Portuguese Water Dog breed

Portuguese Water Dog breed

Portuguese Water Dogs are a dog breed bred by the Portuguese at least 500 years ago to help with the fishing. They are similar in size to a Wheaten Terrier and are usually black but can also be brown or white.

Appearance
Their closest relatives are the Standard Poodle; and like poodles they have curly coats, do not shed, and are highly intelligent. However, Portuguese Water Dogs have less curly fur than poodles, feathery tails, and are smaller than the Standard Poodle breed. Male Portuguese Water Dogs usually grow to be about 20 to 23 inches tall, and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds, while the females usually grow to be about 17 to 21 inches tall and weigh between 35 to 50 pounds. The hair is usualy worn in a"retriever cut" or a "lion cut." In the lion cut, the hindquarters, muzzle, and the base of the tail are shaved and the rest of the body is left full length. This cut originated with the fishing dogs of Portugal to keep the body warm while allowing movement of the back legs. The retriever cut is left 1" (2.5 cm) long evenly over the body (although some owners prefer the muzzle or the base of the tail shorter). This cut is a more recent style and originated because breeders wanted to make the breed more appealing and less unusual looking for buyers.

Most PWDs, especially traditional show dogs, are entirely black, black and white, or brown; however, it is common to see white chests and legs on black or brown coats. "Parti" coats, with white coat and black spots, are rare but visually striking. The hair is either wavy or curly and like poodle hair, will not shed. The hair must be trimmed about every two months and, although it is possible to groom at home, it is usually easier to pay a professional groomer. White hair is finer than black.

Coat Types
In accordance with the breed standard, Portuguese water dogs have two coat types, wavy and curly. From the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Revised Standard for the Portuguese Water Dog:

Curly coat: "compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless. The hair on the ears is sometimes wavy".
Wavy coat: "Falling gently in waves, not curls, and with a slight sheen".
Occasionally, a dog may have what is termed an "improper" coat. This is an Aesthetic variation that relates to what is believed to be a recessive gene. It causes the dog to have an undercoat (unlike curly- and wavy-coated PWDs), a flatter coat overall, and may have curling on the hocks, and generally appears more Spaniel- or Border Collie-like. Because these dogs do not adhere to the breed standard, they may not be shown in competition, but otherwise are completely healthy and have all the excellent traits of PWDs. Some reports indicate that these coats shed more and are not hypoallergenic, although more study is needed. For more information on improper coats, see:

PWDCA's Allergy, Hairloss, Dermatology
PWD Grooming
The dogs also have an interesting bluish tinge to their skin that is hard to notice underneath their black fur. Predominantly white varieties have pink skin and are more sensitive to exposure to the sun than black or brown dogs. Their paws are slightly webbed for swimming, which one can notice by trying to pass one's finger between the dog's toes. Because the PWD has a single layered coat, they can live extremely well even among people that suffer from dog allergies. This breed does not shed its fur, it only falls out once the hair root has died, just like with human hair.

Temperament
Portuguese Water dogs make excellent companions. They are loving and intelligent. Because they are working dogs, they are generally content in being at their master's side. Owners of this breed will attest that their PWD usually stays in close proximity to them both indoors and outdoors. This is typical of the breed, as it loves attention and prefers to be engaged in activity. Do not be surprised if your PWD brings you a "gift" or toy when you get home as a way of controlling his enthusiasm in greeting you. This breed makes an excellent guard dog due to its determination to defend its territory and a very loud and distinctive bark.

When bored, PWDs like to chew. Heavy-duty chew toys can help keep him occupied. Be sure to Portie-proof your home, by keeping all fragile items (especially potted plants) out of reach. Make sure you research what types of plants (such as Poinsettias) and foods (such as chocolate)are poisonous to dogs before getting one. A bored PWD can become destructive. They get into the garbage, snag food off the kitchen counters and can even open cabinet doors.

History
Originating back to the 1500s in Portugal, Portuguese Water Dogs were originally used by fishermen. They were used to send messages between boats, herd fish into the nets, to retrieve fish and articles from the water, and to guard the fishing boats. They also helped to bring in nets and to save fishermen when they fell in the water. They were very popular, and this might be where they picked up their loyal and dependable characteristics. Eventually commercial fishing equipment made the dogs unnecessary. They fell out of favor and almost became extinct. At one point in the 1970s, there were only 25 Portuguese Water Dogs in the world. Since then, breeders have been carefully bringing back the breed. There are now over ten thousand PWDs in the U.S.A. alone. There are also many in Finland today, where they are still used by fishermen.

Miscellaneous
The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed; only 15 entrants for Portuguese Water Dogs were made to England's Crufts competition in 2002, although their personality and non-shedding qualities have made them more popular in recent years.
As with all dog breeds, PWDs are vulnerable to certain genetic defects. Like poodles, PWDs are vulnerable to hip dysplasia and cataracts. However, the risk of a PWD developing hip dysplasia can be greatly reduced by thoroughly checking the pedigrees and health clearances in both the sire and am of your do.
PWDs love to fetch, and if well trained, even retreive!
Portuguese Water Dogs have a multi-octave voice. Although they are not prone to barking excessively, they usually have a wide range of barks and sighs. PWD's also have an audible "laugh," a loud, irregular, breathy pant used at play or during greetings.
Senator Ted Kennedy is the owner of a Portuguese Water Dog named Splash. Splash serves as the fictional narrator in Kennedy's children's book called My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C. [1]
BARK team members feature Portuguese Water Dogs who retrieve home run balls that land in McCovey Cove, the body of water adjacent to Pacific Bell Park. During every Sunday home game, these talented canines will work from boats and dive after splash hit baseballs that land in the water during batting practice and the game. "SF Giants' BARK"
The Portuguese Water Dog Girella has an interesting avocation. She meets musicians (like Deep Purple, Franz Ferdinand...) if she lays her head on the speaker while a song of the band is played. "Dog Likes Music"

References
Correa, Paolo (2001). Portuguese Water Dog (Pet Love). Interpet Publishing.
Braund, Kathryn (1997). The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog. Howell Bk.

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Portuguese Water Dog breed