Portuguese Water Dog

- Origin: Portugal http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- Height: 17 to 23 Inches http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- Weight: 35 to 60 pounds http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- Life expectancy: 10-14 years http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- AKC Group: Working Dog http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- Appearance: medium-size dog with poodle-like hypoallergenic coat; webbed feet that make them superb swimmers http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...
- Temperament: Affectionate with family, love outdoor activities, may have stubborn personalities http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewa...

About Portuguese Water Dogs

The Portuguese Water Dog (aka PWD or Porties, as their fans call them) are an ancient and rare dog breed that gained public attention when President Obama and his family chose a PWD for their canine companion. The First Dog, Bo, was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and joined the First Family in the White House in April, 2009.

The breed was developed in Portugal as fishermens’ assistants. Strong swimmers, Porties have webbed feet and thick coats that protect them from the elements. As valuable as any human crew member, Porties were trained to herd fish into nets and help haul in the heavy load, to dive and retrieve lost tackle, and to carry messages between boats and to the shore.

Known as the Cao de Agua (dog of water) in its native Portugal, advancing technology made them increasingly obsolete, and their numbers declined quickly. The breed was revived when a wealthy Portuguese shipper, Vasco Bensuade, took an interest in them in the 1930's. The modern breed standard is based on his first PWD sire, Laeo.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm

Portuguese Water Dogs first appeared in the United States in 1958, in a trade of rare dogs. By 1972, only 12 PWDs were known to exist in the U.S., and their few afficianados banded together that year to form the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. The PWDCA has grown to 1,000 members.http://www.pwdca.org/breed/history.html

Porties were accepted for registration by the American Kennel Club in 1983, and became eligible for the show ring in the working dog class in 1984.http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_water_dog/
Health Problems

Hip displaysia and progressive retinal atrophy are common among some lines of Portuguese Water Dogs. Young Porties may have GM-1 storage disease, a fatal nerve condition that may not be apparent until the puppy is six months old. When choosing a Portuguese Water Dog, it is vital that you require proof of genetic testing for these serious medical conditions in the parent stock before purchasing a dog from a breeder.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm
Sports and Activities

Porties are strong, energetic dogs that need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation to keep them from becoming bored. They can be creatively destructive, so it’s necessary that they have some job to do. Many fishermen still carry Porties on their boats; even though technology has replaced them as crew members, they make excellent guard dogs and boating companions.

As family companions, Porties need lots of attention from their humans. They love outdoor activities and will happily fetch sticks and balls tossed into the water, and often excel in activities such as dog agility competitions, flyball and water sports.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm
Is The Portuguese Water Dog Right For My Family?

The best family for a PWD is an active, outdoorsy one with older children. Porties make exceptional gun dogs when properly trained, and are eager to go camping, hiking, fishing, or swimming with their families. A well-raised Portie is devoted to his family, gets along with other pets, and is polite to strangers (although he’s willing to take action if he feels it’s necessary).

Although their weatherproof coats protect them from the elements, Porties should live indoors with their families. They may become bored when left alone for long periods of time; if the family is out of the house during the day they may come home to inventive destructiveness. Porties have a strong chewing instinct, and need to be trained to know what they are allowed chew on and what they aren’t.

A medium-size house and yard are best, but they’ll get along fine in a smaller home or an apartment if they get at least one long, brisk, daily walk to satisfy their instinctual need to roam, and to work of excess energy. When they get adequate exercise Porties are fairly calm and contented indoors.