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About Portuguese Water Dog puppies: If you are thinking about getting a PWD puppy and you have just started your research I suggest you learn more about the breed by reading everything you can in books and at the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America Website (www.pwdca.org this will open in a new browser window) and by meeting people with PWDs. (There are listings for Regional Clubs at the PWDCA website.)
If you have decided this is the breed for you, your next step is to contact a reputable breeder. Most people involved in the Breed have worked very hard to breed healthy dogs and to keep PWDs out of puppy mills and pet stores. We are concerned that we are beginning to see these wonderful dogs become inventory for unscrupulous breeders.
Please do your homework before purchasing a dog. Make sure that the parents of any litter you are considering have had, and passed, all the health tests recommended by the PWDCA. (You'll find that list and other information on the PWDCA web site). Make sure you are comfortable with the Breeder. A good Breeder will also make sure they are comfortable with you. (After all, they have many years and thousands of dollars invested in their breeding program. In most cases the dog they have bred is a member of the family, so they want to be sure that the puppies they are placing are going to very good homes.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Someone in my family has allergies. We want
a PWD because they are hypo-allergenic.
A: No dog is hypo-allergenic. PWDs have
hair, not fur so they shed less than most breeds. They have less dander,
which, along with the saliva, are the substances most people with allergies
react to. While they don't shed, they do create dust-bunnies. As they
scratch they will loosen hair which can roll around on the floor. The also
have wavy or curly coats which will pick up pollen and dust from the
environment.
While you may not be allergic to the dog themselves, if you have other kinds
of allergies you may find that they carry those allergens into the house on
their coats.
Q: I want a dog for my children. I read they
are great family dogs.
A: Having a PWD is like having a toddler --
for many years. They are smart dogs, who require a lot of attention. They can
be good with children, but generally an adult needs to be the primary
caregiver and be responsible for training. They do need a lot of attention.
They won't do well just out in the yard by themselves. They really do want
to be with people. Left by themselves they will get into trouble and become
destructive.
Q: I just want a pet. Do I have to have a show
dog to get a PWD?
A: No. Some breeders are looking for owners
who do want to have a dog that they are willing to show, but there are MANY
breeders who are looking for people that will give a puppy a good home as a
companion. If you do not want to show your dog, DO NOT sign a show contract. It's
not fair to you, or to the breeder to start a relationship that isn't based
on honesty.
Having an intact dog (a dog that is not spayed or neutered) is a big responsibility, and a dog must be intact to be shown. A bitch (female dog) will start coming into season for between 5 months and a year. They will generally be in season twice a year for a month at a time. During that time they are attractive to male dogs and must be kept inside or on a leash at all times. You have to be careful around other dogs, and you may find that your home becomes a magnet if you have loose or stray dogs in your neighborhood.
Male Dogs can't get pregnant, but they can be run by their hormones. The sweetest, most obedient dog will have a personality change around a bitch in season. Another issue for the owners of intact dogs is that other intact male dogs will react to them. Even if your dog isn't "doing anything" his presence may seem threatening to another intact dog, and cause a reaction.
I strongly recommend that intact dogs not be taken to dog parks or other off leash areas where they may run into other intact male dogs.
Q. If I want a pet does it matter if their
parent's are Champions.
A. Technically no, but if you are getting a
PWD it's because you have decided that you want a dog that has the
characteristics of a PWD. You want a dog that meets the
PWD Standard.
One way to ensure that your PWD will look and act like a PWD is to get a puppy whose parents have been judged to be good examples of the Breed. One of the ways that we do this is by showing dogs in AKC dog shows. Here, licensed Judges choose the dog, and bitch that are closest to meeting the PWD standard on that day. A dog that is a Champion has won enough times, and defeated enough other dogs to have been awarded the title of Champion.
The PWD is a working breed. They worked on the fishing boats in Portugal. While we can't test each of our dogs to see how they would perform there, the PWDCA has developed water trials that are based on the work PWDs did on the boats. The PWDCA awards titles (Apprentice Water Dog, AWD, Working Water Dog, WWD, Courier Water Dog, CWD, and Courier Water Dog Excellent, CWDX) to dogs who have mastered the skills necessary to pass these tests.
PWDs also compete in other performance sports obedience, agility, and tracking. Titles in these these show their athleticism, ability to work with their human teammate, and intelligence. A dog with "titles at both ends." shows they are well rounded and well socialized.
Any PWD (even one that isn't intact) can compete in performance events. It's fun and a challenge for everyone involved