Portuguese Water Dog at a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 43–57 cm
- Weight
- 16–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- from 10 years
Typical for the breed, not a promise about any one dog. Not assessed yet: Garden.
Is the Portuguese Water Dog right for you?
Like every breed, the Portuguese Water Dog is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:
May suit you if…
- You would enjoy training a dog that is usually eager to learn.
- You can give around an hour of exercise a day.
- You have, or would like, another dog.
- You have a cat and can introduce them carefully.
Consider another breed if…
- The dog would regularly be left alone for long working days.
- You live in a flat or a small home.
- You have young children at home.
- You cannot commit to daily grooming.
How would the Portuguese Water Dog fit your lifestyle?
Choose a few details for a general, non-guaranteed view.
About the Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is a rectangular, muscular, medium-sized dog with a thick coat that comes in two types: longer and wavy, or shorter with tighter curls. It is a friendly, loving and intelligent breed that bonds closely with its family and wants to be part of everything. Water is a magnet for it.
Key characteristics
General breed tendencies, not a prediction for an individual dog.
- Size
Medium
A mid-sized dog.
- Exercise
Moderate
Typically around an hour of exercise a day.
- Energy level
Very lively
Very lively and usually keen to be busy.
- Grooming
Daily
The coat usually needs brushing every day.
- Shedding
Low
Tends to shed little, though every dog sheds some hair.
- Trainability
High
Usually eager to learn and quick to pick things up.
- Good with children
Older children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
- Good with other dogs
Usually sociable
Usually sociable with other dogs.
- Good with cats
Often fine
Often lives with cats when introduced carefully.
- Suits first-time owners
Some experience helps
Some dog experience helps.
- Barking / vocality
Can be vocal
Often quick to bark at visitors or unusual sounds.
- Time alone
Prefers company
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
The breed's foundation was probably the water dogs of the Mediterranean, and the Moors of North Africa, trading with Portugal, may have brought dogs of this type to the Algarve. There the Portuguese Water Dog worked alongside fishermen on the southern coast. It drove shoals of fish into nets, retrieved lost nets and escaped fish, and carried messages between boats. In thick fog its bark is said to have acted as a foghorn, warning other boats where it was.
Modern fishing technology left the breed without a job, and numbers fell drastically in the 1950s and 1960s. As one of Portugal's national breeds it was revived as a family companion, a role it fills happily. The traditional lion trim, with a mane over the forequarters and clipped hindquarters, is said to have helped it move through water.
Portuguese Water Dog temperament
Portuguese Water Dogs are typically friendly, happy dogs that bond closely with their families. Perhaps because they were bred to sit quietly in boats before leaping into action, they are extremely active yet surprisingly self-controlled.
Without enough training, exercise and stimulation, though, they can become bored and unruly. They tend to be chatty and vocal, barking to alert you to visitors or anything unusual. They are not good at being left alone and can only be left occasionally, once trained to cope, so they suit people with plenty of time to spend with them.
Size and appearance
Portuguese Water Dogs are medium-sized dogs. Adults typically stand 43–57 cm at the shoulder and weigh around 16–25 kg.
The coat has no undercoat. Breed standard colours are black, black and white, brown, brown and white, and white.
How much exercise does a Portuguese Water Dog need?
The Royal Kennel Club and PDSA suggest around an hour of exercise a day, but this is a high-energy working breed, and Purina recommends at least an hour and a half, preferably more. Include free running, exploring and sniffing time.
They also need plenty of interaction through games, interactive toys and training to keep their busy minds occupied. Most love to swim, so safe swimming spots or a hydrotherapy pool are a real treat. They suit a more rural home or one with daily access to open spaces.
Training a Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dogs are smart, quick learners and usually very obedient. They do have an independent streak and a low boredom threshold, so keeping training enjoyable is the key to success, especially near water.
- Use reward-based methods and find out what motivates your dog.
- Keep sessions fun and varied to avoid boredom.
- Start training and socialisation young, so your puppy grows into a confident, sociable adult.
- Introduce other animals early if you want them to live together happily.
Portuguese Water Dog grooming
The coat needs daily grooming, plus clipping and shaping by a professional groomer periodically throughout the year. Many pet dogs are kept in an all-over puppy-style trim, while show dogs are clipped on the muzzle, hindquarters and part of the tail. Because there is no undercoat, the breed sheds very little.
Long coats pick up a lot of water, mud and debris, so build grooming time into every walk, particularly in winter. Your breeder can advise you on the coat, or you can use a professional groomer.
Living with a Portuguese Water Dog
With their friendly, gentle nature, Portuguese Water Dogs can make excellent family pets for active households. They are best suited to families with older children who can join in with training and exercise. Whatever the breed, dogs and young children should never be left alone together, and an adult should supervise every interaction.
Children
Usually better with older, calmer children.
Other dogs
Usually sociable with other dogs.
Cats and small pets
Often lives with cats when introduced carefully.
Flats and smaller homes
Usually needs a roomy home.
Being left alone
Usually copes only with short periods alone.
First-time owners
Some dog experience helps.
Portuguese Water Dog health
Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.
Purina describes the Portuguese Water Dog as a generally healthy breed, but some inherited conditions are recognised. The Royal Kennel Club also stresses the importance of genetic diversity when choosing which dogs to breed from.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
A gradual deterioration of the retina that can start with night blindness and progress to total blindness. The Royal Kennel Club strongly recommends a DNA test for prcd-PRA before breeding, and lists a DNA test for an early-onset form (EOPRA) as best practice.
Hip and elbow dysplasia
The joints develop poorly, which eventually leads to arthritis. Hip and elbow testing under the BVA/KC schemes is part of the Royal Kennel Club's best-practice testing.
Gangliosidosis (GM1)
A disease that can damage the brain and spinal cord. A DNA test is available and is recommended as best practice.
Juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy
A condition that develops in young dogs, in which the heart muscle becomes progressively weaker and cannot beat properly.
What health checks should you ask about?
Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Portuguese Water Dog home, it is reasonable to ask about:
- Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
- Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
- Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
- Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.
How much does a Portuguese Water Dog cost to own?
There are two costs: bringing a Portuguese Water Dog home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.
Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 10 years, not just the first year.
Buying a Portuguese Water Dog
If you have decided the Portuguese Water Dog suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.
- Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
- Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
- Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
- Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.
Adopting a Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dogs do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.
Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.
Portuguese Water Dogs looking for homes
Live from Mypetzilla, updated as pets are listed.
There are no Portuguese Water Dog adverts at the moment.
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Portuguese Water Dog FAQs
Is the Portuguese Water Dog good with children?
Usually better with older, calmer children. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Can the Portuguese Water Dog live in a flat?
Usually needs a roomy home. Exercise and company matter more than floor space.
How much exercise does the Portuguese Water Dog need?
Moderate: typically around an hour a day. Puppies and older dogs need less structured exercise.
Does the Portuguese Water Dog shed?
Tends to shed little.
How much grooming does the Portuguese Water Dog need?
Typically: daily.
Is the Portuguese Water Dog easy to train?
Usually eager to learn. Kind, reward-based training works best.
Can the Portuguese Water Dog be left alone?
Usually copes only with short periods alone. Build up time alone gradually.
Does the Portuguese Water Dog bark a lot?
Can be vocal. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
Is the Portuguese Water Dog good with cats?
Often lives with cats when introduced carefully. Individual dogs vary with breeding, upbringing and health, so ask about the dog you are considering.
How long does the Portuguese Water Dog live?
Typically from 10 years. Lifespan varies with genetics, weight, care and luck.
How big does the Portuguese Water Dog get?
Adults typically stand 43–57 cm at the shoulder and weigh 16–25 kg.