Portuguese Water Dogs • What's A Portie?

A "Portie" is a Portuguese Water Dog or a PWD. The breed's origin may go back centuries but Porties are best known for their service to the Portuguese fishermen in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The dogs would carry messages from boat-to-boat, retrieve gear gone overboard, and actually herd fish into the nets!
But, as the fishing fleets became more and more mechanized, the need for Porties diminished and the breed nearly disappeared.
They were first imported into the United States in the 1960's and their popularity began to grow. In 1983 Portuguese Water Dogs were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Rocky (left) has a wavy coat; Boomer's is curly.

Porties do not shed, which has significantly increased their popularity among people normally allergic to dogs. It has been our experience that most people with "dog allergies" are not bothered by PWDs, but that does not mean all people. If you're considering a Portuguese Water Dog because they are "non allergenic," please have the affected person in your house spend a little time with a Portie before you make your final dog decision.

Porties are strong, robust and full of spirit. They love activity - whether it's a walk around the block or a romp at the beach, they like to be active. Some form of exercise every day is important. Our guys chased each other around the backyard (the benefit of having two!) then jumped in the pool almost every day. They also loved to have their pals over or go to the "Dog Park" on the weekends.

Porties are also a lot of fun. They can be "goofy" in that they'll do silly things seemingly just to amuse their people.
They are warm, loving, and very affectionate. PWDs prefer to be with their human companions. They will not be happy out in the backyard, or sleeping alone away from the family at night.
They can be jealous and will not hesitate to ask for affection. Our Boomer would use his paw to get our attention, demanding some physical contact - "Pet me!"
At maturity Porties are very good watchdogs. Their variety of barks includes a specific sound for the approach of a stranger. It won't be confused with the "I'm hungry" sound or the "Let's go outside" chirp.

Portuguese Water Dogs are very bright - sometimes a little too smart - and respond extremely well to praise-based training. Since they are also "sensitive," force-oriented learning is not as effective for them.
Our guys were housetrained in no time, using little "treats" and big praise. Sit, stay, heel - all easily mastered with praise and affection - these dogs want to make you happy, so, they respond quickly to your positive input.
They tend to jump up on visitors, which is not appreciated by everyone, but we were able to train Boomer & Rocky not to jump up without much trouble. Wizard is still learning.
Porties are generally good with other dogs and great with kids! Puppy socialization is very important!

Because Porties do not shed, they need to have a haircut every 6-8 weeks. In the before (left) and after (right) shots above, Wizard is wooly, then freshly-trimmed. He is groomed in the working cut or puppy cut, which is simply one length all over. It's a basic haircut that most groomers can master with ease. The shape of the head and legs take some practice.
Regarding health - virtually all Portuguese Water Dogs are purebred which means there are some health concerns specific to the breed. However, also because all PWDs are purebred, breeders are aware of the problems and they routinely test their litters for known specifics.
Ask your breeder, if you have any questions. Generally, PWDs are hearty, healthy dogs.

Porties come in black, brown and several variations known as parti-colored, which is a combination of black & white or brown & white in varying degrees. The parti-colored Porties, like the one pictured, are quite striking - and much less likely to be mistaken for Poodles.
Some breeders work very hard to selectively breed a specific, pure color. Boomer & Rocky's mother was a brown Portie. Their dad was black. Both our guys had a little white chest blaze as babies, but, sadly, they both outgrew them...which turned out to be what our breeder was trying to do. Wizard's larger white chest blaze is staying put - and it's very stylish!

If you're looking for a puppy, the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America has a very comprehensive website, which is where I recommend you start. They do have a list of breeders available, but a better resource within their site is the National Breeder Coordinator who will know nearly all the breeders nationwide and who might have puppies available and when. Prices vary from region to region and from dog to dog. Contact the National Breeder Coordinator through the PWDCA's website.