Portuguese Water Dog

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The Portuguese Water Dog is most commonly found in the Algarve area of its native Portugal, where it is a true fisherman's dog, acting virtually as a member of the crew and tackling a variety of tasks ranging from guarding the nets to diving and retrieving, It will actually catch an escaping fish in its jaws and swim back with it safely to the boat It is loyal to its master but not very trustworthy with strangers.

The long-coated Portuguese Water Dog is a rare breed

Origin and history

This unusual dog, which IS not only a fine fisherman but can also catch rabbits, has been known for centuries around the Iberian Peninsula, where it was bred for its task of retrieving fish and guarding nets, Formerly used throughout Portugal, it is almost limited today to the region of the Algarve, where fishing traditions continue very much as in the past It is little known outside its country of origin. This breed should not be confused with the Portuguese Warren Hound (or Podengo), which is mainly found in northe'rn Portugal, where it is used for rabbiting.

Good points

Excellent retriever
First-rate swimmer
Good watchdog
Loyal

Take heed

Suspicious of strangers

Size

Height dog 20-22'/2in (51.57cm); bitch 17-20'/2in (43-52cm). Weight dog 42-551b (19-25kg); bitch 35-48'/2lb (15,9-22kg).

Exercise

Revels in an active, outdoor life.

The Portuguese Water Dog was once common in all the Portuguese and Spanish seaports. Used exclusively as a working dog on fishing boats, it was reputed to be a formidable fighter.

General characteristics
A medium-sized dog, very well proportioned, rugged and muscular Its constant use as a water retriever accounts for the extraordinary muscular development

Colour
Black, white and various shades of brown; also combinations of black or brown with white, A white coat does not indicate albinism provided nose, mouth and eyelids are black,

Head and skull
The head is well proportioned and massive, Viewed in profile, the skull is slightly longer than the muzzle. The curve of the skull is rather more accentuated at the back than in front The occiput is well defined, Viewed from the front the skull is domed with a slight concavity in the middle The forehead is furrowed for two-thirds of the length of the parietal bones; the frontal bones are prominent. The muzzle tapers from base to nose. The stop is well defined and lies slightly farther back than the inner corner of the eyes, The nose is wide with well-open nostrils, which are finely pigmented, Nose colour varies with coat colour. The lips are rather thick, especially in front The Inner mouth IS well blacked, the powerful Jaws are neither undershot nor overshot The teeth are not visible when the mouth IS closed; the canines are strongly developed.

Tail
Not docked; thick at the base, tapering gradually to the tip. It should be set on neither too high nor too low Extended, it should not reach below the hock, When the dog is on the alert, the tail should be held in a ring, the forepart of which does not lie beyond the rear limit of the loin, The tail is used actively in both swimming and diving.

Feet
The feet are round and rather flat The toes should not be too long and should not be knuckled up.

Grooming

The Portuguese Water Dog comes in two coat types, but as this is the only difference there is only one standard for the breed, There is a long-coated variety, which has a lion show trim reminiscent of the Poodle, and a short, curly-coated variety, which gives the animal an appealingly scruffy appearance, particularly as it is so often in water, Regular brushing is advised.

Feeding

Thirteen-200z (369-587g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 13/4-3 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to '/2 cup of hot or cold water.

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