Origin

The invaders brought many breeds to Portugal and Spain. The Portuguese Water Dog was the result of mix of these. They were generally used by the fishermen. They were so accurate in their job that after the fisher man left work he would give his dog to other fisherman on rent. In 1930 this dog totally became extinct but due to good breeding this breed was saved. The American kennel club recognised this breed in 1980.

General Description

The Portuguese Water Dog is not a very large breed. It is a medium sized dog and has a stout and muscular figure. It looks strange rather I should say it does not look good. This is just because of its fur. They have a round shaped head and a medium sized square muzzle with a black nose at the tip. They have a muscular neck and a broad chest touching their elbows. Their back side is level slightly sloping towards the tail. The Portuguese Water Dog has straight limbs and legs and arched toes. Their maximum fur is around their face, neck, legs. Their face can’t be seen because of their fur. They have a thick coat mainly found in black colour.

Character

The Portuguese Water Dog is not to big in size. It is powerful and muscular. It is also very intelligent in nature. They are highly protective and they are famous for that. They prove to be excellent guard dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog is very enthusiastic and they are easy to train. This breed is very brave but they are not aggressive at all. Now these are just bookish predictions but the character may vary dog to dog. They are very much devoted and loyal to their families and they are also good to children and other pets if they are socialized properly. But they are really extremely good watch dogs as I told before.

Temperament

The Portuguese Water Dog has a balanced temperament. It is brave, strong and loves human companionship very much. They are very devoted and loyal to their masters. They have a great protective nature and that makes them extremely good guard dogs. They are good to old children but most of them are not good to other pets. They are too cautious about strangers. The Portuguese Water Dog does not mix with strangers well. This is basically a one master breed and listen to any one particular member of the family. They love to be attended by the family members and they should not be left alone for a long time as they can become destructive in such situations. Not at all recommended for a micro family and for novice dog owners.

Training

Early training classes are required to prevent them from becoming shy. Firm training is required but on a whole they are easy to train. Harsh training methods are not at all recommended. Training must be done with firmness and fairness. If trained properly they can become great companions.

Health

Generally this breed is a healthy breed but some of them may be affected by cervical spondilitis. They should be fed limited as they have chances of becoming fat and they may also suffer from bloat, hip dysplasia, heart problems etc. Generally their life span is 13 years.