Content
- Portuguese water dog: origin
- Portuguese water dog: characteristics
- Portuguese water dog: personality
- Portuguese water dog: care
- Portuguese water dog: education
- Portuguese water dog: health
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about the Portuguese water dog or, in other words, the Algarvian water dog. This beautiful dog may look like the Spanish Water Dog in some ways, which you may be more used to, however, it has a number of differences in relation to it. So, below, we'll talk about how the Portuguese Water Dog is to reveal all the secrets of this wonderful breed. Continue reading PeritoAnimal and find out more about the dog that accompanied Portuguese sailors since before the 15th century, its characteristics, care, health, etc.
Source- Europe
- Portugal
- Group VIII
- Rustic
- muscular
- provided
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Sociable
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Docile
- Kids
- Houses
- hiking
- Allergic people
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Medium
- Long
- Fried
- Hard
- thick
Portuguese water dog: origin
If you want to know the history of the Portuguese water dog, you must know that this is a very old breed, it is estimated that in the fifteenth century they already existed copies. Documents from the period have been found that report how these dogs accompanied Portuguese sailors on their commercial and fishing trips. But it was not by chance that these dogs lived maritime adventures, since the breed is famous for its swimming skills and for his great intelligence. Did you know that your main function in fishing was to jump into the water and chase the fish towards the fishermen's nets? They were even responsible for managing the nets or hunting the fish that had escaped.
This dog was so popular that some started calling him by the nickname "Portie". This is not surprising, since due to its good vision, it allowed the sailors to know when other vessels were approaching, even in a lot of fog, acting as an anti-collision siren. Although during the 20th century the breed suffered a serious decline that almost led to extinction during the 60's, a group of breeders managed to recover it and the breed became very popular during the 80's in the United States, being accepted by the AKC in 1984. After that, it spread throughout Europe and almost all over the world, rising from the ashes.
Portuguese water dog: characteristics
The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium size dog, whose weight is usually between 16 and 27 kilos and height at the withers is proportional to the weight, varying between 43 and 47 centimeters. Females are smaller in both weight and height.
Dogs of this breed stand out for their bodies very strong, with powerful muscles, developed, strong and powerful limbs. The chest is broad and deep, the tail is wider at the base and narrower as it approaches the tip. Its head is large but very proportionate, with a muzzle that narrows towards the nose and a very sharp stop. The eyes of the Portuguese Water Dog are round, dark and of medium size. The ears are very close to the head and their skin is extremely thin.
The coat of Portuguese Water Dogs can be long or short. short-haired specimens have a curlier and denser coat, while the longhaired, the hairs are more wavy and shiny. whatever the length, the colors accepted in the Portuguese Water Dog they are black, white or brown in different shades, as well as different combinations of these colors. On the other hand, these dogs do not have a woolly sub-layer in their coat, they also do not exchange their fur, being considered hypoallergenic dogs because they do not affect people with dog fur allergies.
Portuguese water dog: personality
Although the breed of the Portuguese water dog is quite affable, they are not sticky dogs because they are quite independent. However, they need constant contact with their owners, so it is not a recommended breed for those who cannot devote a lot of time and attention to the dog.
Are animals very smart and active, so they need a lot of stimulation, both physical and mental. Thus, search games, intelligence and the circuits of agility are ideal for practicing physical activity while developing their intellectual capacities.
They are dogs capable of getting along with other dogs and cats, as long as they have gotten used 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, as it is not always possible to guarantee that they will not attack or hurt you when trying to play with them. However, when adopting a Portuguese water dog as a puppy, it is possible to control this behavior through early socialization.
Portuguese water dog: care
O Portuguese Water Dog fur it is not suitable for inexperienced people, nor for the impatient, because due to its characteristics, it takes a long time for this hair to become shiny and tangled, especially in long-haired individuals, whose coat can be very matted. Therefore, it is recommended to go to a groomer specialized in this type of breed, which can leave your pet in its best version, also making the necessary haircuts and bathing the dog, something that should be done quite often.
As for the maintenance of the coat at home, it is recommended brush at least once a day, with a special brush for dense and long hair. In addition to hair care, the Portuguese Water Dog also needs a lot of extra care in relation to other canine breeds, as it is necessary to provide it with a balanced diet, lit with clean and fresh water, daily physical activity and very, very affectionate.
Portuguese water dog: education
The Portuguese Water Dog is one of the most intelligent canine breeds. To enhance the mental development of these dogs, it is necessary provide them with an enriched environment, so that they can exercise their intellect. Activities are recommended in which the dog needs to think of solutions or perform complex activities that make him find ways to achieve different goals.
In general, this is a very easy breed to educate, as long as you are constant and firm with them, as they are very docile puppies, which learn without needing many repetitions. So teach them tricks that are useful and fun, like opening or closing doors, doing pirouettes and the like. Of course, it is essential to carry out a positive education, leaving aside the punishments, as this will demotivate the animal and cause the appearance of disorders or related behavior problems, such as fear, stress or anxiety.
On the other hand, both for the puppy Portuguese water dog and for the adult, as we have already said, it is essential to carry out a correct socialization, especially if there are other animals in the house other than dogs or cats.
Portuguese water dog: health
Although the Portuguese Water Dog does not stand out for having many diseases that especially affect it, it seems to have a certain propensity to suffer from hip dysplasia, so it is necessary to take extreme precautions with respect to the movements it performs, trying to avoid forcing the hip in your activities. It will also be necessary to carry out frequent veterinary consultations in order to detect joint anomalies, as well as to carry out vaccinations and general tests to know the health status of your pet.
It is noteworthy that the breed has a strange disease called storage disease, which consists of an alteration in the production of some enzymes. You can also suffer from other diseases, such as alopecia, progressive retinal atrophy or juvenile cardiomyopathy, but don't be alarmed, as the prevalence of these diseases is not very high.