Portuguese Water Dog
- 1 OVERVIEW OF THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
- 2 PORTUGUESE WATER DOG FOOD AND HEALTH
- 3 HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
- 4 TOP-RATED CRATES, BEDS, AND DOGHOUSES FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
- 5 LEASHES AND COLLARS FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
- 6 BEST TOYS FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
- 7 GROOMING INSIGHTS FOR PORTUGUESE WATER DOG OWNERS
- 8 BEST ACCESSORIES FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
OVERVIEW OF THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
If you are looking for a canine companion to partake with you in your active lifestyle but cannot deal with the spontaneity of a Terrier, then a Portuguese Water Dog might be precisely what you were hoping to find. As the name suggests, Portuguese Water Dogs are known specifically for their ability and love for swimming, so you can be sure that they are active dogs. Don’t worry, however, as they don’t behave in an overwhelming manner like some other active breeds and are very gentle in nature.
These dogs are built differently since they’re blessed with exceptional athletic abilities and a strong body enabling those abilities. They are considered some of the best competitive dogs that are easy to train as they have a very enthusiastic personality and are always eager to please their owners.
Additionally, the Portuguese Water Dog is extraordinarily empathetic and has high levels of intelligence that have enabled them to be amongst the top contenders when it comes to being a therapy and service animal.
CHARACTERISTICS
A Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized dog that has historically been a companion of fishermen and hunters. Don’t be fooled by the smaller appearance of these dogs, however, as their lean muscular build can often add quite a bit to their weight, leading the Portuguese Water Dog to weigh anywhere between 35 to 60 pounds, depending on its age, diet, and health.
These canines are very active and like to spend most of their time running around, although they do not partake in destructive behaviors like chewing and digging; if they do not receive enough physical stimulation, it might lead to damaging behaviors. This is why if you are someone who is looking just to settle down and have a peaceful life, these might not be the dogs you would want to adopt. If you do decide to get one of these dogs, we assure you, there won’t be a dull day in your life.
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
The Portuguese Water Dog is an ancient breed that historians believe originated in 700 B.C. and was most common amongst the Asiatic Steppes. From there, they were brought to Portugal, leading to their current name. There are still speculations, however, about how these dogs were brought to Portugal and by whom. Some believe it was the Berbers as most of their trade depended upon the sea and water bodies, and these dogs excelled at activities and hunts involving water. At the same time, some also speculate that the Goths were responsible for the arrival of the Water Dog to Portugal because the Ostrogoth dogs went on to become Poodles and the similarities between the two breeds.
Although the exact origin of this breed is still up for research, no one can doubt the utility they brought to the nation at that time, especially to the seafood industry. With these dogs excelling at swimming, they quickly became herders for fish, directing them into nets and retrieving broken or lost nets, increasing the overall efficiency of the industry by manifolds.
PORTUGUESE WATER DOG FOOD AND HEALTH
Even when these dogs are classified as medium-sized breeds, they can often grow up to be significantly big, with their weight reaching an upper limit of 70 pounds. With such weight and high activity levels, you might need to put aside an adequate dietary budget if you are looking to adopt one of these dogs. On average, an adult Portuguese Water Dog consumes about 2.5 to 3.5 cups of high-protein, high-quality dog food every day. Although these consumption rates might differ for your dogs as many other factors, such as age, weight, metabolism, and activity levels directly affect a dog’s diet, this is the lower limit to keeping your mutt healthy and active.
Make sure that you don’t dump all the food in front of your dog at the same time, as overeating and obesity prove to be big problems for such dogs. The best way to do this is to portion the food into two or three meals based on your dog’s routine and only provide it with the meal at a fixed time.
HEALTH PRECAUTIONS
Being an athletic dog, the Portuguese Water Dog usually lives a healthy life due to its fast-paced lifestyle that enhances its immune system. As this breed is purebred, however, there can often be some genetic problems it might suffer from. Although not every Portuguese Water Dog may suffer from these problems, it is still important to be aware of them and take notes of the symptoms to identify an ailment earlier and get proper treatment. Here are some of the diseases most commonly found in this breed:
HIP DYSPLASIA
It is a heritable problem found in many purebred dogs but is the most prominent in the Portuguese Water Dog due to its swimming ability. Suffering from hip dysplasia, as you may have guessed by the name, means that the joint where the thigh bone of the dog meets the hip isn’t a snug fit. Although most dogs will live with this problem without discomfort, some might suffer from bouts of stinging pain and lameness on their legs.
While this isn’t a severe condition, it can develop into arthritis if left untreated. Hence, it is suggested that you get your dogs the proper treatment required to improve from this condition. Similarly, moderating their diets to avoid unnatural growth spurts can also ease the pain and problems caused by hip dysplasia.
JUVENILE DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY
Another common hereditary problem found in Portuguese Water Dogs is juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy. It only affects puppies between five weeks to seven months. There is currently no cure or way to identify if the dog will suffer from this problem, and it can lead to instant death in some cases. The best way to avoid the surfacing of this ailment is not to breed mutts that are known to be carriers of this problem.
PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY
Progressive retinal atrophy is a genetic problem that can lead to blindness in extreme cases. Although the aftermath sounds horrible, you can quite easily identify the problem years before it manifests and takes proper measures so that your dog can avoid this fate.
TOP-RATED CRATES, BEDS, AND DOGHOUSES FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
CRATES
Even though your Portuguese Water Dog has traits that yell “outdoor dog” to you, that is not always the case. These affection-seeking people-pleasers just want to be around their owners and shower them with all the love and affection they can muster, so it is suggested that you keep them indoors with regular walks. As these dogs are slightly larger than your average indoor pets, you need to be extra careful when picking out a crate as they require enough space to move around and turn. When you get a pup, we recommend that you opt for a larger crate as they will show growth spurts, and buying a crate every two months doesn’t sound very reasonable.
BEDS AND BEDDINGS
Portuguese Water Dogs are incredibly gentle and avoid partaking in destructive behavior, such as chewing. So any kind of bed capable of holding them up and providing them with a soft surface to lay upon would be a perfect fit. Do note, however, that these dogs require appropriate physical stimulation, and you should take them out on walks regularly to avoid any damage to the bed or sheets. On average, a Portuguese Water Dog requires at least 30 minutes of daily walks to calm down. When provided with this stimulation, you can go through the day without worrying about damage.
DOGHOUSES
Although we suggest keeping your Portuguese Water Dog indoors, if you have a fenced-off yard where these mutts can run around and play, then there would be nothing these dogs would love more. You might also want to invest in an appropriate doghouse in this case. This is because, being an athletic breed, your dog would be spending a lot of the time in the yard and would require someplace to rest and protect itself from the harshness of the weather, primarily because of the fluffy coat that tends to be very hot in the warmer climates.
LEASHES AND COLLARS FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
When it comes to taking your dog out for a walk, a Portuguese Water Dog is extremely amiable and gentle due to its almost non-existent prey drive. Due to such a low prey drive, these dogs can often be kept leash and collar free as they won’t be going running off anywhere. They are pretty irritable, however, and require intensive training to act in line with how you want them to behave. This is why we suggest buying an appropriate collar and leash for them if they start acting out. You would need to pick out something gentle for them that provides a sense of companionship rather than punishment because the Portuguese Water Dog is easier to approach and train with a reward system rather than negative consequences
When picking out a collar, avoid anything harsh like leather and opt for something on the softer side. Your best bet would be to get a harness for your dog that provides you control over its behavior without feeling too intrusive with the constant pulling on its neck. A complete jacket-style harness is the best you can get for your Portuguese Water Dog as it can also double up as a support jacket if it decides to take a swim.
BEST TOYS FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
As it has come up repeatedly, Portuguese Water Dogs are active, athletic dogs with very high intelligence. Hence, they require appropriate physical and mental stimulation to tire them out through the day and avoid any chewing or digging that might destroy your new rug or your yard. The best way to keep your dog occupied and provide it with the adequate stimulus is through the use of toys.
Portuguese Water Dogs are very accommodating of toys and will try out anything as long as you play with them. Their favorite toys would be the ones that require them to perform physical activities. Some of the most common games, like fetch and throwing frisbees, are the best games you can play with your water dog.
Some other toys that your Portuguese Water Dog would enjoy include chew toys, as although the breed doesn’t have a high prey drive, they do like to keep their jaws active because they naturally are hunting dogs. Besides that, just a few plushies and some casual balls would make for a perfect environment for these dogs to live and thrive.
GROOMING INSIGHTS FOR PORTUGUESE WATER DOG OWNERS
Portuguese Water Dogs have thick coats that might give off high-shedding vibes but are actually on the low shedding spectrum. This is because, regardless of such thick coats, these dogs have a single coat and an absence of an undercoat leads to lesser sheddings. As this coat is extremely dense, however, you would need to brush out your dog twice every week to ensure that no tangles are formed on its fur, especially after it goes for a swim. Additionally, as a water dog, it is essential for you to bathe them after every swim to get rid of any dirt or salt deposits that may have formed within your dog’s fur, as negligence with this can often lead to skin problems and sensitivity issues. Clear out your dog’s ear after a run or a swim too, as they are the most sensitive part of a dog and are prone to infections.
BEST ACCESSORIES FOR A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
Although they might sound fierce, the Portuguese Water Dog is an absolute sweetheart, and your accessories should be able to send that message clearly. For example, for a breed with such long and luscious hair, you can braid the top of their heads and add pretty ribbons or bows to give them a memorable hairstyle. Take these accessories out when they go for a swim though, as they can quite easily come loose and be lost in the tides.
Please visit our breed hub page to learn more about medium-sized breeds like the Portuguese Water Dog.