Portuguese Water Dog Characteristics & Information

Portuguese Water dogs, like their ancestors, are widely known as hypoallergenic as they don’t shed much. They came into the limelight when offered as a present to the former US president, Mr Obama. Portuguese Water dogs are pretty easy-going and have affectionate personalities.

The article discusses the characteristics and requirements of Portuguese Water dogs. If you wish to learn more, scroll down!

Portuguese Water dogs originated in Portugal and were mainly bred to help fishermen retrieve gears. People believe they share an ancestor with the poodle, a water retriever. In the early 20th century, they were modernised and were rarely seen by the fishermen.

A few decades later, they were known to appear in England and the U.S. Finally, in 1983, the American Kennel Club recognised Portuguese Water dogs as a separate breed. Today, they rank in 169th place in popularity.

Some of the characteristics of Portuguese Water dogs are:

• Lifespan: Portuguese Water dogs have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
• Height: Regardless of gender, Portuguese water dogs grow up to 17 to 23 inches.
• Colour: Portuguese water dogs have different coat colours, such as white, white and chocolate, black, and black and white.
• Weight: Both males and females have an average weight of 35 to 60 pounds.
• Temperament: Portuguese Water dogs are brilliant, loyal, and fabulous with kids.
• Energy Level: Portuguese Water dogs are highly energetic and need daily exercise.

Portuguese Water dogs are highly energetic and need proper training to channel their energy appropriately. Here are a few tips to train your dogs effectively:

• Repeat the Commands: Owing to their intelligence, Portuguese Water dogs are excellent learners, and repeating the commands will get stuck in their minds. They are affectionate, eager to please their owners, and likely to follow orders.
• Establish Boundaries: Train your Portuguese Water dog to respect and adhere to boundaries. Teach it that actions that have been restricted should not be repeated.
• Create a Schedule: Portuguese Water dogs love to follow a schedule. Using a schedule in your training session may intrigue your dog and help it adhere to the process. You can also implement it during walks.
• Keep Your Calm: Be patient with your Portuguese Water dog as they tend to learn very slowly. If you become agitated with them, it will harm them and delay the learning process. Sometimes, they may ignore you, but you must keep calm.

Some of the common health problems seen in Portuguese Water dogs are:

• Storage Disease(GM1): Storage Disease is a genetic disorder where the mutation results in a lack of enzyme production. As a result, toxic substances build up in the nerve cells of Portuguese Water dogs.
• Hip Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia is a prevalent condition in Portuguese Water dogs where the head of the femur doesn’t fit correctly in the joint cavity.  Some dogs may show lameness and pain in the rear legs, while some may remain asymptomatic.
• Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy: It is a severe condition characterised by the sudden death of puppies between the ages of five weeks and seven months. Affected Portuguese Water dogs should not be bred further.
• Addison’s Disease: Addison’s Disease refers to the inability of the adrenal glands of Portuguese Water dogs to produce adrenal hormones. This is not a genetic disorder and cannot be screened beforehand. It is caused by various factors such as tumours or infection.
• Gangliosidosis: Also known as Tay Sachs disease, Gangliosidosis involves a lack of an enzyme that helps disintegrate waste material produced by brain cells. This condition eventually causes neurological problems in Portuguese Water dogs.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Generally, two-month-old Portuguese Water dogs are affected by Progressive Retinal Atrophy, which affects the retina's photoreceptor cells. It eventually progresses to blindness within one to two years.

Some of the tips to take care of your Portuguese Water dogs are:

• Food And Nutrition: Two to three cups of dog food should be split into two meals. Portuguese water dogs should receive high-quality dry dog food that meets all nutritional requirements. However, the meal portion depends on the dog's size, metabolism, activity level, and age. Also, ensure that your dog is not overfed.
• Grooming: Portuguese Water dogs have two types of coats, wavy and curly, both without an undercoat. Owing to this, they don’t shed much compared to other breeds. You should brush your dog twice or thrice a week to prevent the coat from matting and keep it tangle-free.
• Exercise: Along with proper nutrition, Portuguese Water dogs must also exercise to relieve excess energy. They make excellent companions for walking, running, agility training, and especially swimming. Apart from this, Portuguese water dogs are very fond of obedience training and dock diving.

Portuguese Water dogs are an excellent choice for an addition to your family. However, they should also receive the correct mental and physical stimulation, training, and playful activities. Moreover, they don’t even need large spaces to live in and can also live in small apartments.