Portuguese Water Dog / Portie, PWD, Water Dog

Breed history:

 This dog apparently descended from the Barbet Water Dog and it was used by the fishermen on the coast of Portugal. These dogs looked for schools of fish from the side of the boat and then jumped into the water and ,,herded'' the fish into the nets, they also fetched ropes, carried messages from boat to boat, or barked loudly when there was fog to warn the boats near their master's boat. Once the fishing declined, the breed was nearly extinct, but the fans revitalized it, making it a wanted companion dog. President Obama has one of this dogs.

Description:

 It is a medium-sized dog, with a strong, brawny and well-proportioned body. It has a strong head, the muzzle is a little shorter than the skull. The eyes and the nose are brown or black. The ears are long, wide, well covered with hair and drooping. The paws are covered with hair and are webbed. The tail is long and furry. There are two varieties: one with long hair that is a bit wavy, glossy and not too thick, having longer hair over the head and ears forming a kind of fleece; the other variety has shorter hair that is curly with thick, lustreless curls and has no fleece on the head, the hair on these portions being the same length as on the rest of the body. These two varieties have the same morphological characteristics. The fur can be black, white, brown or a combination of these colours.

Personality:

 It is an intelligent, very brave, lively, impetuos dog that likes to work for its owner. It has a very well developed sense of smell and sight, it is an extraordinary swimmer and diver. It is obedient and very devoted to its master, it gets along well with children, it accepts without any difficulties the company of other dogs or other household animals. It is a friendly and sociable dog.

Grooming:

 This dog's fur must be brushed and combed regularly. The variety with long and curly hair  usually has its hind legs trimmed (work haircut) to make swimming easier.

Living conditions:

 This dog feels best with an active owner and in a well fenced yard, where it can move freely. It can also adapt in a flat if daily exercise is ensured. It has a high level of activity and likes to swim, to play fetch in the water and has a penchant for various canine sports. It needs training.

Training:

It is an intelligent dog that understands easily what is required of it and likes to work for its master, that's why the training doesn't raise any problems. It needs a consistent, varied and jolly training, especially if alternated with playtime.

Usefulness:

Today is less used as a fishermen's help, but it is a wanted and lovely companion dog.