Portuguese Water Dog Breed Magazine - Showsight

SELECTING THE CORRECT PORTUGUESE WATER DOG A JUDGE’S CHALLENGE!

BY MARYANNE B. MURRAY CHAIRMAN, BREED STANDARD COMMITTEE Portuguese Water Dog Club of America

K udos on being selected to evaluate one of the official National Treasures of Por- tugal. Allow me to present for your consideration certain aspects of this breed which make it distinctive, celebrated and genuinely worthy of respect and admiration. As you enter the ring for your Por- tuguese Water Dog judging assign- ment, there are three rather meaning- ful words which must serve as your mantra when deciding the ideal in this breed. Those words are—STRENGTH, SPIRIT and SOUNDNESS. These three embedded characteristics are key to the essence and the raison d’etre of this working water wonder and underlie the totality of a correct Portuguese Water Dog. Imagine yourself drowning in the rough, open ocean and ask yourself— which of these dogs before me exhib- its the innate power, the true grit and the core vigor to swim out and save my life? Is it the dog with minimal muscling and a timid temperament or is it the one with the long neck, the short hocks and the cute, mincing steps? Your decision is important—and you’re right —nei- ther of these dogs fits the description of a spirited, strong and brave lifesav- er! A correct Portuguese Water Dog will provide an indelible impression of STRENGTH, SPIRIT and SOUNDNESS. Find that dog in your line-up and you will have done a commendable job of assessing this remarkable breed. STRENGTH The word “strong” is used in the Por- tuguese Water Dog Breed Standard ten times and the word “muscled” is used seven times. Other descriptive adjec- tives include powerful, rugged, robust, substantial, solid, well-developed and well-knit. This is a strong dog. This was

Able to do a full day’s work in and out of the water.

“AS YOU ENTER THE RING FOR YOUR PORTUGUESE WATER DOG JUDGING ASSIGNMENT, THERE ARE THREE RATHER MEANINGFUL WORDS WHICH MUST SERVE AS YOUR MANTRA WHEN DECIDING THE IDEAL IN THIS BREED. THOSE WORDS ARE— STRENGTH, SPIRIT AND SOUNDNESS.”

308 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M AY 2018

Powered by