Working · Medium (35-60 lbs) · 11-13 years
Portuguese Water Dog
Affectionate, adventurous, athletic; biddable water-lover.
35–60 lb
At a glance
Kid-friendly
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
First-time owners
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Energy
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Shedding
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Good with cats
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Alone time
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Apartment OK
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Trainability
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What this is
What they’re great at
✓ Quick study - learns in a handful of reps
✓ Adapts beautifully to smaller spaces
✓ A steady, capable partner
Why it matters
Honest challenges
Alone time is genuinely hard
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Bred to work or live beside a human all day - solitude was never in the job description.
What helps: ['Train it like a skill: the Alone-Time guide builds tolerance in micro-doses from day one', 'The frozen-KONG-only-when-you-leave ritual turns departures into jackpots', "Cover long days honestly: a midday walker, daycare 2-3x a week, and a camera to know (not guess) how they're doing"]
Needs a real outlet, rain or shine
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.
What helps: ['Build the outlet into the routine: Water Trials (PWDCA)', 'Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School', 'A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes']
Moderate-high drive doesn't take days off.
What helps: ['Build the outlet into the routine: Water Trials (PWDCA)', 'Brain work counts double on bad-weather days - see Training School', 'A flirt pole in the yard delivers a workout in ten minutes']
What you can do
Exercise & training
Exercise: High - 1-2 hrs/day incl. swimming
Training profile — Versatile working type: Working breeds without work self-employ - as tax auditors of your belongings. Twenty minutes of training tires them more than an hour of fetch.
Sports and outlets that suit them: Water Trials (PWDCA) · Dock diving
What you can do
Grooming & coat
Grooming: High - regular clipping every 6-8 weeks plus frequent brushing.
Shedding: Minimal - low-shedding curly/wavy coat (often tolerated by allergy sufferers).
Good to know
Health to know about
Hip dysplasia, PRA, juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy, GM1 storage disease, Addison's
Breed-typical tendencies, not a diagnosis. Individual dogs vary enormously — your veterinarian screens for what matters for your dog.
Why it matters
Emergency red flags
Poisoning (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, rodenticide)
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Vomiting, drooling, tremors, collapse, or known ingestion
→ Call ASPCA Poison Control 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline 855-764-7661 immediately; do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed
Know your ER
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
→ Save your nearest 24-hour emergency vet's address and phone in your phone TODAY, not during a crisis
Cardiac event (documented heart-disease breed)
Fainting/collapse during activity, night coughing, resting breathing rate over 30-35 breaths/min while asleep, blue-tinged gums
→ Sleeping respiratory rate over 30 warrants a call today; collapse or labored breathing means ER immediately
Fainting/collapse during activity, night coughing, resting breathing rate over 30-35 breaths/min while asleep, blue-tinged gums
→ Sleeping respiratory rate over 30 warrants a call today; collapse or labored breathing means ER immediately
Addisonian crisis
Sudden collapse, vomiting/diarrhea, weakness, shaking - often after stress
→ ER now; tell them Addison's disease occurs in this breed and ask for electrolytes
Sudden collapse, vomiting/diarrhea, weakness, shaking - often after stress
→ ER now; tell them Addison's disease occurs in this breed and ask for electrolytes
This page never carries product links in the emergency section. ASPCA Poison Control (888) 426-4435 · Pet Poison Helpline (855) 764-7661.
Good to know
The numbers
Typical ranges for planning, not promises — costs vary by region, breeder and individual dog.
| Group | Working |
| Size | Medium (35-60 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 11-13 years |
| Healthy adult weight | 35–60 lb |
| Original purpose | Herding fish, retrieving gear, boat-to-shore courier. |
| Monthly care | $120-$200 (incl. grooming) |
| Typical puppy price | $2,000-$3,500 |
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