Portuguese Water Dog breed guide: Care, training, and fun facts
Breed guide overview
About Portuguese Water Dogs
Temperament
Exercise
Grooming
Training
Diet
Health
About the Portuguese Water Dog breed
As the name suggests Portuguese Water Dogs (also known as Porties) come from Portugal originally, bred to be strong swimmers and support fishermen with their work. They are now popular family pets, with their friendly and sociable natures. They are known for being very intelligent. Famously the Obama family had two Portuguese Water Dogs, Sunny and Bo, while they lived in the White House.
Weight, height & life expectancy
They range in height from 43-52cm for females and 50-57cm for males. Most Portuguese Water Dogs weigh between 25-32kg, with the females usually being a bit smaller.
Their lifespan is usually between 10 and 14 years.
What is the temperament of a Portuguese Water Dog like?
Portuguese Water Dogs are happy, active dogs, who love to be social. If well-socialised with them as puppies, they tend to enjoy the company of children, dogs and other animals, and can make excellent family pets. They enjoy human company, and love to meet up with their human and doggy friends and family.
They are quick to understand things, and are very smart, although if they are bored they can go against instructions. They are very curious, and sometimes their strong nose can lead them off on adventures. They love to retrieve, so can often pick things up in their mouths.
Our Portuguese Water Dog Community
“Odin is a very friendly and loving dog with lots of energy. He loves to play with other dogs and tug of war with us humans! He goes mad for sticks and loves long walks and exploring new places.”
Odin’s owner, Rebecca from Newport
“Buddy is obsessed with food, playtime & the ball. He's very obedient & just wants to make you happy. He has a high work drive so loves chasing a stick, swimming & training.”
Buddy’s owner, Cookie from London
How much exercise does a Portuguese Water Dog need?
An adult Portuguese Water Dog needs 1-2 hours of exercise a day, making sure that as well as walking and running (and possibly swimming), they get time to sniff and investigate too!
They are such intelligent dogs, so mental stimulation is really important too. They love retrieving and using their strong sense of smell to investigate. If possible, find somewhere safe for them to swim, as they love getting in the water, even better if you have a floaty toy for retrieving!
Although full of energy, Portuguese Water Dog puppies should get less than this and a basic guide is 5 minutes per month of age. Porties should not be on full exercise levels until they are fully grown, which is usually around 15 months old.
If they don’t get enough physical or mental exercise, they can become bored and destructive.
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Do Portuguese Water Dogs need a lot of grooming?
Portuguese Water Dogs come in several different colours, including black, brown, white, black and white, and brown and white. Their coats are either wavy or curly. They do not shed much, and are often described as low allergen as a result.
They need regular grooming both with brushing them at least twice a week, with a few different types of brush, and also regular groomer visits for clips. Some Porties are clipped with a working retriever clip, which means only their back end is clipped close, but most pet Portuguese Water Dogs tend to get clipped all over, but your groomer can advise.
Like any dog, regular tooth brushing with a dog-specific toothpaste twice daily is ideal. If you can’t manage that often, just do it as often as you can.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs easy to train?
Portuguese Water Dogs are highly intelligent and respond well to training. Start training nice and early in their life, so bad habits don’t get a chance to bed in. Like any smart dog though they can get bored quickly, and may try to outsmart their trainer, so make sure you are consistent! They love to learn so are great dogs to take to classes like obedience or agility.
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What do Portuguese Water Dogs eat?
Adult Portuguese Water Dogs should eat a complete, balanced dog food twice daily. They love a good treat as a reward, but like any dog, this should only make up a maximum of 10% of their daily calorie intake. Portuguese Water Dogs are prone to getting a bit overweight, and you might not notice under the curls! Don’t let them overeat and keep them active and you can help them stay at a healthy weight. If they are an ok body weight, you should be able to comfortably feel your pooch’s ribs, but not count them, when they are standing normally. They should also have a nice neat waist when you look from the top (you might have to get your hands on them for that bit if they’re quite floofy), and they should have a good tuck from their chest up to their tummy. If you are worried your pooch could be overweight or underweight then contact your vet practice for advice.
Puppies should initially eat four times a day, then down to three, then to two at six months old. For most Portuguese Water Dogs you can make the change from puppy to adult food gradually at between 12 and 16 months old. Your pet food supplier and/or vet can advise on individual cases and food brands.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs healthy?
Like any breed of dog, there are health conditions that Portuguese Water Dog dogs are more prone to than others. These can include problems with:
Bleeding disorders
Haemophilia A - a lack of coagulation factor VIII meaning blood does not clot as it should which can cause bleeding
Bones and joints
Hip Dysplasia - a condition where the thigh bone and pelvis do not sit together properly at the hip joint
Cancers
Lymphoma - a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system of the body
Eyes
Cataracts - a common cause of blindness due to a clouding of the lens of the eye
Distichiasis - abnormally growing eyelashes which can grow into the eye and cause pain and damage to the eye’s surface
Progressive Retinal Atrophy - over time the back of the eye becomes damaged which can reduce your dog’s vision, eventually leading to blindness
Hormonal
Addison’s Disease (hypoadrenocorticism) - a condition where your dog’s body doesn’t produce enough of necessary hormones from their adrenal glands
Hypothyroidism - a condition where your dog does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
This list is by no means comprehensive, if you have any concerns about the health of your dog, or if you want to discuss further if a Portuguese Water Dog is right for you, consult with your vet.
Vet top tip
Portuguese Water Dogs are fun, friendly dogs, and super smart. So remember it’s important to not only tire out their legs, but give their brain a good work out too!
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Information on this page should never replace advice given by your veterinarian. Potential health issues presented are given as a guide only and are not meant to be comprehensive. If you ever have any concerns about your dog’s health contact your local vet.
