Portuguese Water Dog
A bright, biddable, and athletic companion that is eager to work and play, particularly in water. The Portuguese Water Dog is a low-shedding, medium-sized dog that feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach.
Males 20-23 inches tall, 42-60 pounds; females 17-21 inches tall, 35-50 pounds
11-13 years
At least one hour of exercise daily; requires a great deal of attention throughout the day
Barks frequently at anything she considers out of place, including other dogs or people
Feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach
Thick, profuse, tight and curly (or softer and somewhat wavy), low-shedding, no undercoat; all shades of black or brown with or without white markings
High energy; desires to stay active or moving about constantly; built for water work
Working Group
Temperament
The Portuguese Water Dog is a bright, biddable companion bred as an all-around fisherman's helper. Eager and athletic, these dogs are built for water work and thrive on activity. They are intelligent and playful, taking good care of children in the family and feeling at home whether in a city, the country, or at the beach.
This breed is highly territorial and protective of what she considers hers, including her family. She barks at people or dogs she deems out of place, and she is assertive rather than retiring. She is not aggressive, but she is strong and at times forceful, and she is used to deciding for herself when something is not right.
A working household should plan for at least an hour of daily exercise and a significant amount of attention. Socializing a puppy to other people, dogs, and varied environments early on supports her ability to accept training with ease and comfort. The coat is thick, curly, and low-shedding.
“The bright and biddable Portuguese Water Dog was bred to be an all-around fisherman's helper.”
AKC
Daily needs and attention
The Portuguese Water Dog is an athletic, high-energy breed that thrives on consistent daily activity. At least one hour of exercise per day is recommended, ideally before any training session, to match the dog's natural desire to stay active and moving. The breed is eager and built for water work, so regular access to water suits its role as a fisherman's helper.
Beyond physical exercise, this dog requires a great deal of attention. It is assertive and intelligent, accustomed to making its own judgments, so a household that can offer regular engagement—training, play, or structured tasks—will meet the dog where it naturally wants to be. Socializing the puppy to other people, other dogs, and a variety of places outside the home supports its comfort and willingness to accept obedience training.
The coat is thick, low-shedding, and curly, with a soft, wavy texture. The dog is territorial and will bark at what it considers out of place, so a working household should be prepared for a vocal, watchful companion.
“It is part of her nature to require a great deal of attention, and that's exactly what she gets during training.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
The Portuguese Water Dog has a life expectancy of 11 to 13 years. The breed is robust and athletic, built for water work, reflecting its history as an all-around fisherman's helper. The coat is thick and profuse, with no undercoat, mane, or ruff. It appears in two varieties: tight and curly, or softer and somewhat wavy with a slight gloss. The coat is described as low-shedding. Color ranges include all shades of black or brown, with or without white markings. The breed carries a high energy and a desire to stay active or moving about constantly. Daily exercise of at least an hour supports the dog's physical well-being and channels its natural drive to be in motion. The low-shedding coat and absence of an undercoat are practical features for a working household. Within the expected 11-to-13-year span, a Portuguese Water Dog that receives consistent activity and attention can serve as a steady, athletic companion through its adult years.
“The robust, medium-sized body is covered by a coat of tight, low-shedding curls.”
American Kennel Club
Habits and behavior
The Portuguese Water Dog is a bright, biddable companion bred as an all-around fisherman's helper. She is eager and athletic, built for water work, and carries a high energy level that calls for at least an hour of exercise daily. She is playful and wants to stay active or moving about constantly.
This breed is highly territorial and protective of what she considers hers, including her family. She barks at whatever she considers out of place, including other dogs or people. She is assertive and demands a great deal of attention. Although owners may perceive her as calm, she is strong and at times forceful. She is intelligent and used to deciding for herself if something is not right.
The positive side of this temperament is that she is a wonderful companion, takes good care of the children in her family, and feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach. She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.
“She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium to large dog. Males stand 20 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weigh 42 to 60 pounds; females stand 17 to 21 inches and weigh 35 to 50 pounds. The coat is thick, with tight curls or a slightly wavy texture, and sheds little. The breed feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach, so apartment living is workable provided the dog gets at least an hour of exercise daily. Her high energy and constant desire to stay active make a yard with room to move a genuine advantage, and access to water suits her natural build for water work. A crate should accommodate her full standing height and length, given her 42-to-60-pound frame. She is assertive and demands a great deal of attention, so a household where someone is regularly present to engage her matters. She is not retiring, and she will bark at what she considers out of place.
“She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
The Portuguese Water Dog is a bright, biddable companion built for water work, and she takes good care of the children in her family. Her challenges for a working household are practical rather than behavioral. She is highly territorial and barks at whatever she considers out of place, including other dogs and people. She is assertive, strong, and at times forceful, and she demands a great deal of attention. Her high energy and constant desire to stay active mean she needs at least an hour of exercise daily, ideally before any training session. She is not aggressive, but she is not retiring either. For a household where both partners work, the daily hour of vigorous activity plus sustained engagement is the central commitment to plan around. Socializing a puppy to other people, other dogs, and a variety of places outside the home helps her accept obedience training with ease and comfort.
“Although owners believe her to be a calm animal, she is strong and at times forceful.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
A Portuguese Water Dog brings a particular energy to a household. Bred as an all-around fisherman's helper, this breed is eager and athletic, built for water work. If your family has a lake, a pool, or a sprinkler in the yard, you will find a dog that genuinely wants to be in the water with you. The coat is a tight, low-shedding curl, so post-swim cleanup is manageable.
These dogs are bright and biddable, which makes training feel like play. They are playful and take good care of children in the family. A Portuguese Water Dog feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach, so a working household with a yard and nearby water is a natural fit.
The breed needs at least an hour of exercise a day. For a family that already walks, bikes, or swims on weekends, that requirement slots in without strain. The dog gets its attention, the household gets a companion that is not retiring and not aggressive, and everyone ends the day tired in a good way.
“They are eager and athletic companions built for water work.”
AKC
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
The Portuguese Water Dog is a wonderful companion that takes good care of the children in her family. She is playful, bright, and biddable, and she feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach. She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.
Like other Working Group breeds, she is highly territorial. She protects what she considers hers, and that includes her family. As a result, she barks at whatever she considers out of place or out of line, including other dogs or other people. She is quite assertive and demands a lot of attention.
Socializing a puppy of this breed to other people, other dogs, and a variety of places outside her home has many obvious benefits. Because of her high energy and desire to stay active, it is best to exercise her for at least an hour a day.
For a working household, she needs daily physical activity and a family that can give her the attention she requires.
“She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue about the dog's daily exercise routine and whether it meets the breed's need for at least an hour of activity each day. Inquire about the coat variety—tight and curly or softer and wavy—so you can plan for grooming. Ask how the dog responds to other people and dogs, since this breed is highly territorial and may bark at what it considers out of place. Find out whether the dog has been socialized to a variety of places outside the home, as this supports its ability to accept training with ease. Ask about the dog's attention needs; this breed is assertive and requires a great deal of interaction. Confirm whether the dog feels at home in the city, the country, or at the beach. Finally, ask about the dog's comfort with water, as these dogs were built for water work and may seek it out.
“She is not aggressive but she is not retiring either.”
VCA Animal Hospitals