The Portuguese Water Dog, also known as PWD or Porties, is 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.http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/04/bo_obamas_anniversary_first_ye.html

The breed was developed in Portugal as a fisherman's assistant. Strong swimmers, Porties have webbed feet and thick coats that protect them from the elements. 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.http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_water_dog/

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 1930s. The modern breed standard is based on his first PWD sire, Laeo.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm

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. Genetic testing is often conducted on Portuguese water dogs before being sold. General life expectancy is between 10 and 14 years.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm

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 trainers often give them 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.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm

As family companions, Porties need lots of attention from their humans. They enjoy outdoor activities and will happily fetch sticks and balls tossed into water, and they often excel in activities such as dog agility competitions, flyball, and water sports.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/portuguesewaterdog.htm