Portuguese Water Dog Breed Information:
Portuguese Water Dogs once served as crew on fishing trips, retrieving lost gear and herding fish into nets. Today, this dog breed makes for a fun-loving family companion represented by Barack Obama, former First Dog of the U.S who still retains their intelligence and love of the water, not to mention the webbed feet, that made them so valuable to their human family.
Portuguese Water Dog Group: Working Dogs.
Portuguese Water Height: 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the shoulder.
Portuguese Water Weight: 35 to 60 pounds.
Portuguese Water Life Span: 10 to 14 years.
More About This Dog Breed:
Portuguese Water Dogs are highly intelligent. They love learning new things, but they can also become bored easily, so make training challenging and fun. Portuguese Water Dogs are energetic and need 30 minutes to an hour of vigorous exercise daily. They love swimming and make excellent jogging companions. Without proper exercise and mental stimulation, Portuguese Water Dogs can become destructive. They especially like to chew.
Portuguese Water History:
The Portuguese Water Dog originated from the Algarve region of Portugal. From there the breed expanded to all around Portugal's coast, where they were taught to herd fish into fishermen's nets, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and act as couriers from ship to ship, or ship to shore.
Portuguese Water Size:
Male Portuguese Water Dogs stand 20 to 23 inches at the shoulder, and weigh 42 to 60 pounds. Females stand 17 to 21 inches, and weigh 35 to 50 pounds.
Portuguese Water Personality:
The Portuguese Water Dog has a lot of great qualities: he's tireless, and fun loving, with a great sense of humor. He's also smart enough that he can out think you if you don't stay a step ahead of him. You may frequently find yourself laughing as he plays the clown to get your attention.
Also Read This : All Dog Breeds - Names and Pictures | Complete List of Dog Profiles
Portuguese Water Health:
Portuguese Water Dogs are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Not all Porties will get any or all of these diseases:
Hip Dysplasia (4).
Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (5).
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) (6).
Storage Disease (7).
Portuguese Water Care:
Portuguese Water Dog’s are people lovers and they should live in the home, not outside. Ideally, they'll have a fenced yard where they can play safely although with enough exercise, they can adapt to apartment life. A Portie needs 30 minutes to an hour of exercise daily. Train your Portuguese Water Dog using positive reinforcement techniques such as praise, play, and food rewards. Avoid endless repetition or he'll get bored. Training your Portuguese Water Dog for obedience, agility, tracking, or water work is a great way to stimulate his mind and give him the activity he enjoys. He can also make a wonderful therapy dog.
Portuguese Water Feeding:
Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3.5 cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals.
Portuguese Water Coat Color And Grooming:
The Portuguese Water Dog's coat can be black, white, various shades of brown, or black or brown with white. It's popular to give the Portuguese Water Dog a lion clip or a retriever clip. Brush or comb your Portuguese Water Dog two or three times a week to keep the coat tangle-free. Clip or trim the coat monthly to keep it looking neat. Trim nails once or twice a month. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they're too long. Brush your Portuguese Water Dog's teeth at least two or three times a week to keep his breath fresh and prevent tartar buildup and periodontal disease.
The Portuguese Water Dog's coat can be black, white, various shades of brown, or black or brown with white. It's popular to give the Portuguese Water Dog a lion clip or a retriever clip. Brush or comb your Portuguese Water Dog two or three times a week to keep the coat tangle-free. Clip or trim the coat monthly to keep it looking neat. Trim nails once or twice a month. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they're too long. Brush your Portuguese Water Dog's teeth at least two or three times a week to keep his breath fresh and prevent tartar buildup and periodontal disease.
Portuguese Water with Children And Other Pets:
Portuguese Water Dogs make excellent family companions, especially when raised with kids. Porties get along well with other dogs and cats, especially if they're raised with them. As with all dogs, you should keep an eye on Porties around small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.