Portuguese water dog

The Portuguese water dog is a type of dog bred for work. It is basically a dog which is a very strong swimmer. It originated from the Portuguese region of Algarve. They are taught to herd fish into the net of fishermen. The breed is taught to retrieve lost tackle and broken nets. They were used as courier dogs between ship or ships and shore. They were permanent fixtures on fishing trawlers and travelled all over the world with the Portuguese on their discoveries.

The Portuguese water dog is a far relative of the poodle. Hence it shares some physical characteristics with the famous show dog. The Portuguese water dog is more robust built, strong with stout and short legs. They have a wavier coat which distinguishes them from the poodle. Since they are strong swimmers the body of the dog shows all the features. They have strong shoulders, muscular and firm body. The coat colour is mostly black, but they have some more colours such as brown and white.

These dogs are hypoallergenic which means that they do not shed at all. Thus they are very suitable for people who suffer from allergy of dog hair. There are two types of coats that these dogs possess. They are the curly type and the wavy type. The dog needs to be brushed regularly and also the hair needs to be trimmed from time to time. The Portuguese water dog has many types of hair cuts. They range from the lion cut were the hind quarters were shaved and the rest of the body left as it is. This used to help minimise the shock of plunging into cold waters and kept the vital organs safe. The other cut is the retriever cut were the hair is trimmed evenly all over the body.

These dogs have a very distinctive bark. They have a multi octave voice and can vocalise according to their mood and desire. They will have a distinctive panting to show their want to play. The dog is a very loving and affectionate companion. The Portuguese water dog is very obedient and ready to follow orders. They love being petted and become friendly with strangers once they are introduced. They will always be at their master’s side awaiting orders. They are very trainable. They are used widely as service and guide dogs because of their ability to learn complex commands and their easy temperament.

These dogs are water dogs and have a strong instinct to retrieve. They are very comfortable on water and their tendency to retrieve will show in their nature. They chew and tug at things all the times. These dogs are ready to please their owners and will do a characteristic hop or dance on their hind legs waiting to be petted. They breed will climb kitchen counters and try to stand upright. This is an enjoyable feature of the dog. These dogs have a very strong historical background and are famous and have seen the world.