Taylor Karen - Portuguese Water Dog

Physical Characteristics of the
Portuguese Water Dog

(from the American Kennel Club
breed standard)

Head: Distinctively large, well proportioned and with exceptional breadth of topskull.

Stop: Well defined.

Eyes: Medium in size; set well apart.

Ears: Set well above the line of the eye. Leather is heart shaped and thin.

Neck: Straight, short, round and held high.

Muzzle: Substantial; wider at the base than at the nose.

Nose: Broad, well flared nostrils. Fully pigmented.

Jaws: Strong and neither over nor undershot.

Chest: Broad and deep, reaching down to the elbow.

Ribs: Long and well-sprung to provide optimum lung capacity.

Forequarters: Shoulders are well inclined and very strongly muscled. Upper arms are strong. Forelegs are strong and straight. Pasterns are long and strong.

Feet: Are round and rather flat. Webbing between the toes.

Height: At the withersMales, 20 to 23 inches. Females, 17 to 21 inches.

Weight: For males, 42 to 60 pounds; for females, 35 to 50 pounds.

Topline: Level and firm.

Back: Broad and well muscled.

Loin: Short and meets the croup smoothly.

Croup: Well formed and only slightly inclined.

Abdomen: Well held up in a graceful line.

Tail: Not docked; thick at the base and tapering.

Coat: There are two varieties of coat: CurlyCompact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless. The hair on the ears is sometimes wavy. WavyFalling gently in waves, not curls, and with a slight sheen.

Hindquarters: Powerful; well balanced with the front assembly. Legsstraight and very strongly muscled in upper and lower thighs. Buttocks are well developed. Tendons and hocks are strong.

Color: Black, white, and various tones of brown; also combinations of black or brown with white.

Contents

Able to be traced back as far as the eighth century in Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog is still a rare breed in parts of the world. Learn about the Co de Agua, as it is known in its homeland, and the intelligence, skill and athleticism that made him prized as a working water retriever, and follow the breeds introduction to the world beyond Portugal.

Bright, quick and clown-like in personality, the Portuguese Water Dog can be a challenging, yet rewarding, dog to own. Learn all about the breeds unique sense of humor and physical characteristics to determine if you are up to the challenge! Also explore breed-specific health considerations.

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Portuguese Water Dog by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Portuguese Water Dog puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Portuguese Water Dog every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of identification and safe travel with your dog.

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Portuguese Water Dog , including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash, and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dogs healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Know when to consider your Portuguese Water Dog a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dogs golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Heres how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and whats required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into other areas of the dog sport, including obedience trials, agility, tracking and water trials.

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Portuguese Water Dog tick. Among the potential problems discussed are separation anxiety, aggression, chewing, jumping up and food-related behavioral issues.

K ENNEL C LUB B OOKS P ORTUGUESE W ATER D OG

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-286-3

eISBN 13: 978-1-59378-971-8

Copyright 2005 Kennel Club Books An Imprint of I-5 Press A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnson and Karen Taylor with additional photographs by

Mary Bloom, Paulette Braun, T.J. Calhoun, Alan and Sandy Carey, Isabelle Franais, Bill Jonas, Jean Claude Revy and Alice van Kempen.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners of the dogs featured in this book, including Jayne Johns and Valerie Marthaler.

A Portuguese Water Dog enjoys a romp in the surf. Whether working or playing, the breed has a natural love of water; it is one of the best water retrieving breeds in dogdom.

When one thinks of a sporty, agile retriever, rarely does the Portuguese Water Dog come to mind. Yet this delightful Portuguese breed has many outstanding retriever qualities and is an excellent water dog. The breeds low profile is a result of its being overshadowed by some of the more recognized hunting dogs, such as the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever. However, the breeds low public profile has probably done it some good over the years. Since it is a relatively rare breed in many countries, it has continued to remain healthy and sound through responsible breeding programs and loyal devotees. Many of the popular breeds suffer from debilitating genetic conditions due to over-breeding practices, a fate that has not darkened the Portuguese Water Dogs portals.