History

The Portuguese Water Dog was once popular all along the coast of Portugal. These dogs were known as “Cao de Agua " which means “dog of the water”. PWDs are noted for their intelligence, trainability and loyalty, which made them indispensable to the fishermen they worked beside. Portuguese Water Dogs are excellent swimmers. The main duties of the dogs were to retrieve broken nets and tackle, dive for lost gear, herd fish into the nets and catch the fish that escaped the nets when the lines were being pulled in. They also acted as couriers, carrying messages between boats and from boat to shore.

While in port, it was the duty of the dog to guard the vessel an its catch of fish. The development of modern technology almost spelled disaster for the Portuguese Water Dog, as the fishermen came to rely more on technology and less on their dogs.

The breed was first brought to the United States in the late 1960s and by early 1970, there were only 25 known Portuguese Water Dogs in the world. However, because of dedicated breeders, by 1981 there were over 500 dogs in the U.S. Today, there are thousands living all over the world and though still not a common breed, it is no longer rare or in danger of extinction.

Breed Profile

The Portuguese Water Dog is exceptionally intelligent, has an endless amount of stamina, is brave, and spirited. He is also a devoted and loyal companion and an alert guard dog. This is not, however, the dog for everyone. His high activity level make him an excellent working dog and companion but he needs daily exercise and requires direction. He is people-oriented and does not do well in a kennel environment or when left alone for long periods of time. The Portuguese Water Dog thrives on being part of a family and generally gets along well with children and other pets. Though not aggressive, he is alert and protective making him a good watchdog of home and property.

Today, the Portuguese Water Dog is seen participating in various dog sports and activities, including the show ring, obedience, water dog trials, agility and tracking. He is also seen working as a Therapy Dog and Assistance Dog.

The PWD is a medium-sized, strong and robust dog with a penetrating, almost piercing gaze. He is said to have excellent eye sight and a fair nose, is a very good swimmer and has webbed feet. He has a non-shedding coat that may be either wavy or curly, with no undercoat. The coat is thick and profuse and covers the whole body evenly. He is either black, white, or various shades of brown. He may also be combinations of black or brown with white. 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 compared with black or brown dogs. The PWD has an effortless and balanced trotting gait, displaying a proud carriage and a contented attitude. He carries his tail high in a ring over the back. His walking gait is light with short steps and his gallop is very energetic.

Much of the information found on this page was taken from the following reference: http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/portugesewater.htm in February 2007.