Portuguese Water Dog
葡萄牙水犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Portuguese Water Dog is a robust, medium-sized working dog from the Algarve coast, bred to herd fish into nets and carry messages between boats. Porties are super-smart, biddable and athletic, with a tight curly or wavy low-shedding coat that needs regular clipping. They demand attention and vigorous daily exercise — water work is their joy — and can be too exuberant for households with very young children.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 43–58cm |
| Weight | 16–27kg |
| Life expectancy | 11–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: working FCI: 8 |
| Role | Working |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 4/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Behaviour
Brainy, biddable, a little self-willed
The AKC calls the Portie super-smart and very biddable, but notes the breed often thinks independently and may challenge its owner's will, needing positive methods and daily mental and physical exercise; the CKC says it is exceptionally intelligent, spirited, brave and self-willed, with limitless stamina.
Built for water work
The CKC says the PWD is robust and tireless, ready for a full day's work in or out of the water — an ideal choice for the water-sports enthusiast; the AKC says it requires vigorous exercise every day, greets friends and family with unbridled enthusiasm, and can sometimes be too exuberant for families with very young children.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "affectionate / adventurous / athletic".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 5/5 (very high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 3/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Portuguese Water Dog
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Portuguese Water Dog (Working Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Portuguese Water Dog
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Portuguese Water Dog (standard no. 37, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's health-test page lists the screening it recommends before breeding — an eye exam (CAER), hip X-rays at two years, and DNA tests for GM1 storage disease, juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy (JDCM), prcd-PRA, early-onset PRA and microphthalmia, with at least one parent clear for each DNA-tested condition — and urges buyers to verify the sire's and dam's results on the OFA website before purchasing.”
— Portuguese Water Dog Club of America — Health Tests via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Portuguese Water Dog — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Portuguese Water Dog — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Portuguese Water Dog — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Portuguese Water Dog — FCI standard no. 37 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Health Tests — Portuguese Water Dog Club of America — Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (public health pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.