Breeds known as water dogs include:
– Labrador retriever
-Spaniel
– Portuguese water dog
– French Water Dog (Bearded)
– Spanish water dog
Water dogs are in the news because the Obama family has chosen one for their pet.
The best-known water dogs in the US and the UK are the Labrador retriever and the spaniel. There is no UK breed specifically called an American, British, or English Spaniel, but Spaniels probably come closer. On the Barbet breed website it is recorded that, from Charles Knight’s ‘The Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature’ (London: 1844), “The water spaniel is extremely useful to people who are engaged in game hunting.” waterfowl; nothing good, he’s very hardy, and he’s an excellent retriever.”
Water Dogs would also act in some countries, we are told, as couriers, carrying messages between ships and from ship to shore, and would dive into the sea to retrieve broken fishing nets and equipment that had fallen overboard. . They would often have to dive underwater to retrieve submerged items.
Portuguese Water Dogs are typical of the Water Dog family of breeds. They are usually happy dogs and sometimes in the case of the Barbet they are called laid back but the PWD needs to keep busy or he will get bored. You should have lots of toys to play with and you may want to consider crate training when you are not home. Generally healthy, some may develop hip dysplasia and eye problems such as cataracts. However, despite their thick, wavy coats, Portuguese Water Dogs are fairly easy to care for, needing only regular brushing and trimming.
Portuguese Water Dogs are very playful, obedient and easy to train, they also really enjoy retrieving game of any kind. They are medium in size, generally described as “energetic but obedient”. They are a good dog for today’s boat owners. PCDs have a body that is slightly longer than it is tall, the topline is straight and level, and the breast reaches to the elbows. Sometimes called ‘Porties’, they have a broad chest and a large head with a rounded skull and heart-shaped ears that should not hang below the lower jaw.
They were, in times past, used for various functions on board. The most widely used was their ability to retrieve nets and items lost at sea, but some say they were also good at bringing fish into the nets. Another use was to make them bark in the mist to alert other ships to their location.
Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent, hardy, robust, and love to work in and out of the water. They are exceptional swimmers and divers with great stamina.
As energetic and lively canines, the Portuguese Water Dog adapts well to almost any lifestyle. They need physical exercise and love to swim.
If you intend to show them, keep in mind that they are a very controlled breed in the US, but for the entire breed that’s a good thing, as we doubt there are many, if any, puppy farms that involve to race.
Portuguese Water Dogs are medium-sized, strong swimmers and active, energetic family pets. in fact, they can make very good family pets with their cheerful attitude.
PWDs can have a wavy or curly coat. Some people call this a shaggy coat, and it requires regular brushing, as well as trimming and clipping. But don’t expect your PCD pet to look like the show dogs you’ve seen in books or on TV unless you’re trained to do so or the trimmer you use knows the technique.
They are a hypoallergenic breed, making them the perfect choice for the Obama family.
They can come in black, black and white, brown, or brown and white. PWDs are very intelligent and obedient to those who work with them; but they are also stubborn and not a breed for everyone!
Those considering a Portuguese Water Dog should talk to the breeder about their plans to train and be active with the dog, to ensure the breed is a good fit for their lifestyle.
So, to summarize, Portuguese Water Dogs are a good indication of the dogs that represent this breed category. They are very affectionate, independent and intelligent dogs. They love attention while glued to their master’s side. Portuguese Water Dogs are known to make excellent family pets.