PORTUGUESE WATER DOG

This breed has a very ancient water breed. According to some old documents, it could have lived in the VII century B.C., it is thought that its antecessor was a steppe shepherd from Central Asia that spread towards Turkey and the North Africa, arriving to the Iberian Peninsula with the Arabs. In Portugal, it established throughout the coast, with greater incidence in the Algarve area, where fishers used it to guide the fish banks into the nets and as a messenger between the ships and from the ships to the beach. It was also the ideal companion for the crews that abandoned the warm waters in Portugal and traveled through the cold North waters while fishing codfish. Despite its history, the Portuguese water dog was only known in the XX century when a famous ship owner devoted to preserving the breed’s purity.

PHYSICAL TRAITS of the PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
It is a very proportionate dog, with an evident musculature and medium sized. There are two varieties in this breed, which only are told apart for their fur quality, one is wavy, shiny, long and abundant, and the other is curly, shorter and shine less. In both cases, the color is black, gray or white in uniform tones, or bicolor in black and white or brown and white. It has a sturdy head, elongated and somewhat curvy skull and a well pronounced skull. The eyes are round and dark, medium sized and in a slightly oblique position and the ears are long, light, thin, heart shaped and droopy.

Nowadays its purpose is of being a company animal: it is obedient, affectionate and children lover.

TEMPERAMENT AND ADAPTATION of the PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
This excellent swimmer is easy to educate due to its obedience, intelligence and will to learn. It is dynamic and brave, friendly and docile to the family, affectionate with animals, it is a reliable dog and deeply loyal to its master. It is never aggressive, not even to other animals. Even if it enjoys more living in a house that provides outdoor space, it can adapt to the city life.

EXERCISE AND CARE required for a PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
Both of these varieties require special care to the fur, the difference is the kind of brushes used. It doesn’t enjoy domestic baths, but if it is taken to exercise walking along a beach and is allowed to splash around, it will appreciate it with satisfaction and joy.

Although a few cm in difference are admitted, the standard height of this dog, from floor to cross is 54 cm and 46 cm if it is a female.