Portuguese Water Dog: Appearance, Personality, Care

I puppies They are super cheerful and hyperactive, while adult specimens are decidedly energetic and intelligent but a bit calmer. We're talking about the Portuguese Water Dog, an ancient water dog once widespread along all Portuguese coasts. A skilled swimmer, it quickly became the fishermen's dog!

Affectionate with children, he's a perfect companion dog, friendly, and decidedly versatile. Here's everything you need to know.

Index of topics

Origins

Once widespread along the coasts of Portugal, the Cão de água is nowadays mainly present in the province of Algarve, where it is believed to have originated. It is recognized as an indigenous Portuguese breedIt has long been a companion to fishermen, as it is a skilled swimmer. It is believed to be closely related to the French poodle.

Appearance

Medium-sized, its body is well-proportioned and decidedly robust. It is also well-muscled. Here are other physical characteristics according to the ENCI profile:

the neck is straight, short, rounded, well muscled
la queue it is thick at the base and thinner towards the end
The coat is tough, dense, and thick, and offers good protection from water. There are two varieties: long-haired and wavy, and short-haired and curly. The color is black or brown, otherwise pure white or a combination of these colors.
As regards the height at the withers, males are between 50 and 57 cm, females between 43 and 52 cm
The weight of males is between 19 and 25 kg, the weight of females between 16 and 22 kg.

Character

He is endowed with rare intelligenceHe's very quick to understand what's said, and is also very proud and strong-willed. His gaze is penetrating, his expression stern, despite being a decidedly friendly dog. He's a great swimmer and diver. He's also very energetic and resilient.

Curiosity

The Portuguese Water Dog it is hypoallergenicThis means it can be tolerated even by people who are normally allergic to dogs. This is because it doesn't shed, and even the hair that falls out gets trapped in its coat, thus reducing the allergens' dispersion into the surrounding environment.

Cure

Considering the consistency of its by theIt's important to brush it regularly to prevent annoying knots. It's best to avoid clipping it completely. Beware of Addison's disease, which is quite common in this breed. This autoimmune disorder often manifests itself with gastrointestinal problems, weakness, and a fluctuating appetite.

You may also suffer from:

hip dysplasia
progressive retinal atrophy
cataract
follicular dysplasia

This dog It adapts well to home life, but needs daily exercise, so much so that it is also used as a hunting dog. As for food, its passion is fish.

Adoption

Adoption is always the most recommended option and in Italy, by doing a simple search on Facebook, you can find rescues dedicated to the breed such as, for example, the page “CAO De AGUA. help me“, where you can find puppies and adult specimens in difficulty who need a new loving family.

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