All about portuguese water dogs

Video: Breed All About It - Portugeuse Waterdog

What do you know about Portuguese Water Dogs (sometimes incorrectly spelled `Portugese Water Dog) - apart from the fact that it`s the Obamas` chosen breed?

If you`re answer was "not much", don`t worry, you`re not alone!

Thisbreed doesn`t enjoy the popularity of the more well-known breeds suchas the Labrador Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier or Poodle (although is doesbear a strong resemblance to, and probably some ancestors with, thePoodle).

Of course, now that a Portuguese Water Dog puppy is a resident of the White House, that could all change.

Firstseen in the US in the late 1950`s, this breed was acceptedinto the AKC stud books (in the Working Breeds category) in 1983, and although still considered anendangered breed (due to the small gene pool), its` popularity andnumbers have continued to increase since then.

Breed Information

Todays` Portuguese Water Dogs ancestors were hard working canines whohad an important role in the Portuguese fishing industry.

Known intheir native land as Cao de Agua (literally meaning `dog of the water`),they were used to herd fish, retrieve lines and tackle, carry messagesfrom one boat to another, or from ship to shore, and guard the boatwhenever necessary.

Obviously, these dogs needed to be strong,robust, intelligent, highly trainable and courageous - traits that arestill found in the breed today.

Combine these personality traits with anoutgoing, happy disposition, tons of energy and a good dose ofloyalty/devotion to family, and you have a dog that can make an idealfamily pet.

However, this isn`t a dog for everyone. The PortugueseWater Dog needs a job to do, plenty of vigorous exercise, obediencetraining and regular grooming if it is to be happy and healthy.

Likemany working breeds, although it the breed is generally temperamentallysound, it can suffer from anxiety and behavioral issues if there isn`tenough exercise and stimulation in it`s daily life.

An activeperson/family, who has room for their dog to run and play is the bestsort of home for one of these bright and bouncy dogs. Of course, astheir name and history suggests, living near (or frequent visits to) alarge body of water makes any member of this breed, who is a competentswimmer, a very happy little fella!

Adults can grow to anywhere between 17 and 23 inches in height, and weighbetween 35 and 60lbs. Females are usually smaller and lighter thanmales, but both sexes should be solidly built and muscular.

Acceptedcolors are black, white and brown, or a combination of those. Thesingle layer coat is either curly or wavy, and as it tends to be lowshedding, this breed may be seen as hypoallergenic and is less likely to trigger symptoms in people with allergies.

Caring For Portuguese Water Dogs

This breed is generally good with children and other pets, and it`sfun-loving and affectionate nature makes it a wonderful pet.

But....a Portuguese Water Dog puppy isn`t a lap-dog, and in spite of it`sadorable (and very `teddy bear-ish`) looks, it can be a very `mouthy`breed, meaning it may nip more than others, especially when teething.

APWD`s intelligence can be a `double-edged sword`, as they can bestrong-willed and may challenge the authority of an owner who isinconsistent or timid. This is not done in an aggressive way, it`s justthat a smart pup, who hasn`t been trainedconsistently or adequately, may simply decide that it knows best!

Thisbreed usually bonds very closely with it`s owner or family, and lovesnothing better than to be right by their side. They don`t like to beleft alone for long periods and thrive when treated as an integral partof the family unit.

Early, and continued, socialization and obedience training are essential. Enrolling your pup in a good dog obedience school just as soon as he`s fully vaccinated is recommended.

Becauseof it`s fairly long, wavy or curly coat, your pup will need regulargrooming. Luckily a daily (or every other day) combing and brushing isusually enough to keep him looking `spiffy`, and prevent tangles andmatts. Regular trimming or clipping is also a good idea.

A Portuguese Water Dogs` coat tends is thick, and tends to repel water, so when you`re bathing your puptake extra care to wet him thoroughly and also to rinse out all theshampoo/conditioner really well. They are pretty much wash `n wear inall other respects.

Choose a high quality puppy food for your puppy. As an active and fast-growing breed, thesepuppies need a good source of nutrition if they are to grow up healthyand strong.

This breed is known to be a very vigorous `chewer`,and you`ll need to have plenty of sturdy chew toys handy to keep yourlittle guy out of trouble (and protect your belongings!).

Check out my Indestructible Dog Toys page for a good selection of some of the best chew toys around, and learn how to handle the chewing stage on my Puppy Chewing page.

Thischewing behavior may extend to to nipping/biting and mouthing on peopleand this breed is definitely one of the mouthy ones.

Consistentcorrection is needed from day one to make sure that this behaviordoesn`t become a habit.

You can find all lots of tips and advice on dealing with this behavior on my Puppy Bitingpage.

Although all puppies nip to some extent, it`s definitelysomething you want to discourage early on... before those little teethare big enough to REALLY hurt.

Keeping Your Portuguese Water Dog Healthy

Although it`s overall a healthy and robust dog, like any other breed these dogs have their own set of potential health issues.

These includeAddisons` Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome,and an inheritable form of hair loss called Follicular Dysplasia. Aless serious issue your pup may experience are ingrowing eyelashes(called distichia). This is not unusual in long/curly coated breeds.

Thebest way to make sure that you have a healthy puppy is to buy from areputable breeder, preferably one who is a member of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America.

Theparents of any puppy you buy should have been tested for certainhereditary or genetic conditions including those such as Hip Dysplasia,GM1 Storage Disease, PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), and JuvenileDilated Cardiomyopathy.

It`s also important to buy a puppy whose parentsyou have seen and interacted with, from a breeder who is knowledgeableand provides a health contract/guarantee.

If a breeder asks youlots of questions, that`s a good sign! It means that the person you`replanning on buying your puppy from really caresabout her dogs and puppies.

When a breed becomes suddenly popular(as could well happen with this breed due to the Obamas` ownership),many people want to rush out and buy a puppy, often without doing enoughresearch to decide whether or not it is the right dog for them - orwhether they are the right home for the puppy!

Breeders knowthis, and a responsible breeder will want to be sure that you REALLY arethe right prospective parents for one of her precious pups.

Get A Little Extra Help.......

The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dog Puppy & Dog Training & Behavioral Book

Portuguese Water Dogs Are the Best! (Best Dogs Ever)

Portuguese Water Dog (Comprehensive Owner`s Guide)

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