INTRODUCTION

Today, this breed of dog is a fun-loving family companion – represented by Bo Obama, former first dog of the USA, who still retains their intelligence and love of water, not to mention the webbed feet, which made them so valuable to their human family. – who still retains their intelligence and love of water, not to mention the webbed feet, which made them so valuable to their human family.AniMall24 recommends a dog bed to give your medium-sized Portuguese Water Dog a good night’s sleep. You should also buy a dog brush and massager for your long-haired puppy.

HIGHLIGHTS

Portuguese Water Dogs are energetic and need 30 minutes to an hour of vigorous exercise a day. They love to swim and make excellent jogging companions. Without adequate exercise and mental stimulation, Portuguese Water Dogs can become destructive. Portuguese Water Dogs are very intelligent. They love to learn new things, but they can also get bored easily, so training should be challenging and fun.Portuguese Water Dogs get along well with children and other family pets, especially if they have been raised with them. They can be reserved with strangers, but never lack love and affection for their families.Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed much and are often considered hypoallergenic. Keep in mind that all dogs shed hair and dander to some extent, and that no dog is completely hypoallergenic. If you have pet allergies, the best way to see if you will have a reaction to a particular dog is to spend time with him and watch for symptoms.Portuguese Water Dogs love people and should live at home with their family.They can adapt to flat living if they get enough exercise.Portuguese Water Dogs tend to mature more slowly than other breeds.To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from a puppy mill, pet shop or breeder that does not provide health clearances or guarantees. Look for a reputable breeder who tests their breeding dogs to make sure they are free of genetic diseases that can be passed on to puppies and breeds for a healthy temperament.

HISTORY

The Portuguese Water Dog is descended from the dogs used for centuries by Portuguese fishermen to haul fish into nets, retrieve tackle from the water and swim with messages from boat to boat. It likely shares an ancestry with the Poodle, which was bred in Germany to be a water dog.Known in its homeland as the Cao de Agua, the Portie served as a member of the fishing crew on voyages ranging from the coast of Portugal to Newfoundland.These hard-working fishing dogs nearly disappeared in the early 20th century, when fishing was modernised, but a wealthy Portuguese dog-lover, Vasco Bensuade, stepped in to save the breed. Fanciers formed a breed club and drafted a breed standard – a written description of how a breed should look and act – and Porties began to appear at dog shows. In 1972, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America was formed, even though only 12 dogs of the breed were known in the USA. Just 10 years later, their numbers had grown to 650, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) admitted the dogs to its Miscellaneous Class, a sort of way station for breeds awaiting full recognition. Today, the Portuguese Water Dog ranks 69th in popularity among the 155 breeds and varieties recognised by the AKC.