In this article from PeritoAnimal we will talk about the Portuguese Water Dog or, in other words, the Algarvian Water Dog. This beautiful dog may look in some ways like the Spanish Water Dog, to which you may be more accustomed, however, it presents a number of differences in relation to it. So next we will talk about what the Portuguese Water Dog is like to unlock all the secrets of this wonderful breed. Keep reading PeritoAnimal and find out more about the dog that accompanied Portuguese sailors since before the fifteenth century, its characteristics, care, health, etc..
Portuguese Water Dog: origin
If you want to know the history of the Portuguese Water Dog, you should know that this is a very old breed, it is estimated that in the fifteenth century there were already specimens. Documents from that time were found that tell how these dogs accompanied the Portuguese sailors on their commercial and fishing trips. But it was not by chance that these puppies lived maritime adventures, since the breed is famous for its swimming skills and its great intelligence. Did you know that their main function in fishing was to jump in the water and scare the fish into the fishermen's nets? They were even responsible for managing the nets or hunting the fish that had escaped.
This dog was so appreciated that some began to call him by his nickname "Portie". This is not surprising, since due to his good vision, he allowed sailors to know when other boats were approaching, even with 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 its 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 AKC in 1984. After that, it spread throughout Europe and almost the entire world, rising from the ashes.
Portuguese Water Dog: characteristics
The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium sized dog, whose weight is usually between 16 and 27 kilos and height in the withers is proportional to the weight, varying between 43 and 47 centimeters. The females are smaller both in weight and height.
The puppies of this breed stand out for their very strong body, with powerful, developed muscles, strong and powerful limbs. The chest is wide and deep, the tail is wider at the base and narrower as it approaches the tip. Its head is large but very proportional, with a snout that narrows towards the nose and a very sharp stop. The eyes of the Portuguese Water Dog are round, dark and of medium size. His ears are very close to the head and his skin is extremely thin.
The coat of Portuguese Water Dogs can be long or short. Short-haired dogs have a curly and dense coat, while longhaired dogs have a wavy and shiny coat. Whatever the length, the colours accepted in the Portuguese Water Dog are black, white or brown in various shades, as well as different combinations of these colours. On the other hand, these dogs do not have a woolly undercoat in their coats, they also do not exchange fur, being considered hypoallergenic dogs because they do not affect people with allergy to dog fur.
Portuguese Water Dog: personality
Although the Portuguese Water Dog breed is quite friendly, 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 dedicate much time and attention to the dog.
They are very intelligent and active animals, so they need a lot of stimulation, both physical and mental. Thus, search games, intelligence and agility circuits are ideal for them to practice physical activity while developing their intellectual abilities.
They are dogs capable of living 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 advisable to have them together with rodents or birds, because it is not always possible to guarantee that they do not attack or hurt them when trying to play with them. However, by adopting a Portuguese Water Dog while still puppy, it is possible to control this behavior through early socialization.
Portuguese Water Dog: care
The Portuguese Water Dog's coat is not suitable for inexperienced people, nor for the impatient, because due to its characteristics, it takes a long time for this coat to become shiny and untangled, especially in longhaired specimens, whose coat can be very embarrassed. Therefore, it is recommended to go to a shearer specialized in this type of breed, which can leave your pet in its best version, also making the necessary haircuts and bathing the puppy, something that should be done quite often.
As for keeping the coat at home, it is recommended to brush at least once a day, with a special brush for dense and long hair. Besides the care with the coat, the Portuguese Water Dog also needs a lot of extra care in relation to the other dog breeds, because it is necessary to provide him a balanced diet, access to clean and fresh water, daily physical activity and much, much affection.
Portuguese Water Dog: education
The Portuguese Water Dog is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. To enhance the mental development of these dogs, it is necessary to provide them with an enriched environment, so that they can exercise their intellect. It is recommended activities in which the dog needs to think of solutions or perform complex activities that make him find ways to achieve various goals.
In general, this is a very easy breed to educate, as long as you are constant and firm with them, because they are very docile dogs that learn without needing many repetitions. Therefore, teach them tricks that are useful and fun, like opening or closing doors, doing pirouettes and the like. Naturally, it is essential to perform a positive education, leaving aside the punishments, as this will discourage 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 Portuguese Water Dog puppy and for the adult, as we have already said, it is essential to perform a proper socialization, especially if there are other animals in the house that are not dogs or cats.
Portuguese Water Dog: health
Although the Portuguese Water Dog does not stand out for having many diseases that especially affect him, he seems to have a certain propensity to suffer from hip dysplasia, so it is necessary to take extreme precautions with respect to the movements he makes, trying to avoid forcing the hip in his activities. It will also be necessary to have frequent veterinary consultations in order to be able to detect joint anomalies, as well as to carry out vaccinations and general analyses in order to know your pet's state of health.
It is worth mentioning that the breed presents a strange disease called storage disease, which consists of a change in the production of some enzymes. It can also suffer from other diseases, such as alopecia, progressive atrophy of the retina or juvenile cardiomyopathy, but do not be alarmed, because the prevalence of these diseases is not very high.
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