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 rare breed known for its hypoallergenic quality due to minimal shedding, making it suitable for individuals with dog allergies. These dogs are lively, playful, intelligent, and dedicated to bringing happiness to their owners. They excel in agility, obedience, and water sports, thanks to their athletic build and strong swimming abilities. With proper training, they make excellent therapy and assistance dogs, providing comfort and support in various settings. This versatile and loving breed thrives on human companionship, making them ideal pets for active households seeking a devoted and intelligent canine companion.

Portuguese Water Dogs are known for their exceptional work ethic and unwavering loyalty, making them highly trainable companions. Their affectionate nature truly embodies the essence of a beloved canine companion. These dogs excel as vigilant watch dogs, always quick to alert their owners of any potential intruders. Due to their high energy levels, regular exercise and play sessions are essential to keep them happy and healthy. Providing a variety of durable toys is also important for their mental and physical stimulation. Prospective owners should be committed to daily physical activity to meet the needs of this energetic breed.

  • 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 Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) boasts a dense, hypoallergenic coat that requires regular grooming to stay healthy and tidy. This breed has hair rather than fur, which grows continuously and needs consistent upkeep through frequent brushing. Daily brushing is highly recommended to prevent matting and maintain a neat appearance. The PWD's coat can vary in texture, ranging from tight and curly to loose and wavy.


Two popular grooming styles for PWDs are the Lion Clip and Retriever Clip. The Lion Clip involves clipping the middle part and hindquarters of the coat, as well as the muzzle, to manage long hair. On the other hand, the Retriever Clip aims for a more natural look by trimming the entire coat to follow the dog's outline, leaving a uniform length of no more than one inch. In both clips, the hair at the tail's end is left untouched.

When it comes to colors, PWDs come in black, white, various shades of brown, and combinations of black or brown with white. They can have different markings:

  • Solid: Mostly one color (black or brown) with minimal markings (less than 5%).
  • Irish Marked: Black or brown with notable white markings on feet/legs, chest, and chin/muzzle.
  • Heavily Irish Marked: Black or brown with significant white markings, including a partial or full collar, full chest, socks on legs, white on muzzle, top of head, and a white tail tip.
  • Parti Color: PWDs with more white than black or brown, ranging from an even 50/50 distribution to mostly white with small black or brown spots.
  • Notably, most adult brown PWDs develop a "frost" effect, where white mixes with their brown coats, sometimes giving a silver appearance. Some dogs may have a heavily frosted back, while others exhibit a lighter frosted look. Black PWDs typically retain their color without the frost effect.

Regular grooming, combined with occasional baths, will help keep your PWD clean and looking their best. Proper coat care is essential for maintaining the breed's distinctive appearance and overall well-being.

#sdpwd - Just Add Water !

Don't Like Dog Hair in your house, on your clothes, in your car ??? - Get a PWD ! 

GET IN TOUCH:

Contact Us about our beautiful Portuguese Water Dog puppies.  These are truly amazing animals.  I have all the AKC records and testing information.  Thank you!

Contact Information:

Phone:  256-600-0304 (text me);         email:  saylors.delite.pwd@gmail.com