Portuguese water dog history, training and grooming portuguese water dog puppies

Portuguese water dogs are one of the most instantly recognizable breed of dogs primarily because of their lush, curly haired coats.



They are a relatively rare bred of dog that originally comes from Portugal, therefore the name, where it is colloquially also known as PWD. History shows that the animals were originally trained to help fisherman and herd fish into the nets, while also being taught to retrieve lost tackle and broken nets. The dogs are very hardy and muscular, medium sized animals that, quite contrary to their appearance and thickness of their coat, do not really shed any hair.



This feature has led them to become a very popular breed in today's high paced world where regular vacuuming of the house can be a time consuming effort. Apart from the coat, many people may confuse the dog with a poodle; however, these animals are significantly more muscular and powerful than regular sized poodles. The coats come in two variants of wavy coats and curly coats.



The fact that their coats do not shed also makes them a favorite amongst people that suffer from dog allergies. The dogs will come in colors of black or brown with white markings, or even gray or silver fox.

The dogs are extremely fond of water, a feature that may be influenced by their long heritage of helping sailors and fishermen. The dogs are also very affectionate and good with children and will usually gel with other dogs and animals without any real problems. They are also very pleasant and highly intelligent, making them rather easy to train. The effectiveness of Portuguese water dog training will, however, depend significantly on the experience and training methods of the trainer. It is also essential that the animals are trained by an individual that has a strong character, as anything else may lead to the dog believing that it is the leader – giving rise to a number of other psychological problems including disobedience, jealousy and even over possessiveness of certain objects lying around the house.

Portuguese water dog grooming can be quite a task. If you are looking for a low maintenance dog, this is definitely not the breed for you. They need to be brushed and combed on a regular basis in order to retain the shine and cleanliness of their coats. The long hair is essential to retain the warmth of the body as well as provide additional protection for the skull and neck.