inches ( approx. 51 to 58 cm ) while its female counterpart has a height of 17 to 21 inches ( approx. 43 to 53 cm ).
Portuguese Water Dog Weight
Female Portuguese Water Dogs have a weight of 35 to 50 pounds ( approx. 16 to 23 kg) while their male counterparts have a weight of 42 to 60 pounds ( approx. 19 to 27 kg).
Portuguese Water Dog Size
Portuguese Water Dogs are medium-sized breeds. However, female Portuguese Water Dogs are slightly smaller as compared to their male counterparts in terms of weight and height. Female Portuguese Water Dogs have a weight of 35 to 50 pounds ( approx. 16 to 23 kg) with a height of 17 to 21 inches ( approx. 43 to 53 cm ) while Male Portuguese Water Dogs have a weight of 42 to 60 pounds ( approx. 19 to 27 kg) with a height of 20 to 23 inches ( approx. 51 to 58 cm ).
Portuguese Water Dog Aggression
Naturally, a Portuguese Water Dog is affectionate, loving, outgoing, sociable, and friendly dog. However, it can exhibit an aggressive behavior if it was bred and socialized poorly.
Portuguese Water Dog Biting
Portuguese Water Dogs puppy biting and nipping my be rampant when the puppies are exploring their environments, playing, or when teething due to discomfort. Discourage puppy biting before it develops into a habit through bite inhibition training and redirection.
Portuguese Water Dog Health Issues
A Portuguese Water Dog is vulnerable to certain genetic defects like all other purebred dogs. Some of the health issues that Portuguese Water Dogs suffer from include hip dysplasia, eye disorders like distichiasis, progressive retinal atrophy, and cataracts, GM1 storage disease, and Juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy.
Portuguese Water Dog Names
A Portuguese Water Dog parent may decide to find a name for the pet before it leaves the shelter or a few days after the puppy joins the home to understand its personality. Owners may get name inspirations from the Portugal origin of the breed, coat color, temperament, celebrity Portuguese Water Dogs, food, books, movies, music, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue and will not make your embarrassed if uttered out loud in the public places. Portuguese Water Dogs and other breeds better understand names that have vowels. If a pet has a long and tedious name, the owner should find a cute nickname for the dog. It is also recommended to avoid giving your pooch a name that rhymes with the command words to prevent confusion. If a Portuguese Water Dog shares a name with a family member or guests who frequent your home it may result into confusion.
Female Portuguese Water Dog Names
- Cassie.
- Eva.
- Atlantis.
- Bianca.
- Duchess.
- Mara.
- Sadie.
- Missy.
- Empress.
- Lady.
- Bailey.
- Honey, etc.
Portuguese Water Dog Colors
A Portuguese Water Dog may have a brown, black and white, Black, white, or a combination of black and brown colors with white coats.
Male Portuguese Dog Names
- Smoky.
- Bo.
- Rio.
- Vasco.
- Port.
- Murphy.
- Jesse.
- Nemo.
- Pluto.
- Riley.
- Toby.
- Gus.
- Max, etc.
Portuguese Water Dog Food
The amount of food that Portuguese Water Dogs feed on depends on their activity level, age, metabolism, size, and body build. A Portuguese Puppy tends to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, puppies need to feed on 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Portuguese Water Dogs should feed on two meals a day for the rest of their lives with snacks and treats in between. However, owners should watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding their pooches.
Portuguese Water Dog may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, a parent should ensure the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Portuguese Water Dog parent decides to feed the dog the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial pooch food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age of Portuguese Water Dogs. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the pet has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pooch is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Portuguese Water Dog is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Portuguese Water Dogs, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Portuguese Water Dog Types
There is only one type of pure breed Portuguese Water Dogs that may either have a wavy or curly coat.
Portuguese Water Dog Allergies
A Portuguese Water Dog may suffer from various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affect Portuguese Water Dogs include fleas. The flea’s saliva causes flea allergy dermatitis that normally affects the back legs and underneath the tail. This allergy results in excessive biting, scratching, and licking until the skin around the bite area is raw. Other allergens that affect this pet include pollen, grass, trees, ragweed, mites, house molds, and dust and dust mites. Symptoms that Portuguese Water Dogs exhibit while suffering from environmental allergies include nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing, and itchiness on various body parts such as muzzle, paws, feet, groin, around the eyes, ears, face, and between the toes.
Contact allergies – This allergy results in inflammation once the skin of the pooch comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Portuguese Water Dogs include plastics, bed linens, grooming products, lawn chemicals, carpet cleaning detergents, medication, and latex.
Food allergies – Portuguese Water Dogs may suffer from food allergies that are accompanied with an immune response. Therefore, it is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms varying from skin issues symptoms to gastrointestinal stress. Skin condition symptoms include hives, hot spots, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis while gastrointestinal stress includes acute vomiting and diarrhea, bloating, and weight loss.
Skin allergies – A Portuguese Water Dog suffers from skin allergies due to food, environmental, and contact allergies that manifest on the skin.
Portuguese Water Dog Eyes
A Portuguese Water Dog has roundish eyes that are neither sunken or prominent.
Portuguese Water Dog Tail
A Portuguese Water dog is thick at the base and tapers towards the tip.
Are Portuguese Water Dog Aggressive
No. Portuguese Water Dogs are friendly, affectionate, outgoing, loyal, and loving. They are not aggressive. However, Portuguese Water Dogs may start exhibiting aggressive traits if they were socialized poorly.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Hypoallergenic
Yes. Portuguese Water Dogs are considered hypoallergenic breeds since they shed at minimal levels all-year round. They also have a curly or wavy coat that tends to trap the shed hair preventing the release of the allergens into the environment.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Easy To Train
Yes. Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent, eager to please, and willing to learn which makes them highly trainable.
Are Portuguese Water Dog Good For First Time Owners
Yes. Portuguese Water Dogs will make great pets for novice owners if the parents try to understand what the breed wants, establish themselves as the pack leader, and meet the required exercise and training needs of the breed.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Smart
Yes. Portuguese water dogs are extremely smart, highly trainable, and eager to please.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Bark A Lot
No. However, they are well known as vocal breeds that make their needs known to the owner either behaviorally or vocally.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Shed
Yes. Portuguese Water Dogs shed at low-levels all-year round.
Portuguese Water Dogs Quick Facts
- Portuguese Water Dogs are the chosen pet breed of the former USA President, Barack Obama.
- These are intelligent dogs that learn quickly, enjoy training, and have a long memory for the names of objects.
- Portuguese Water Dogs will normally jump as a greeting. It is up to the owner to limit this behavior.
