Portuguese Water Dog Breed Magazine - Showsight

WHAT IS A PORTUGUESE WATER DOG, REALLY?

“A DOG OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE AND ITS ENVIRONMENT, AND A STRONG DESIRE TO LEAD, MAKES IT INCESSANTLY DESIRE TO BE AROUND HUMANS WHOM IT CAN BEND TO ITS WISHES.”

He is a clinging companion and an incessant alarm barker. This highly manipu- lative breed is distinguished by two coat types, either curly or wavy, which require extensive grooming (bathing, brushing, combing, detangling, etc) far in excess of the time that would be spent vacuuming up dog hair. If not groomed regularly, small amounts of dirt, twigs, dust, mats, and other yard matter “Velcro” themselves to the unruly coat until being redistributed in the home; a common PWD owner decorating trend referred to as “bringing the outside in.” It has an impressive head of considerable breadth and well-proportioned mass, which it uses for head and body rams; a ruggedly built, well-knit body, which enables it to counter-surf and jump onto tables and over fences; and a powerful, thickly based tail, carried gallantly or used purposefully as a rudder or to clear items off coffee tables and destroy Lego constructions built on the

floor by children. EXPRESSION

Direct, rude, and demanding. The Portuguese Water Dog likes to be at eye level with humans, resulting in an almost un-extinguishable jumping-up greeting behavior. TEMPERAMENT An animal with a mind of its own, brash, with ADHD. A dog of exceptional ability to manipulate people and its environment, and a strong desire to lead, makes it incessantly desire to be around humans whom it can bend to its wishes. If trained by a person with patience, superior intelligence, and unilateral focus, it will obey its master with facility and apparent pleasure until it decides to test or until it devises an alternative worth trying. COAT AND THE ‘HYPOALLERGENIC’ ASPECT The low shedding quality that attracts many to this breed also means that they need grooming. They should have a single coat of hair (most breeds are double-coat- ed) that keeps growing. It needs to be brushed and combed regularly and clippered periodically. How often depends on your preferences and the growth rate for the individual dog. No matter what, a Portuguese Water Dog will require a good bit of grooming time from you. Since they shed very little (but they do shed—all mammals shed at least a little), they are often better suited than other breeds for people with allergies. However, it is suggested that if you have severe allergies, you spend time with adult PWDs before getting one. Many people are allergic to Portuguese Water Dogs. Please be careful. Look up “hypoallergenic” in the dictionary: “Having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction.” It does NOT mean non-allergenic. People can be (and are) aller- gic to all breeds of dogs. Nothing is more upsetting, to the buyer, breeder, and pup, than having to return a pup because of a family member’s allergy! It’s tough for all concerned. Spend time with the breed before bringing one into your home as a family member. Allow the allergic person to bury their nose in the dog’s fur and really give it a chance for a reaction.

312 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2021

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