The Portuguese Water Dog was bred for many purposes but most of their tasks involve helping fishermen while out in the water. Herding fish, retrieving broken nets, and serving as couriers to transport messages from boat to boat – these were some of their responsibilities. Obviously these dogs take naturally to water. As such they are extremely athletic and require a lot of exercise (swimming is a huge plus). Affectionate with their families and always ready for adventure, they do best living with people who love spending time outside!
The Portie is very active and doesn’t spend a lot of time laying on the couch – in fact, some call him tireless. It shouldn’t be a surprise that this breed needs quite a bit of exercise in order to stay sane. Not only physical, but also mental! A Portuguese Water Dog without a job to do is not a happy dog, and he might take this frustration out via great destruction of his house. While it isn’t the best scenario – he can be ok living in an apartment but only if he is given twice the exercise as he might receive in a house.
The coat of the PWD can be either wavy or curly. Although it is hypoallergenic and non-shedding, it requires a lot of regular care. Regular clippering and scissoring will be required in order to maintain the distinctive look of this breed. Depending on the coat type, it will need to be brushed 2-3 times a week and bathed every 2-4 weeks. Without this care, the “non-shedding” coat will actually shed into itself and cause mats (any breed classified as non-shedding is actually a misnomer – they shed into their coats rather than into your carpet).
Although the Portie is generally a quiet dog in the house, they will vocalize when people come to the door. They may also bark at their owners to communicate, showing exceptional intelligence and thinking skills. The Portuguese Water Dog has a great love and respect for his owner and will not only communicate frequently, but also follow his master from room to room. Because they were bred to work closely with one or two people in tight quarters, they seem to have an almost unparalleled bond with “their people”. As such, take note… this is not a breed to keep home alone for long periods of time.
Although fairly easy to train, this water dog does have an independent streak so he needs to be taught that obedience is fun! Convincing them of this fact isn’t difficult, however, as they are naturally born working dogs and do desire to please their owners. Many Portuguese Water Dogs are employed as service dogs (including hearing dogs, seizure alert dogs and other types) because they are such biddable workers once they are given the groundwork.
Portuguese Water Dogs are natural retrievers and should be given opportunities to demonstrate this skill, such as with games of fetch. Their oral fixation also means that they do have higher-than-average tendencies to chew on objects (and hands) and may need extra training in this department. Another annoying habit which should be given extra training attention is that of jumping. This breed likes to bounce – especially on their favorite people! When not bouncing, they may employ other behaviors which keeps them from having all four feet on the floor – such as hopping and dancing on their hind legs. This is a favorite activity of the breed, especially because it often causes laughter from the people around them!
Friendly with both kids, small pets and other dogs the PWD is naturally a happy and sociable breed. It is recommended that in multi-pet households, it is best if the Portie is raised with other animals as a young puppy in order to ensure the best results. When taken outside the house, they may act a bit aloof toward strangers but usually warm up fairly quickly.
