What have people's impressions been of Portuguese Water Dogs?

5 Comments

1. lde10475 says:

   March 9, 2010 at 9:37 am

   I have 2 and am getting a third next year. Obviously I love them and have found a breeder that I feel very good about.Here’s what I think you should know. They are great with children and other animals-although their energy level can be overwhelming so you need to introduce them to cats with care and insist that they not jump on people. They don’t shed, but they do need hair cuts. This is an expensive proposition, so be prepared. They need mental and physical stimulation. They love to learn. They learn quickly and they don’t forget. But they do get bored, so you need to switch up their training to keep them challenged. The want to be with you so don’t plan on leaving them outside when you are home and don’t be surprised if they follow you everywhere including the bathroom. If you don’t like that, they may not be the dog for you. They need limits. They respect limits. Set limits and hold them. They are very sensitive. Be firm but gentle in your training. They are good watch dogs and can be barky. They are the best dog ever if you put in the time, but raising a well adjusted, well mannered dog is not much different from raising a well adjusted, well mannered child. You get back what you put in.
2. amandawhanda22 says:

   March 9, 2010 at 9:37 am

   i dont really like them; too big
   but im more of a small dog person anyway
   they remind me of poodles and poodles are awesome =]
3. ragapple says:

   March 9, 2010 at 9:37 am

   bouncy, active, very slightly clownish, can get job obsessed
4. anne b says:

   March 9, 2010 at 9:37 am

   Portuguese Water Dogs are a working breed. They need a job, and they need obedience training. Most of the highly motivated working breeds do not make good family pets, because the average family has no intention of giving the dog what it needs to not go crazy, which is work and lots of exercise.

   I am hoping that this breed does not become popular because of Obama. He would have sent a better message if he had adopted a shelter dog.
5. Chip B says:

   March 10, 2010 at 1:24 am

   I have a two year old female PWD. She is a great pet and as others have said, she loves to be with me or my wife, has to have a lot of stimulation (both physical and mental). She loves to work at new tricks, and picks them up very quickly. Our pooch recently finished her NA title in AKC dog agility in two trials (with 6 wins, beating a number of pesky border collies).

   Pros:
   Lovable, fun-loving, people oriented, smart as a whip, very very athletic, unusual (more people recognize the breed now that the Prez got one), low shedding.
   Cons:
   Insatiable counter surfer (typical for the breed), can get distructive or ‘pushy’ if bored, stubborn, never ending energy (this is not a couch potato).

   We are looking for a second portie (we’ll probably wait another year). I’ve had a German Shepard mix, several English Springers, and a Golden, all of which I loved and had good traits, but now I’m a Portie fan.

   You can see our wonder pooch at http://www.youtube.com/user/bachnr