Portuguese Water Dog

Apartment Friendly Low Shedding Kid Friendly Hypoallergenic Intelligent Easy to Train

Breed Snapshot

Weight: 16–27 kilograms (35–60 pounds)
Height: 43–57 centimeters (17–22 inches)
Breed size: Medium to Large
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Dog breed group: Working dog
Shed level: Low to moderate

Description

The Portuguese Water Dog loves water and has webbed feet and a single-layered thick coat that could be curly or wavy.

Temperament

Funny, lively, affectionate and excellent with kids, the Portuguese Water Dog has a high stamina and a great sense of smell. It's faithful, obedient and loves being in the water.

Health problems

This breed can be prone to hip dysplasia, PRA and GM-1 Storage Disease, a fatal nerve disease.

Exercise

This dog needs a lot of daily vigorous exercise to stay properly stimulated. It loves to play fetch in the water and would make a great jogging companion.

Grooming

Brush the coat regularly. This breed sheds little to no hair.

Living conditions

Apartment living is okay if it gets a lot of exercise, and is far happier when it's close to its family.

Fun Fact

In Portugal this dog is called the Cao de Agua, or 'dog of water'.