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Portuguese Water Dog (Porties): Dog Breed Characteristics & Care

History, Care Tips, and Helpful Information for Pet Owners

Standing side profile of a Portuguese Water Dog

LynMc42k / Getty Images

The Portuguese water dog is a hypoallergenic breed from Portugal with floppy ears and curly fur. These smart, energetic dogs are perfect for active owners who may suffer from allergies.

Portuguese water dogs are workers who pick up training and obedience skills quickly, which makes them great family pets—loving, friendly companions. Just make sure you can keep up with their exercise needs, consistent grooming requirements, and training. A bored Portuguese water dog can pick up destructive habits.

Learn more about the Portuguese water dog:

Breed Overview

GROUP: Working

WEIGHT: 42 to 60 pounds (males); 35 to 50 pounds (females)

HEIGHT: 20 to 23 inches (males); 17 to 21 inches (females)

COAT: Wavy or tightly curled

COAT COLOR: Black, black and white, brown; Sometimes white- or silver-tipped

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 13 years

TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, obedient, companionable, brave, friendly

HYPOALLERGENIC: Yes

ORIGIN: Portugal

Characteristics of the Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese water dogs have a friendly, excitable personality and enjoy being close to their owners. They also get along very well with kids and other pets, and they're always eager to play. Porties do have an independent streak, but with proper amounts of exercise and training, they can be well-behaved dogs who strive to please.

Affection Level High
Friendliness High
Kid-Friendly High
Pet-Friendly High
Exercise Needs High
Playfulness High
Energy Level High
Trainability Medium-High
Intelligence High
Tendency to Bark Medium
Amount of Shedding Low

History of the Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese water dog is an ancient breed; the first written description of these dogs appeared in an account written by a monk in 1297. Porties are close relatives of another ancient breed, the poodle. Modern Portuguese water dogs and poodles likely developed from the same genetic pool, with distinct historical paths separating the breeds in terms of personality, appearance, and temperament.

Portuguese water dogs became close companions of humans early on thanks to their predisposition—hearty fur, webbed feet, and muscular hindquarters—for swimming in the sea. They worked closely alongside Portuguese fishermen, swimming between boats to retrieve lost tackle and herd fish into nets. The “founding sire” of modern Portuguese water dogs was a dog named Leão owned by Vasco Bensaude, a wealthy Portuguese businessman in the 1930s. Leão is known as the breed's "founding sire," the dog who the modern breed standard is based.

Porties were popularized in the U.S. in the early 1970s with the creation of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. While they’re still known for loving water, the dogs are revered today mostly for their show-worthy qualities and friendliness as pets. Just ask President Barack Obama and his family, who had two Portuguese Water Dogs—Bo and Sunny—during their time in the White House.

Obama On The South Lawn
The White House / Getty Images

Portuguese Water Dog Care

The Portuguese water dog is a high-maintenance dog. They need considerable amounts of exercise and grooming, but thanks to their intelligence, they are usually trainable and eager to please.

Exercise

Porties are high-energy working dogs who require regular exercise to stave off boredom. That means at least two 20-minute sessions of running playtime daily. Bred to work with fishermen, your Portuguese water dog will love to swim, too. Just remember: They want to be with you, so you also need to be ready for an active lifestyle.

Portuguese water dogs also thrive in training-based activities like agility, nose work, dock diving, therapy work, and obedience. Spurts of exercise each day, coupled with indoor playtime and brain-boosting activities, will keep Portuguese water dogs at their best both mentally and physically.

Grooming

While the Portuguese Water Dog is a low-shedding breed, it still needs regular—and often extensive—grooming.

Porties should be brushed daily and have their hair trimmed once a month to keep their fur from becoming tangled or matted. For Portuguese water dogs who spend a lot of time swimming, extra care should be taken to ensure their skin, coat, and ears are properly cleaned to prevent infection or inflammation from salt or chemicals in pools.

Like all breeds, it's also important to trim your dog's nails and brush their teeth regularly to prevent dental disease.

Training

In terms of training, most Portuguese Water Dogs love to learn and adapt quickly to new skills through the use of positive reinforcement. Basic obedience lessons can begin as early as 8 weeks of age—waiting too long could lead to your Portie picking up bad habits. Training Porties is a great way to build their bond with their humans, and it can help mitigate behavioral problems caused by boredom (like becoming destructive around the house). Because they’re such fast learners, Portuguese water dogs make exceptional therapy dogs and often excel at competitive canine sports.

Those who are interested in their Portie beginning therapy dog training should take note of their individual dog’s unique personality traits. Work closely with a reputable therapy dog training organization to ensure the dog is suitable and effectively trained for the role.

Portuguese Water puppy
Portuguese water puppy  suefeldberg / Getty Images
Portuguese Water Dog swimming
Julia Christe / Getty Images

Common Health Problems

Like most purebred dogs, Portuguese water dogs are susceptible to certain genetic health problems. Responsible breeders can test their dogs for many of these issues and avoid breeding dogs that may pass genetic problems on to puppies. Common conditions associated with Porties include:

  • Hip Dysplasia: Most common in large-breed dogs, hip dysplasia is caused by a malformation of your dog's hip joints as it ages.
  • Addison's Disease: This occurs when a dog's adrenal glands don't function properly, when can make dogs ill. Medication can treat this affliction, however.
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This degenerative eye disease eventually leads to blindness.
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM): Juvenile DCM is a genetic condition affecting the heart that can cause death in puppies aged five weeks to seven months.
  • Storage Disease: This genetic disease causes toxic and fatal buildups of enzymes in a puppy’s nerve cells.
Portuguese Water Dogs as Pets

The Spruce / Kelly Miller

Diet and Nutrition

Portuguese water dogs do best on a high-protein, high-quality diet optimized to suit their individual needs. Because of their elevated activity levels, many Porties may need a higher caloric intake than other dogs, though exact caloric needs should be determined based on discussions between owners and their veterinarians.

Feed this breed twice a day instead of leaving food out for grazing, which will help establish a routine and discourage overeating. If your dog becomes overweight, they can be more likely to develop medical problems like hip dysplasia. Talk with your vet to create a healthy meal plan based on your dog's age, weight, and activity level.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Portuguese Water Dog

To find a Portuguese water dog, check your local shelters and rescue groups. Similar breeds can also make a great addition to your family, and many are in shelters waiting for their forever homes.

If you're planning to buy a puppy, ensure your breeder provides any relevant medical tests for the litter's parents and allows you to see the conditions in which their dogs are kept. These dogs can cost anywhere from $2,00 to $3,000 from a breeder, though prices may vary depending on pedigree and availability.

To start your search, check out these resources for the national breed club, rescues, and the American Kennel Club:

Portuguese Water Dog Pros and Cons

If you still need to decide if a Portuguese water dog is right for your family, here's a pros and cons list to help:

Pros:

  • Limited shedding
  • Gets along well with other animals
  • Smart, trainable
  • Loves their people

Cons:

  • Needs frequent grooming
  • Requires lots of exercise compared to other breeds
  • Can be destructive or misbehave without proper training

More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds, check out:

There’s a whole world of potential dog breeds out there. With a little research, you can find the right one to join your family!

FAQ
  • Are Portuguese water dogs hypoallergenic?

    The Portuguese water dog is hypoallergenic, though no dog is truly allergen-free. However, Porties don't shed much and produce less allergens than other breeds, making them attractive options for allergy sufferers.

  • Do Portuguese water dogs bark a lot?

    This is typically a quiet breed that is not known for excessive barking, though your dog may still bark to alert you of strangers or unusual circumstances. If you're having trouble with a loud Portie, there are plenty of ways to discourage barking through training.

  • Can Portuguese water dogs be left alone?

    The Portuguese water dog is not a smart choice for owners who are away from the house often, as they are prone to develop separation anxiety when lonely or bored. These dogs bond quickly with their family, and they do best with owners that are eager to bring their pup along for activities.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. History of the Breed; Portuguese Water Dog Club of America

  2. Puppy Resource Kit; Portuguese Water Dog Club of America

  3. PWD Health Conditions; Portuguese Water Dog Club of America