Portuguese Water Dog
A robust, curly-coated Portuguese fisherman's dog that loves water, work and its family.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 50–57 cm · Females 43–52 cm
- Weight
- Males 19–25 kg · Females 16–22 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Regular trips to a groomer
- Coat
- Curly, Wavy, medium, long
- Colours
- Black, White, Brown, Bicolour
- Bred for
- Water work, Retrieving, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Portugal
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 37 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 1/5 – Very low |
| Grooming effort | 4/5 – High |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 3/5 – Moderate |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- love water and outdoor activities
- want a low-shedding coat and accept regular clipping
- enjoy training a clever dog
Think twice if you …
- want a low-maintenance coat
- cannot offer daily mental and physical work
- prefer a quiet, placid dog
Care
Temperament
Spirited, affectionate and intelligent, with a strong will. It is friendly but can be watchful with strangers.
Exercise
Needs an hour or more of exercise daily, ideally including swimming. Retrieving, water work, agility and obedience suit it well.
Grooming
The single, non-shedding coat grows continuously and needs brushing a few times a week and clipping every six to eight weeks.
Training
Learns very quickly and enjoys tasks, but can be headstrong. Consistent, reward-based training with variety keeps it engaged.
Health
Hip dysplasia, inherited eye disease and some rare inherited conditions are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- PRA (prcd)
- GM1 gangliosidosis
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Portuguese Water Dog worked for generations with fishermen on the Portuguese coast. It herded fish into nets, retrieved lost tackle and carried messages between boats and shore. When traditional fishing changed, the breed declined, and it was saved in the 20th century by a few dedicated breeders.
It is lively, clever and very attached to its people, and it enjoys being given jobs. It loves swimming and is strong for its size. Without enough exercise and mental work it can become boisterous or mouthy. Its coat sheds little but must be clipped regularly, which is part of the ongoing cost of ownership.
Did you know?
Two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny, lived in the White House during the Obama presidency.