Portuguese Water Dog puppies

About the Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog worked the fishing fleets off the Portuguese coast, driving fish into nets, carrying lines between boats and diving after gear that went overboard. This is a robust swimmer of 15.9 to 27.2 kg standing 43 to 58 cm, with webbed feet and a coat that comes either in tight curls or loose waves, and a lifespan of 11 to 13 years. The temperament is bold, funny and demanding of attention: a dog that follows you room to room and expects to be included.

Exercise needs are high and best met in water, or with retrieving, hiking and dog sports. The coat sheds very little, so it needs clipping every few weeks and brushing in between, usually in a lion or retriever clip. Porties are mouthy as youngsters and chew when under stimulated. They suit busy, active families willing to keep training going for years. If the low shedding coat is the draw, remember that a real workload comes attached to it.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Portuguese Water Dog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), detectable by DNA test
• Early onset progressive retinal atrophy (EOPRA), detectable by DNA test
• GM1 storage disease (gangliosidosis), detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• Elbow dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism), detected by blood electrolyte testing and an ACTH stimulation test

Your Portuguese Water Dog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Portuguese Water Dog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 27.2 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 27.2 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Portuguese Water Dog

Previous: Portuguese Sheepdog · Next: Prague Ratter

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Portuguese Water Dog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: TempusAdMiraculum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.