Country of Origin: Portugal
  • Activity Level: high
    starstarstarstarstar
  • Shedding Level: low
    starstarno starno starno star
  • Grooming Level: moderate
    starstarno starno starno star
  • Trainability: high
    starstarstarstarstar
  • Good for Novice Owners: high
    starstarstarstarstar
  • Adaptability: high
    starstarstarstarno star
  • Kid/Pet Friendly: often
    starstarstarstarstar
  • Prey Drive: moderate
    starstarstarno starno star
  • Watchdog: aware
    starstarstarno starno star
  • Average Size: Medium
  • Average Lifespan: 10-14 years
  • Registered?: aca, akc
5 out of 5
Average based on 17 Reviews

Portuguese Water Dog Dog Breed Information

Overview

The curly-coated Portuguese Water Dog is a working breed that is about as fun-loving and lively as any dog breed out there! The Portuguese Water Dog was originally used by Portuguese Fisherman to retrieve equipment that was lost overboard and was even known to “herd” fish into the nets, which made them very valuable fishing companions.

The fact that Portuguese Water Dogs love to be in the water can surely be attributed to their history as a “Fisherman’s Friend”, and having webbed feet never hurts when you like to swim, of course! As a matter of fact, this dog is so well known to be a water lover, that the Portuguese call them “Cao de Agua”, which means Dog of Water.