The Portuguese Water Dog
Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 by Mike CronkBasics:
Country of Origin: Portugal
Group: Working (water rescue)
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Height: 20-23 inches
Weight: 42-60 lbs
Color: Black, black with white, shades of brown
AKC Rank 2006: 69
The Portuguese Water Dog
Fishermen in the seaports of the Iberian Peninsula used these dogs as working members of their boat crews. The PWD was responsible for retrieving fish and fishing gear as well as for acting as guards and rescuers. They were introduced to the United States in the late 1960s and current numbers here are higher than they are in Portugal.
The adjectives describing the PWD are “fun-loving, family-loving, loyal and good with children.” Keep in mind that they come from a working background so plenty of exercise is high on the agenda.
We currently have several PWDs coming in for grooming. This breed can either have a medium-length curly coat or a long wavy coat—both of which should be brushed and combed several times a week. There are two standard clips for the PWD. The retriever clip is about an inch long all over except for the last 3-4 inches of tail. We have also done the lion clip. The lion clip calls for a short muzzle, full head, ears, front legs and chest. From the loin back, including hind legs and tail except for the last 3-4 inches, we clip the hair to 1/4 an inch. The lion clip is definitely a show stopper and will undeniably be a topic of conversation with friends and neighbors.
January 20th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Thank you so much for responding. Rosa has the working retriever clip which my two previous PWDs had. She is black, white tips on front paws and her best friend is my half Siamese, Liza. You may meet Rosa in a year or so – I brush Liza three or four times a week but a dip in water is out of the question!