Portuguese Water Dog
Dog · Working · 0 live listings
Bred to work beside fishermen off Portugal, herding fish into nets, carrying messages and retrieving gear from the water, the PWD is athletic, bright and loyal. It has a low-shedding curly or wavy coat and a strong need for daily exercise and company.
At a glance
The tradeoffs, honestly
PWDs are mouthy and busy as puppies and need daily exercise and training. The coat needs regular clipping, and they dislike being left alone for long.
Common questions
Is a Portuguese Water Dog a good first dog?
It can be, for an active household. PWDs are affectionate and trainable but energetic and mouthy when young. Daily exercise, water play and training help them settle.
What health problems do PWDs have, and what should be tested?
Hip dysplasia, eye disease, GM1 storage disease, juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy and Addison's disease occur. Ask for OFA hips, a recent eye exam and DNA results for GM1 and prcd-PRA on both parents, plus their JDCM status.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs hypoallergenic?
They shed little and some allergy sufferers tolerate them, but no dog is allergen-free. Spend time with the breed first.
Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.
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