Where the Portuguese Water Dog came from
The Portuguese Water Dog comes from the Algarve region of Portugal. Fishermen used them to herd fish into nets, retrieve lost tackle and gear, and carry messages from ship to ship or ship to shore. The dogs rode on trawlers as far as the waters off Iceland.
The breed was close to extinct in the 1930s. A wealthy shipping owner, Vasco Bensaude, began collecting fishermen's dogs to rebuild the breed. His best known dog was a stud named Leao, who lived from 1931 to 1942. Many of today's pedigreed dogs trace back to him.
The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America was founded in 1972. The AKC recognized the breed in 1983. Two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny, lived in the White House with the Obama family.
- 1931 Leao, an important early stud dog, is born
- 1972 The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America is founded
- 1983 AKC recognizes the Portuguese Water Dog
- 2009 Bo joins the Obama family in the White House
The job a Portuguese Water Dog was bred for
A working fishing dog that swam all day, herded fish and fetched. Many Portuguese Water Dogs still love water, grab things in their mouth and jump a lot. They are bright and bold, and they love being with their person.
What you may see at home
Bouncy, mouthy, loves water, jumps, wants to be near you all day.
Give them: Swimming or dock diving, retrieve with a drop it, and a calm mat.
Sports that fit a Portuguese Water Dog
- Dock diving. Built for a big splash
- Water work. Retrieving gear from water is the old job
- Agility. Fast, strong and happy to work with a handler
- Obedience. Smart and quick when it is fun
- Scent work. Gives a busy mind a calm job
Training tips for a Portuguese Water Dog
- Give a daily job and plenty of exercise. Bored dogs get loud and destructive.
- Teach a good retrieve and a drop it with treats and trades.
- Reward four on the floor. They are jumpers.
- Practice a settle on a mat, since they tune in and want to work all day.
Body and health
Curly coat does not shed much, but it needs regular brushing and trimming to stay matt free. Hip dysplasia, eye conditions and some inherited diseases can occur, so choose a health-tested breeder.
Fun fact. Bo and Sunny, the Obama family's dogs, were both Portuguese Water Dogs.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Portuguese Water Dog is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.