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Portuguese Water Dogs are a breed of dog, bred by the Portuguese to be companions at sea. They are similar in size to a Wheaten Terrier and are usually black but can also be brown or white.
Appearance: The hair is either worn in a
"retriever cut" or a "lion cut." In the
lion cut, the hindquarters, muzzle, and the base of the tail
are shaved and the rest of the body is left full length. This
cut originated with the fishing dogs of Portugal to keep the
body warm while allowing movement of the back legs.
The end of the tail is kept long, because in those days,
the fishermen sometimes didn't know how to swim, and the dog
could pull them to safety with its tail. The retriever cut is
left 1" (2.5 cm) long evenly over the body (although some
owners prefer the muzzle or the base of the tail shorter).
This cut is a more recent style and originated because
breeders wanted to make the breed more appealing and less
unusual looking for buyers.
Most dogs, especially traditional show dogs, are entirely
black or a dark brown; however, it is common to see white
chests and legs on black and brown coats. "Parti"
coats, with white fur and black spots, are rare but visually
striking.
The hair is either wavy or curly and is like human hair
(and Poodle hair) in that it keeps growing. The hair must be
trimmed about every two months and, although it is possible to
groom at home, it is usually easier to pay a professional
groomer. White hair is finer than black, and parti coat dogs
will require more frequent brushing and grooming to avoid
matting.
Coat Types: In accordance with the breed standard,
Portuguese water dogs have two coat types, wavy and curly.
From the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Revised Standard
for the Portuguese Water Dog.
Curly coat: "compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat
lusterless. The hair on the ears is sometimes wavy".
Wavy coat: "Falling gently in waves, not curls, and
with a slight sheen".
Occasionally, a dog may have what is termed an
"improper" coat. This is a cosmetic variation that
relates to what is believed to be a recessive gene. It causes
the dog to have an undercoat (unlike curly- and wavy-coated
PWDs), a flatter coat overall, and may have curling on the
hocks, and generally appears more Spaniel- or Border
Collie-like. Because these dogs do not adhere to the breed
standard, they may not be shown in competition, but otherwise
are completely healthy and have all the excellent traits of
PWDs. Some reports indicate that these coats shed more and are
not hypoallergenic, although more study is needed.
The dogs also have an interesting bluish tinge to their
skin that is hard to notice underneath their black fur. Their
paws are slightly webbed, which one can notice by trying to
pass one's finger between the dog's toes. Because the PWD has
a single layered coat, they can live extremely well in a
family, even if one of them suffers from dog allergies, this
breed does not shed its fur, it only falls out once the hair
root has died, just like with human hair.
Temperament: Portuguese Water dogs make excellent
companions. They are loving, sweet, and intelligent. Because
they are working dogs, they are perfectly content in being at
their master's side at all times.
Owners of this breed will attest that their Portie follows
them constantly. This is typical of the breed, as it strives
for attention and prefers to be engaged in activity. Do not be
surprised if your Portie brings you a "gift" or toy
when you get home as another way of getting attention, and
affection. This breed makes an excellent guard dog due to its
determination to defend its territory and a very loud and
distinctive bark.
When there is nothing else to do, Porties like to chew.
Heavy-duty chew toys can help keep a Portie occupied. (plastic
water bottles with a few treats inside keep them occupied for
hours!) Be sure to Portie-proof your home, by keeping all
fragile items (especially potted plants) out of reach. A bored
Portie can become a destructive Portie.
History: Originating back to the 1500s in Portugal,
Portuguese Water Dogs (Porties) were originally used by
fishermen. They were used to send messages between boats, to
retrieve fish and articles from the water, and to guard the
fishing boats. (They often received a portion of the catch
after a job well done, too!) They helped to bring in nets and
to save fishermen when they fell in the water. During the
off-season, Portuguese Water Dogs would double as herding
dogs.
They were very popular, and this might be where they picked
up their loyal and dependable characteristics. Eventually
commercial fishing equipment made the dogs unnecessary. They
fell out of favor and almost became extinct. At one point,
there were only 25 Portuguese Water Dogs in the world. Since
then, breeders have been carefully bringing back the breed.
There are now thousands of Porties throughout the world.
Miscellaneous:
The Portie is a fairly rare breed; only 15 entrants for
Portuguese Water Dogs were made to England's Crufts
competition in 2002, although their personality and
nonshedding qualities have made them more popular in
recent years.
Portuguese Water Dogs have a multi-octave voice.
Although they are not prone to barking excessively, they
usually have a wide range of barks, chortles, grumbles,
and sighs. Porties also have an audible "laugh,"
a loud, irregular, breathy pant used at play or during
greetings.
Senator Ted Kennedy is the owner of a Portuguese Water
Dog named Splash. Splash serves as the fictional narrator
in Kennedy's children's book called My Senator and Me: A
Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C.
The Portuguese Water Dog Girella is one of the most
famous of its breed. She meets musicians ( like Deep
Purple , Franz Ferdinand , .. ) if she lays her head on
the speaker while a song of the band is played. "Dog
Likes Music
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