Choosing a Portuguese Water Dog

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The Portuguese waterFresh Flow Pet Fountain
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History and Origin

Some people believe that the Portuguese water dog dates back to 700 B.C. when it was a patrol dog near the Chinese Russian border. At that time, the dog may have been a herder for cattle, sheep, camels and horses. At that point, there are two primary theories as to how the dog traveled from the Chinese Russian border to Portugal. One theory maintains that the Berbers captured the dogs and spread across North Africa, finally arriving in Portugal in the 8th century. The other theory holds that the dogs were taken by the Goths, a German tribe.

This tribe invaded Spain and Portugal in 400 A.D. and the dogs stayed there.

Regardless of the theories, once the dogs reached Portugal, they had found a home. Fisherman quickly learned that the Portuguese water dog, called cao de agua (water dog) in Portuguese, was an excellent hard working dog. They were used to herd fish into the nets, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and to act as a courier from ship to ship and ship to the shore.

For centuries, the Portuguese water dog was a constant companion of the fishermen, but in the early 20th century, agriculture became more popular than fishing, and the popularity of the breed diminished. The dogs nearly vanished. In the 1930s a wealthy Portuguese shipping magnate took it upon himself to save the breed from extinction. With much effort, Portuguese water dogs slowly rebounded and in 1954, were accepted into the English Kennel Club.

In 1958 the United States became interested when a pair of dogs arrived in New York. In 1972, a group of 16 individuals had a meeting at a home in Connecticut and formed the Portuguese WaterFresh Flow Pet Fountain
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Appearance

The Portuguese water dog is a medium sized dog with either a longhaired coatHerbal Groom Shampoo 12 oz
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Size

The Portuguese water dog stands 20 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 42 to 60 pounds.

Personality

Friendly and active, the Portuguese water dog makes an excellent pet for an active family, especially those who enjoy water sports or outdoor activities.

Home and Family Relations

Since their coats infrequently shed, this is an excellent breed for people with allergies. The water resistant hair coat allows the dog to spend a lot of time outdoors. Although they take well to children if raised around children, they don't always do so well if a child is introduced into the family later in the dog's life.

Training

The Portuguese water dog is an intelligentRed Kong
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Special Care

The Portuguese water dog is not a good choice for people looking for a "couch potato" dog. This is an active and energetic dog that craves exerciseLaunch A Ball
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Common Diseases and Disorders

The Portuguese water dog is a relatively healthy dog with few health concerns. Some diseases that have been reported in this breed include:

Progressive retinal atrophy is a degenerative disease of the eyes that slowly results in blindness.

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip joints and can result in painBiocaine 4oz
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Alopecia is a disorder of hair loss.

In addition, Portuguese water dogs are prone to ear infections or swimmer's ears if they tend to swim a lot. Make sure their ears are thoroughly dried after each swim.

The average life span of the Portuguese water dog is 10 to 12 years.


We realize that each dog is unique and may display other characteristics. This profile provides generally accepted breed information only.

Chris Cosgrove contributed to this story.