Portuguese Water Dog

Temperament: Affectionate, Adventurous, Athletic

Group: Working Group

Height: 43.2–58.4 in

Weight: 15.9–27.2 lb

Life Expectancy: 11.0–13.0 yrs

Energy Level: Energetic

Trainability: Easy Training

Shedding: Seasonal

Grooming Frequency: Daily Brushing

The Portuguese Water Dog is super-smart and very biddable—meaning he’s easy to train and eager to please. The breed can be groomed in two styles: The retriever clip (the entire coat is clipped to one inch in length, with the tail tip at full length) or the more check-me-out lion clip, where the coat on the hindquarters and muzzle is clipped down to the skin. The bright and biddable Portuguese Water Dog was bred to be an all-around fisherman’s helper. The robust, medium-sized body is covered by a coat of tight, low-shedding curls. They are eager and athletic companions built for water work.