PWD Breed Info

BREED INFORMATION

The Portuguese Water Dog is a wonderful working animal, but is not necessarily an easy-to-train, easy-to-live-with breed. Those thinking of this breed for a family pet should read the breed standard, understand that this breed was created to work in harsh oceanic conditions while moving fishing lines and equipment around. They have "hard" mouths, are often very nippy as puppies, and chew just about anything they can get their mouth on. They are highly energetic and intelligent and can be challenging if not exercised enough both mentally and physically.

BREED STANDARD

General Appearance: Known for centuries along Portugal's coast, this seafaring breed was prized by fishermen for a spirited, yet obedient nature, and a robust, medium build that allowed for a full day's work in and out of the water. The Portuguese Water Dog is a swimmer and diver of exceptional ability and stamina, who aided his master at sea by retrieving broken nets, herding schools of fish, and carrying messages between boats and to shore. He is a loyal companion and alert guard. This highly intelligent utilitarian breed is distinguished by two coat types, either curly or wavy; an impressive head of considerable breadth and well proportioned mass; a ruggedly built, well-knit body; and a powerful, thickly based tail, carried gallantly or used purposefully as a rudder. The Portuguese Water Dog provides an indelible impression of strength, spirit, and soundness.

Size, Proportion, Substance: Size--Height at the withers--Males, 20 to 23 inches. The ideal is 22 inches. Females, 17 to 21 inches. The ideal is 19 inches. Weight--For males, 42 to 60 pounds; for females, 35 to 50 pounds. Proportion--Off square; slightly longer than tall when measured from prosternum to rearmost point of the buttocks, and from withers to ground. Substance--Strong, substantial bone; well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body.

For the specifics of the standard, please go to the description on the PWDCA website or visit the Illustrated Breed Standard.

Coat Types: There are two "proper" coats in PWDs. One is a curly coat that can either be quite tight like a Standard Poodle's coat, or looser but still quite curly. The other is a wavy coat that can be in the form of soft ringlets or longer waves and ripples. The two coat types may be presented in either a retriever clip or a lion clip. To view these two clips, click on the particular coat clip below.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE BREED

The Portuguese Water Dog, Cao De Agua, is an ancient breed, possibly first described in writing in 1297 by a monk. The monk describes the dog saving the life of a drowning fisherman. He described the dog as having “black coat of rough hair cut to the first rib and with a tuft on the tip of his tail”.

They were a prized companion and guard dog of the Portuguese fisherman. They could be found up and down the coast of Portugal. The job of a PWD was to herd fish into nets, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, to act as a courier from ship to ship or ship to shore and they would guard the boats.

These jobs required the dogs to be excellent swimmers. Dogs were capable of diving underwater to retrieve fishing gear and to prevent the escape of fish from the nets. Constant swimming and working with the fishermen accounts for the remarkable muscular development of their hindquarters.

With the arrival of modern fishing techniques, the breed’s use, worth and eventually the existence of the dogs was dwindling. In the 1930’s, Vasco Bensuade, a wealthy Portuguese businessman with an interest in dogs, was introduced to the Portuguese water Dog. He was told of a “magnificent working Cao De Agua”, and although there were only a few dogs still working on the boas of the fishermen, he eventually acquired a dog named “Leao”. “Leao” was the founding sire of the modern breed and of which the original written breed standard was based.

It wasn’t until 30 years later when the first PWD was brought to America. The dog’s name was Renascenca Do Al Gharb was brought over by Deyanne and Herbert Miller on September 12, 1968. The Miller’s along with 14 other dedicated owners and friends formed the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America.

On June 3, 1981 the PWD was admitted to the Miscellaneous class of the American Kennel Club. On August 1, 1983, the PWD was accepted for registration in AKC stud books and then on January 1, 1984 they became eligible to compete in the show rings as a member of the working group.

Generally speaking, this breed is relatively healthy and many live well into their teens. Nevertheless, there are a few health issues and diseases that are found in the breed and for which good breeders will test when tests are available. PWD breeders and a variety of researchers have combined efforts via The PWD Foundation to investigate a number of health issues that affect PWDs, as well as other breeds, and these investigations often yield new marker tests for breeders to use and/or new treatment protocols.

Statistics for many of these diseases are available on the OFA website under breed specific statistics ((https://www.ofa.org/diseases/breed-statistics#detail)).

Much more information is available via the Portuguese Water Club of America's website.