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Click
photo for the:
Breed
Standard
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FUN
FACTS:
Did
you know the PWD ...
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comes
in two coat textures; wavy and curly in the colors of black,
or brown, or white.
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will
look you directly in the eye in a non-aggressive manner.
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have
webbed feet and can dive down to retrieve lost items in the
water.
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has
the ability to "smile" with lower jaw.
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were
first mentioned in writing in 1297 for rescuing a drowning
sailor.
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HEALTH:
All dog
breeds have health concerns that includes purebreds and mixes.
Don't be fooled into thinking a mutt is healthier due to the hype
of hybrid vigor.
Conditions
that are still a concern with Portuguese Water Dogs are Addisons,
Cancer, and hip dysplasia.
There
are now marker tests for GM-1 (neurological), PRA (retina
degeneration), and JDCM (cardiomyopathy - heart) that once plagued
the breed. Clears to carriers can be bred safely without the
puppies being affected on the marker tests. Annual CERF (eye)
exams should be performed to check for changes in the eyes.
Please see
the parent club for a complete list of PWD health concerns.
http://www.pwdca.org/health/conditions/
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This page is not intended
to "sell" you on the Portuguese Water Dog. Information
provided is based on fact and our personal opinion. This is NOT the
dog for everyone, despite their recent popularity. There is a true working
dog under the cute exterior.
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"The
Portuguese Water Dog is a spirited yet obedient, robust, and of
unexaggerated, functional conformation; sure, substantially boned
and muscled, and able to do a full day's work in and out of the
water."
~~Taken from the
AKC breed standard |
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SWSeas Silver Twilight "Silvy"
working
at the 2009 National Specialty water trials |
Known for
being from Portugal, where it is called 'Cao De Agua' - (or dog of water),
they performed there along the Algarve coast with the local fishermen.
They would work in the sea retrieving nets, herding fish, retrieving lost
tackle knocked overboard, act as a foghorn (bark), swim messages to other
boats, and guard the day's catch. They would alert the fisherman of sharks
by refusing to work. The dogs were a valued member of the fishing
crew and earned their share of the profits ~usually in the fish they would
be fed. When the seas were too rough to go out, they would
work in the fields herding sheep and other livestock. With all this
physical work in their genes, it is understandable that they are an active
breed with exercise requirements.
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Taken from the
children's picture book; Little Lions, Bull Baiters, &
Hunting Hounds: A History of Dog Breeders |
Today, they
are basically out of a job thanks to modern technology like the radio and
sonar; therefore we must now provide them an outlet for their intelligence
and energy to burn. Also, due to their history of close quarters
shared with the fisherman, the Portuguese Water Dog is a dog that wants to
be close to you at all times. They will follow you from room to room and
be underfoot. Portuguese Water Dogs have a heart of gold and a mischievous
glint in their
eye. With proper training, you'll have a wonderful companion that
will keep you smiling. Their clownish personalities require you to have a
sense of humor as well.
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It is
highly recommended that you do lots of homework about this breed before
having one join your family as their demanding personalities may prove
too much for some.
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They
are not a breed that can be left alone for hours on end nor out in the
yard. They are a single coated breed and do not have enough
protection to survive outdoors.
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Also,
they have social and emotional needs to be close to their human
companions. Destructive behavior or separation anxiety could
occur if left for long periods of time.
SWSeas
Lake Superior's Breeze CD NA NJP aka "Skipper" competing
(and having a blast) in Agility.
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Best to
keep them active, this breed excels in performance such as
conformation, agility, obedience, rally - obedience, and therapy
avenues like visiting nursing homes, hospitals, etc. This working
breed does best when it has a job to do.
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Positive
training a must. Prong/shock collars, yelling at them, etc.,
will prove fruitless. They shut down and will not learn in negative
situations. Clicker training and rewarding for correct behavior
must be utilized.
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The Portuguese
Water Dog comes in two coat types; Curly and Wavy and two
recognized clips; the working Retriever cut and the traditional
Lion cut. The breed comes in three colors; black, various
shades of brown, and white. We also recognize black and
white and brown and white together. However, they are not tri-colored.
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Irish marked is
usually white markings such as a full white collar, white chest
and belly, white feet/legs, and white tip on tail.
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Parti colored is
where the PWD is at least 50% white or more.
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Traditionally
marked is usually thought of as a solid color with a small
amount of white on chest and feet.
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Double Irish
ticked is when the dog is born with white markings that pigment
fills in "ticks" making the areas silver or frosted
brown (depending on the color of PWD). Commonly known as
"silver fox" or "brown fox".
Here is a chart of
their different colors, coats, and cuts: |
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Brown
fox (ticking)
Christi
(Jake daughter)
in the retriever cut. |
Brown fox
(ticking)
Jake (our
foundation stud) in the wavy lion cut.
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Black w/
silver-fox ticking
Brutus (Jake
son) in the curly lion cut
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Traditional
black (small white markings)
Marinka
(foundation bitch) in the wavy lion cut
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White/piebald
Grady (Jake son) in the wavy lion cut. |
Irish marked
(30% white)
Misty (Marinka daughter) in the wavy lion cut. |
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We are often asked why that
"funny" haircut when referring to the Lion Cut? It
actually served a purpose. Trimming off the back half of the dog
kept the weight of the water, in which they worked, from pulling
them down into the sea. While keeping hair longer around the vital
organs for warmth. The muzzle was clipped short as well. And the
tail was clipped off except the very end making a flag. It
was believed the flag was left on so the fishermen could see their
dog out in the distance in the water. Today, we honor the
traditional cut of Portugal for our dogs showing in the
conformation ring as well as dogs working in the water earning
water titles through our regional and national clubs. You
have to appreciate their history to fully understand the haircut.
Back
to the Top
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In
his native land, the dog is also known as the Portuguese Fishing
Dog. Cao de Agua de Pelo Ondulado is the name given the
long-haired variety, and Cao de Agua de Pelo Encaradolado is the
name for the curly-coat variety. |
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