In this article on our site we talk about the cão de agua português, also known as the Portuguese water dog. This beautiful dog can be similar in some aspects to the Spanish water dog, to which we may be more accustomed, however, it has a series of differences with respect to that dog. Therefore, below I will show you what the Portuguese Water Dog is like and thus unravel all the secrets of this wonderful breed. Will you stay with us to discover the dog that accompanied the Portuguese sailors since before the fifteenth century? If so, read on and discover the characteristics of the Portuguese Water Dog
Origin of the Portuguese water dog
If you want to know the history of the Portuguese water dog, you should know that this breed is quite old, since it is estimated that they existed as early as the fifteenth centurycopies. Documents from the time have been found that relate how these dogs accompanied the Portuguese sailors on their fishing and commercial trips. But it was no coincidence that these dogs lived maritime adventures, since the breed is famous for its swimming skills and for its great intelligence, well, did you know that its main task in the fishing boats was to jump into the water and make the fish, fleeing from them, rush into the nets that the fishermen had spread? Sometimes they were even in charge of directing the nets or hunting down the fish that had escaped.
This dog was so appreciated that some began to call him by the name of "portie". It is not surprising, since due to its good vision it allowed shipowners to know when, even in heavy fog, other ships were approaching, acting as an anti-collision siren.
Although during the 20th century the breed suffered a serious decline that almost led to its extinction during the 1960s, a group of breeders managed to make it come back, becoming very popular in the 1980s in the United States. United States, being accepted by the AKC in 1984 After that, the breed spread throughout Europe and almost the entire world, rising from its ashes.
Characteristics of the Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese cão is a medium-sized dog, whose weight is usually between 16 and 27 kilograms, its height being the withers proportional to the weight, between 43 and 47 centimeters. Likewise, females are smaller in weight and height.
Continuing with the characteristics of the Portuguese water dog, we highlight that its body is very strong, with powerful and developed muscles and limbs equally strong and powerful. The chest is broad and deep, and the tail is wider at the base and narrower as it approaches the tip. The head is large, but very proportionate, with a snout that tapers towards the nose and a quite marked stop The eyes of Portuguese Water Dogs are round, dark and medium-sized The ears are set close to the head and the their skin is extremely thin.
Portuguese Water Dog Colors
The coat of Portuguese Water Dogs can be either long or short. The short-haired specimens have thicker, more frizzy hair, while the long-haired onesthey have it quite wavy and shiny. Regardless of the length, the colors of the Portuguese Water Dog are: black, white or brown in various shades, as well as different combinations of those colors.
On the other hand, these dogs do not have a woolly undercoat and also do not shed their hair, they are considered hypoallergenic dogs as their presence does not affect people with allergies to dog hair.
Portuguese Water Dog Character
Although the Portuguese Water Dog breed is pretty affable, they are not sticky dogs, they are quiteindependent , however, they need constant contact with their loved ones, so they are not recommended if we cannot devote much time and attention to them.
They are very intelligent and active animals, so they need a lot of stimulation, both physical and mental. For this reason, games of search, intelligence or agility circuits are ideal for them to carry out physical activity while developing their intellectual abilities.
These are dogs that are capable of living with other dogs, as well as with cats, as long as they have been accustomed to them in the most opportune and respectful way for both. On the contrary, it is not recommended to have them together with rodents or birds, since it cannot always be guaranteed that they will not attack or harm them by pretending to play with them. However, if a Portuguese Water Dog puppy is adopted, it is possible to control this behavior through early socialization. For this, do not miss our article on How to socialize a puppy.
Portuguese water dog care
The hair of Portuguese Water Dogs is not suitable for novices or for the impatient, because, due to its characteristics, it will need a lot of dedication time so that it is clean, shiny and untangled, especially in long-haired specimens, since this hair will get quite tangled. For this reason, it is recommended to go to a hairdresser specialized in this type of breed, who can make our dog look its best version, also making the haircuts that are necessary and bathing our dog, something that has to be done quite frequently.
Regarding the maintenance of this coat at home, it is recommended at least once a day brushing, with a special brush for dense hair and large. For more information, in the following article we talk more in depth about the care of the coat of this dog: "Care of the coat of the Portuguese water dog".
Apart from hair care, the Portuguese Water Dog will not need much extra care compared to other dog breeds, since we must provide them with a balanced diet, access to clean and fresh water,daily physical activity , a correct environmental enrichment at home and lots and lots of love.
Portuguese Water Dog Education
Portuguese Water Dogs are one of the most clever and intelligent dog breeds. To enhance the mental development of these dogs it is necessary to provide them with an enriched environment, so that they can exercise their intellect. Activities in which the dog has to think of solutions or perform complex activities that require it to find a way to achieve various goals are recommended.
In general, it is a fairly easy breed to train, as long as we are constant and firm with them, as they are very docile dogs that learn without the need for too many repetitions. Therefore, we can teach them tricks that are useful and fun, such as opening or closing doors, doing pirouettes and others. Of course, it is essential to carry out a positive education, forgetting the punishments, since this would only discourage the animal and generate the appearance of behavioral disorders or problems related, such as fear, stress or anxiety.
On the other hand, both for the Portuguese water dog puppy and for the adult, as we have already pointed out, it is essential to carry out a correct socialization, especially if animals other than cats and dogs live in the household.
Portuguese Water Dog He alth
Although the Portuguese water dog does not stand out for having too many diseases that particularly affect it, it does seem to have a certain propensity to suffer from hip dysplasia, so we have to take extreme precautions with respect to the movements he makes, trying not to force his hips in his activities.
It will also be necessary to carry out frequent veterinary check-ups in order to detect joint anomalies, as well as to carry out vaccinations and general analyzes to know the state of he alth of our pet.
It should be noted that the Portuguese water dog breed has a rare disease called storage disease, which consists of an alteration of the production of some enzymes. You can also suffer from other diseases such as alopecia, progressive retinal atrophy or juvenile cardiomyopathy, but let's not be scared, because their prevalence is not too high.
Where to adopt a Portuguese water dog?
In general, it is not usual to find Portuguese water dogs for adoption, however, it is more likely that there are mestizo dogs that come from them. It is important to highlight that, when adopting, the breed is not the most important thing, what is really relevant is that the animal fits into our lifestyle so that we can cover all its needs and give it the best quality of life. For this reason, before making the decision, it is essential to weigh all your care and requirements in order to verify that we can effectively meet them.
Once the decision is made, we recommend going to animal shelters and protectors to ask if they have a Portuguese water dog or similar in adoption. Likewise, there are associations dedicated to rescuing dogs of this breed to give them a loving home.
