Portuguese Water Dog

Average height: dogs  20 - 30 inches; bitches  17 -21 inches
Average weight: dogs  42 - 60 pounds; bitches  35 - 50 pounds

Appearance
This highly intelligent bread is distinguished by two coat types, curly and wavy. He has an impressive head of considerable breadth and well proportioned mass. His medium eyes, set well apart and give a steady, penetrating and attentive expression. Darker eyes are preferred, their rims fully pigmented with black edges in black, black and white, or white dogs; brown edges in brown dogs. Haws are dark and not apparent. The ears are heart shaped and thin and except for a small opening at the back, they are against the head. The skull is slightly longer than the muzzle, which  is substantial and wider at the base than at the nose. The forehead is prominent with a central furrow and the broad nose is black or brown, according to coat color. The strong neck is short and round, the topline level and firm, while the chest is broad and deep, reaching down to the elbow. Ribs are long and well-sprung to provide optimum lung capacity. The Portuguese Water Dog’s tail is thick at the base and tapers; when attentive it is held in a ring. The tail is used as a rudder when swimming and diving. The feet are round and rather flat, with webbing of soft skin between the toes; the central pad is very thick, while the others are normal. The coat is profuse, thickly planted and is strong, healthy hair that covers the whole body evenly, except where the forearm meets the brisket and in the groin area, where it is thinner. There is no undercoat, mane or ruff. There are two types of coat; when curly, the compact, cylindrical curls are somewhat lustreless and the hair on the ears is sometimes wavy; when wavy, the hair falls gently in waves and has a slight sheen. Color is black, white or various tones of brown; also combinations of black or brown with white.
The coat of the Portuguese Water Dog may be clipped in two styles:
Lion clip: As soon as the coat grows long, the middle part and hindquarters are clipped. The hair at the end of tail is left at full length.
Retriever clip: To give a natural appearance and a smooth unbroken line, the entire coat is scissor 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.

Characteristics

The Portuguese Water Dog is self-willed, brave and very resistant to fatigue. He has intelligence and makes o loyal companion, having long been highly prized by fishermen along Portugal’s coast. He has diving and swimming abilities and is an alert guard. Although he is an excellent working dog he needs directions; being people-oriented, he does not suit a kennel environment and dislikes being left alone for long periods. He enjoys being part of a family and gets along well with children and other pets.

Origins and History

The Portuguese Water Dog was popular all along Portugal’s coast line where he was prized by fishermen both as a companion and guard. These dogs herded fish into nets, retrieved lost tackle or broken nets and acted as couriers, carrying messages from boat to boat, or boat to shore. Their work made them excellent swimmers with great diving capabilities.
There are many theories about the origins of the breed. The breed came to the United States in the late 1960s when it was extremely rare and was accepted for registration in AKC stud books in 1983.

Health Issues

This a reasonably long-lived breed that generally remains active into its senior years, but the following health concerns are worthy of note: hip dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy(PRA), storage disease(GM-1), juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy(JDC), Addison’s disease and follicular dysplasia.

Exercise and  Grooming

This is a breed that loves to exercise, and given the opportunity to swim and enjoy a water game. He should be allowed for long walks and free runs. Regular grooming is essential both for curly and wavy coated varieties. To prevent matting the coat must be thoroughly combed or brushed on a weekly basis, for the coat does not shed. Frequent baths and regular clipping are also necessary.