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IS THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG RIGHT FOR YOU?

If you’ve been thinking about acquiring a Portuguese Water Dog, odds are you’ve probably started the research that’s necessary before purchasing any breed of dog. You are prepared to commit yourself to dog ownership, and your interest in the PWD has led you to learn all you can about the breed. The Portuguese Water Dog’s dedicated group of breeders and fanciers have worked hard to maintain the breed’s stability. Breeders are very selective with their owners and do their very best to place dogs where they are most likely to receive the love and care they rightfully deserve.

LIVING UP TO ITS NAME

As its name suggests, the Portuguese Water Dog is an excellent swimmer and diver. They have been known to leap great distances into the water and submerge themselves several feet deep into the water. When the breed was first introduced hundreds of years ago, they were frequently called upon to dive off fishing vessels to retrieve broken fishing gear and to herd schools of fish into nets.

The Portuguese Water Dog is extremely bright and active. Its uncanny intelligence can be very challenging to new owner(s). Portuguese Water Dog puppies can be very demanding. They require constant attention and cherish family interaction right through adulthood. They can be sensitive and should always be trained with positive reinforcement. If you choose a young puppy, expect him to chew anything that is easily accessible. The young Portuguese Water Dog has even been known to eat plants and other vegetation right down to the roots! They should be heavily supervised at all times and safely crated if left for extended periods of time.

The Portuguese Water Dog comes in two different coat types: wavy and curly; both types are equally acceptable. They have a robust stature and webbed toes, with a well-balanced and muscled physique. They are tremendous swimmers and have unique diving skills; these are rugged dogs that love to work outdoors. The breed’s athleticism and intelligence have allowed it to excel in agility, flyball, obedience and even tracking. They are quick learners and eager to please their owners. At the same time, they can be extremely sensitive and their feelings are easily hurt.

The Portuguese Water Dog has sometimes been described as the “clown” of the water dog family. They seem to have sudden bursts of energy that come out of nowhere. Frequently, they can be found sitting calm and motionless. Then, only minutes later, they will be running around from room to room in an excited way. If you are looking for a calm, docile dog, the Portuguese Water Dog may not be the right one for you. They have a unique sense of humor that doesn’t always sit well with some individuals. Daily exercise, and plenty of it, is an absolute necessity for the breed. A PWD is best suited to the active owner who enjoys long walks to an open field or park, or frequent visits to the beach or lake. The breed’s excellent retrieving abilities make them good flying-disc dogs and perfect companions for simple fetching games.

WINNERS IN WATER

The PWDCA (Portuguese Water Dog Club of America) sanctions water trials that simulate many ancient functions of the breed. The club has underwater and fish net retrievals, message delivery (from one boat to another) and a measured distance swim. The Portuguese Water Dog enjoys these competitive water events, and these activities keep the dog in maximum shape and condition.

Even though they are phenomenally successful as water dogs, Portuguese Water Dogs are just as valuable as family companions.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a quick learner. This is the reason why the breed has done very well in all types of performance and sporting activities. They love to please their owners and will go to extremes to do so. They are energetic, affectionate and trustworthy, and they thrive on human attention. They bond very easily. Despite the breed’s loyalty to its owners and immediate family, it can be reserved with strangers. In fact, PWDs make good watchdogs and will bark to alert you of possible danger when confronted with a stranger or the arrival of an unfamiliar car or person. The breed’s bravery and independence are easily recognizable. The breed does very well with children and other animals. The Portuguese Water Dog’s high energy will keep both the dog and your child busy for hours while they enjoy each other’s company in play. Of course, any dogs and young children should always be supervised.

The Portuguese Water Dog is an extremely agile flying-disc dog.

He eagerly awaits the throw and then brings it back for a repeat performance.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

The male Portuguese Water Dog stands 20 to 23 inches and is usually between 42 to 60 pounds. The female version of the breed is smaller. She stands 17 to 21 inches high and is 35 to 50 pounds.

If you are looking for a dog that requires minimal grooming, you may want to look elsewhere. The Portuguese Water Dog requires consistent grooming that includes a firm brushing at least three times a week to remove mats and shed hair, which often becomes caught in the long coat. Although they do shed, they shed less than one might think for a heavily coated breed. In dog show competition, the breed is exhibited in one of two clips: the “lion” and the “retriever.” With the lion clip, the hindquarters as well as the muzzle are clipped short. The end of the tail is left long and the coat on the head, neck, fore-quarters and chest is left long to resemble the lion’s mane. The retriever clip is the choice of many pet owners; this is also acceptable for showing. If you decide to go with the retriever clip, the entire coat is scissored or clipped to a length of 1 inch, except the end of the tail, which is left long. If you are a new Portuguese Water Dog owner, it’s probably best to contact your breeder or an experienced groomer before attempting to clip the dog yourself.

In the field, the breed can be taught to flush out upland game and water fowl. They are excellent retrievers with soft mouths. They even have a distinctive innate herding ability. Whether it’s in the field or in the home, Portuguese Water Dogs make wonderful companions. They are truly “people dogs” and require the utmost respect and loyalty. If you’re willing to give these dogs the attention and love they require, you will certainly receive that same respect back and learn the meaning of true friendship.

HEALTH CONCERNS

The Portuguese Water Dog is a healthy breed of dog. It’s not uncommon for them to live well over 12 years of age. They are a strong breed and resistant to many of the common ailments that frequently affect some of their canine cousins. Before acquiring a new puppy, it’s essential that he has a clean bill of health. Any reliable Portuguese Water Dog breeder should have a health certificate from a vet on all dogs for sale as well as documentation on relevant health testing on the parents (and pups, where applicable). If the breeder you select does not have the proper documentation, you should choose to look elsewhere.

Listed here are some of the more common health concerns that are known to affect the Portuguese Water Dog. It is hoped that a PWD is not affected by any of these conditions; nonetheless, potential buyers of the breed should be aware of all of these and discuss them with their chosen breeders.

COAT COLORS

The Portuguese Water Dog comes in several different colors. They are usually black with some shadings of white on the body. Other dogs may have various shades of brown, also some combinations of black or brown with white.

HIP DYSPLASIA

Canine hip dysplasia is a common disorder that can affect dogs of all sizes, although usually dogs that are medium to large in size. Hip dysplasia is a developmental defect in which the hip joint is improperly formed and, thus, the head of the femur does not fit correctly into the hip socket. It’s absolutely essential that any Portuguese Water Dog that is being considered for breeding purposes have its hips x-rayed at two years of age. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals assigns certification numbers to those dogs with non-dysplastic hips. Dogs that have not been granted OFA numbers should not be used for breeding. Even if the dog is not to be used in a breeding program, it might be best to have the hips checked anyway. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

DELTA SOCIETY

The human-animal bond propels the work of the Delta Society, striving to improve the lives of people and animals. The Pet Partners Program proves that the lives of people and dogs are inextricably linked. The Pet Partners Program, a national registry, trains and screens volunteers for pet therapy in hospices, nursing homes, schools and rehabilitation centers. Dog-and-handler teams of Pet Partners volunteer in all 50 states, with nearly 7,000 teams making visits annually. About 900,000 patients, residents and students receive assistance each year. If you and your dog are interested in becoming Pet Partners, contact the Delta Society online at www.deltasociety.org.

Research has found that genetically pre-dysplastic dogs can be protected by restricting some environmental stress. There is even some indication that some puppy foods may speed up growth and therefore create a greater risk of the condition’s developing. Allowing for stable and uniform growth is healthiest for the dog’s development.

PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY (PRA)

PRA is a condition in which the retinal cells degenerate, eventually causing the dog to go blind. It is a genetic disease that affects many breeds of dog. Statistics thus far indicate that the PWD is most commonly affected by late-onset PRA, with the majority of cases diagnosed in dogs 3 to 5 years of age or older. At first, affected dogs have difficulties seeing at night or in dim light. Eventually the disease can lead to total blindness.

Affected dogs can be detected by an electroretinogram at two years of age; methods of earlier detection have not yet been established. All dogs should have an annual examination. There is presently no clinical test to identify carriers of PRA, so carriers can only be accurately identified after they have produced offspring with PRA. Likewise, the offspring of an affected dog can be identified as carriers as well. It is recommended that all Portuguese Water Dog owners take their dogs for an annual ophthalmoscopic examination by a veterinary eye specialist.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?

X-ray of a dog with “Good” hips.

X-ray of a dog with “Moderate” dysplastic hips.

Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in pure-bred dogs. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic.

Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an x-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your dog may have a hip dysplasia problem if he walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of smoothly runs, uses his hind legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position or always sits with both legs together on one side of his body.

As the dog matures, he may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many dogs with hip dysplasia become crippled.

Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and only can be diagnosed definitively by x-ray when the dog is two years old, although symptoms often appear earlier. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical. The removal of the pectineus muscle, the removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one are all surgical interventions that are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advice of your veterinarian.

STORAGE DISEASE

Storage disease (GM1 gangliosidosis) is a genetic condition in which the lack of an enzyme allows a build-up of toxic substances in the nerve cells. The gene for storage disease is recessive, so only Portuguese Water Dogs who obtain a defective gene from both parents are affected. A dog that has the disease will show signs of neurological deterioration and will die by six to eight months of age. A carrier of the disease will appear normal, but should not be bred. Puppies are usually tested at seven to eight weeks of age. There is no treatment or cure for the disease, but all indications are that breeders will eventually be able to eliminate the defective gene for storage disease from the Portuguese Water Dog gene pool.

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

The health issues discussed here represent some of the most commonly seen in the PWD. Visit the PWDCA’s website for an in-depth look at these and other problems, including heart disease (juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy being the most critical), renal dysplasia (causing kidney failure), cancer, seizure disorders, microphthalmia (an eye disorder) and allergies.

ADDISON’S DISEASE

Signs of Addison’s disease have been seen in young to middle-aged PWDs. It is caused by an adrenocortical hormone deficiency. Symptoms are rather generic, including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and other signs that are not necessarily indicative of a serious condition. Thus Addison’s may be misdiagnosed, but it will be fatal if not detected and treated. If symptoms persist, it is essential to have the veterinarian test the dog for Addison’s disease, since it does occur in the Portuguese Water Dog. Treatment is through hormone-replacement therapy, usually for the rest of the dog’s life. With treatment, an affected dog can live a normal life.

DISTICHIASIS

A dog affected by distichiasis may suffer from eye irritation caused by improperly located eyelashes. Although not yet established, it is probable that this is a hereditary condition; thus, incidences should be noted by breeders and discretion exercised in breeding affected dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog is one of a number of breeds in which distichiasis is present, and the condition can appear in a dog of any age.

CATARACTS

A cataract is a lens opacity that may affect one or both eyes and may involve the partial or complete portion of the lens. It usually develops as a small white area and is hardly noticeable to the naked eye. A cataract can be a result of many different things, including heredity, trauma, inflammation and nutritional deficiencies. Although the exact occurrence of cataracts in the breed is not known, many older Portuguese Water Dogs develop cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts are readily amenable to surgical intervention with excellent results of restoring vision.

The Portuguese Water Dog is, in general, a healthy and hardy breed with an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.

FOLLICULAR DYSPLASIA

One of the causes of hair loss in the PWD is follicular dysplasia, a genetic disorder. In the PWD, it is seen primarily in curly-coated dogs produced from two curly-coated parents. Loss of hair occurs on the chest, flanks, back, abdomen and around the rectum. Dogs that are afflicted with the disease will often show slight hair loss around one or both eyes when stressed. At the current time, there is no effective treatment. To eliminate follicular dysplasia, Portuguese Water Dog breeders recommend that curly-coated dogs be bred to wavy coats, not other curly coats.