How to Identify a Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dogs are members of the working group and were originally bred for fishing-related tasks, including herding fish into nets, being a messenger between the ship and the shore, and retrieving any tackle that was lost. [1] They do share a few characteristics with other dog breeds, but they have several distinguishing ones as well. This wikiHow will help you with figuring out whether or not a dog is a Portuguese Water Dog.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Looking at the Body Structure

  1. Male Portuguese Water Dogs are generally somewhere between 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) tall, and they usually weigh between 42–60 pounds (19–27 kg). Females are typically a little smaller, being anywhere from 17–21 inches (43–53 cm) tall and usually weighing between 35–50 pounds (16–23 kg). [2]
  2. Portuguese Water Dogs should have a noticeably large, well-proportioned head overall. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Portuguese Water Dogs have ears with thin leather in the shape of a heart, and they should be set well above their eye line. Other than a small opening located at the back of their ears, they should be held nicely against their head. [4]
  4. Portuguese Water Dogs have medium-sized eyes that are set well and a little obliquely apart. The eyes should not be prominent or sunken, and they should appear roundish in shape. The eyes are either black or various brown shades in color. [5]
  5. Portuguese Water Dogs should have a tail that does not reach their hock and is set on slightly below the line of their back. The tail should be held in a ring when the dog is attentive, and the front shouldn't reach the forward of the dog's loin. [6]
  6. Overall, Portuguese Water Dogs should convey soundness, strength, and spirit, with a gait that consists of lively yet short steps when the dog is walking and well-balanced, forward-striding movement when the dog is trotting. [7]
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Analyzing the Coat

  1. There are three main colors a Portuguese Water Dog may be, including black, white, or various brown tones. You may also notice combinations of black or brown with white. [8]
  2. A Portuguese Water Dog may have a curly or wavy coat. [9]
    • If the dog's coat is curly, you should notice compact curls that take the form of cylinders. The coat should appear somewhat dull, and sometimes, you may notice wavy hair on the dog's ears. [10]
    • If the dog's coat is wavy, you should notice a little sheen, and the hair should fall gently in waves as opposed to curls. [11]
  3. Portuguese Water Dogs usually have their hair clipped in one of two different styles. [12] They include:
    • The lion clip: the middle part, muzzle, and hindquarters are clipped once the coat grows long. However, the hair that is found at the end of the dog's tail should be left at its full length. [13]
    • The retriever clip: the dog's entire coat is scissored or clipped to follow their outline. A short blanket of coat is left over that shouldn't be longer than 1 inch (2.5 cm). Once again, the hair located at the end of the dog's tail should be left at its full length. [14]
  4. Regardless of what coat style or clip the dog has, Portuguese Water Dogs should have a thickly planted, profuse coat with hair that appears healthy, strong, and evenly covers the dog's entire body (except in the groin and area where the dog's forearm meets their brisket; it is thinner there). [15]
    Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Taking Note of Temperament

  1. As this dog's name suggests, Portuguese Water Dogs love the water. [16]
  2. Portuguese Water Dogs prefer spending time with their family as opposed to guarding the property. [17]
  3. This characteristic means that although Portuguese Water Dogs generally aren't good guard dogs, they may be a good watchdog. [18]
  4. Portuguese Water Dogs are active, and they enjoy things like hikes, walks, and time to run in the yard. [19]
  5. Portuguese Water Dogs are smart, and they will benefit from training. They also often do well in obedience, agility, or other dog sports competitions. [20]
  6. Portuguese Water Dogs like chewing on things and will need a lot of chew toys to prevent them from chewing on other items, such as your shoes. [21]
  7. Portuguese Water Dogs are known to love being around people and typically do not do well if they're kept outside and away from their people often. [22]
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you're wondering what breed your dog is, consider dog DNA testing. This can help confirm whether or not your dog is a Portuguese Water Dog.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Dress Modestly for a Mormon Church (for Females)
      How to
      Improve Your Alexa Ranking
      How to
      Become Taller Naturally
      How to
      Do Hairstyles for Curly Hair
      How to
      Kill Fruit Flies
      How to
      Cook Corn in the Microwave
      How to
      Build Good Credit
      How to
      Fold Sheets
      How to
      Iron
      How to
      Slim Your Face
      How to
      Make Coleslaw
      How to
      Get a U.S. Passport
      How to
      Organize a Small Closet
      How to
      Use Bing Maps
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog/
      2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog/
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      4. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/PortugueseWaterDog.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/portuguese-water-dog/
      8. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/portuguese-water-dog/
      9. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/portuguese-water-dog/
      10. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/portuguese-water-dog/
      11. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog#/slide/1
      12. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog#/slide/1
      13. ↑ https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/portuguese-water-dog#/slide/1

      About this article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 995 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement