Portuguese Water Dog

Fun Facts

Fun Facts:

Life Expectancy is 11-13 years
Originally bred to assist fishermen
Size - Medium
Maintenance Level - Medium
Shed Level - Low to none
As low shedders, these pups are a good choice for allergy sufferers

Best Suited for Active Families
Porties can live happily alongside kids, dogs and cats provided they were raised together from a young age
Termperment - Smart, Dynamo, Loyal, People Pleaser

The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed; only 36 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Britain's Crufts competition in 2013. Their non-shedding qualities have made them more popular in recent years. They are considered hypoallergenic. PWDs have a single-layered coat that is low shed to no shed, and therefore their presence is tolerated well among many people who suffer from dog allergies. If you have animal allergies however, you need to check with you doctor.

This breed is full of energy, fun-loving, and highly intelligent. While their temperaments vary, Portuguese Water Dogs love to make their owners laugh.

They can be trained to do just about anything because they are hard-working and loyal. Most Porties are very affectionate and exemplify the idea of man's best friend. They are good watch dogs and will alert their owner if a stranger is near. Because they are full of energy, they need daily exercise and play. Also a bucket of durable toys is needed. A person should not get a PWD if they can not exercise the dog daily.

Height: 20-23 inches (male), 17-21 inches (female)
Weight: 42-60 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years

PWD Coat Description

The PWD's coat is dense, and hypoallergenic. It needs regular grooming. The dog has hair instead of fur, and this hair continuously grows. The hair needs frequent brushing and daily brushing is best. The coat ranges in appearance from tight and curly to loose and wavy. The two clips for the dog are as follows: Lion Clip–As soon as the coat grows long, the middle part and hindquarters, as well as the muzzle, are clipped; Retriever Clip–In order to give a natural appearance and a smooth unbroken line, the entire coat is scissored or clipped to follow the outline of the dog, leaving a short blanket of coat no longer than one inch in length. The hair at the end of the tail is left at full length for both clips. Beyond regular weekly grooming, an occasional bath will keep the PWD clean and looking his best.

The Colors of a PWD are: black; white; various shades of brown; and combinations of black or brown with white.

Markings are described as:

Solid - Mostly one color (black or brown) with minimal markings (less then 5% or so)
Irish Marked- Black or Brown with more significant white markings. Often found on feet/legs (socks), chest (bib), and chin/muzzle.
Heavily Irish Marked-Black or Brown with significant white markings to include a partial or full collar (circle around neck), full chest, socks on front and rear legs, white on muzzle and sometimes top of head, and white tip on the tail.
Parti Color - A Parti Color PWD is often referred to as having more white then black or brown. it can be a pretty even 50/50 or extreme where the majority of the dog is white with small black or brown markings.
Note that Most Brown PWDs "frost" when they are adults - meaning they have white that mixes in with their Brown coats. Sometimes this gives them a silver look. Brandi is heavily frosted on her Back. Brandi's ears, portions of her face and legs still remain dark brown. Saylor has a light frosted look. Black PWDs stay black without the frost.