Portuguese Water Dog: A Loyal and Energetic Dog Breed

The Portuguese Water Dog is an intelligent and athletic working breed known for its curly low-shedding coat, strong swimming ability, and energetic personality. Originally developed in Portugal to assist fishermen by retrieving gear, herding fish into nets, and carrying messages between boats, the Portuguese Water Dog combines endurance and versatility with a loyal and highly trainable temperament. These active and people-oriented dogs thrive with owners who can provide regular exercise, mental stimulation, and consistent training, as they are happiest when involved in family activities and given purposeful work. Portuguese Water Dogs are typically affectionate, social, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for active families while also excelling in obedience, agility, water sports, and therapy work. With their athletic build, enthusiastic nature, and adaptable personality, the Portuguese Water Dog is an excellent choice for owners seeking an energetic and devoted companion dog.

⭐ 3 Things You May Not Know About the Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog once worked alongside Portuguese fishermen, helping retrieve nets, carry messages between boats, and herd fish into nets.
The breed is an excellent swimmer with webbed feet and a water-resistant coat specially adapted for life around the ocean.
Portuguese Water Dogs became internationally well known after former U.S. President Barack Obama brought Portuguese Water Dogs to the White House.

Overview

AKC Height: 17–23 inches
AKC Weight: 35–60 pounds
Colors: Black, White, Brown, or Combinations of These
Life Expectancy: 11–14 years
Group: Working Group

🐾 Quick Facts About the Portuguese Water Dog

Energy Level: High — Portuguese Water Dogs are athletic working dogs that need regular exercise and mental stimulation.
Grooming Needs: High — Their curly or wavy coat requires frequent brushing and regular grooming.
Good With Kids: Yes — Portuguese Water Dogs are generally affectionate, playful, and loyal with families and children.
Trainability: Very High — Intelligent and eager to work, they excel in obedience, water work, and canine sports.
Barking Level: Moderate — Portuguese Water Dogs may bark to alert their family or express excitement during activity.

History & Origin

The Portuguese Water Dog originated along the coast of Portugal, where it developed as a hardworking fishing and water dog closely associated with Portuguese fishermen for centuries. These intelligent and athletic dogs worked aboard fishing boats and along coastal communities, assisting fishermen with a variety of demanding tasks in rough Atlantic waters.

Portuguese Water Dogs were trained to retrieve broken nets and escaped fish, carry messages between boats, and help herd schools of fish into nets. Their strong swimming ability, endurance, and eagerness to work made them invaluable companions on the water. The breed’s webbed feet and dense water-resistant coat helped it excel in cold ocean conditions and long hours at sea.

The breed developed in both curly-coated and wavy-coated varieties while maintaining the same strong work ethic and athletic ability. Portuguese fishermen valued these dogs not only for practical water work but also for loyalty, intelligence, and close companionship aboard fishing vessels.

As modern fishing technology reduced the need for working water dogs, the breed’s numbers declined significantly during the 20th century. Dedicated Portuguese breeders later worked carefully to preserve and rebuild the Portuguese Water Dog while maintaining its traditional appearance and working instincts.

Modern Portuguese Water Dogs still retain many characteristics shaped by centuries of maritime work. Their intelligence, athleticism, trainability, and love of water reflect generations of selective breeding for close cooperation with people in demanding ocean environments. Beneath the breed’s curly coat and cheerful personality remains a highly capable Portuguese working dog deeply connected to the fishing traditions and coastal history of Portugal.

Breed Traits & Personality

The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized working breed known for its curly or wavy waterproof coat, athletic build, and exceptional swimming ability. Originally developed along the coast of Portugal to assist fishermen, the breed combines endurance, intelligence, agility, and versatility with strong water-working instincts and lively athleticism.

The breed possesses a balanced muscular frame with moderate bone structure, deep chest, strong shoulders, and powerful hindquarters designed for swimming, retrieving, and sustained physical activity. The Portuguese Water Dog should appear sturdy, agile, and naturally athletic without becoming coarse or heavy.

One of the breed’s most recognizable features is its dense low-shedding coat, which may be tightly curled or loosely wavy depending on the individual dog.

The head is broad and proportionate with a strong muzzle, dark expressive eyes, and highly alert intelligent expression. The breed’s face often conveys curiosity, attentiveness, and cheerful confidence.

The ears are medium-sized, pendant-shaped, and carried close to the head, contributing to the breed’s friendly and expressive appearance.

The coat is dense, waterproof, and weather-resistant, helping protect the dog during long hours working in cold ocean waters.

Coat colors commonly include black, white, brown, black and white, or brown and white combinations.

The tail is thick at the base and powerful, functioning as a rudder during swimming. Movement should appear smooth, agile, and highly coordinated with excellent balance and endurance.

The Portuguese Water Dog’s athletic structure allows impressive stamina and versatility during swimming, retrieving, and physically demanding outdoor activity.

Although stylish and elegant in appearance, the breed remains fundamentally a hardworking intelligent water dog with strong instincts and remarkable trainability.

Overall, the Portuguese Water Dog projects athleticism, intelligence, versatility, and classic water-working-dog character through its textured coat and energetic movement.

For a broader comparison of how this breed’s size compares to others, see our Dog Size & Weight Guide.

Temperament & Personality

The Portuguese Water Dog is known for being intelligent, affectionate, energetic, and highly people-oriented. This breed forms exceptionally strong emotional bonds with its family and thrives on companionship and active engagement.

With family members, Portuguese Water Dogs are typically loving, playful, and emotionally connected. Many individuals strongly enjoy participating in household routines, outdoor adventures, and interactive activities with their people.

The breed is naturally alert and observant, often making an attentive watchdog due to its awareness and confidence.

Because of their working heritage, Portuguese Water Dogs are mentally active dogs that enjoy problem-solving, learning, and cooperative work with people.

The breed is intelligent and capable of learning quickly, often responding exceptionally well to positive reinforcement training and structured engagement.

Portuguese Water Dogs are emotionally sensitive and generally respond best to calm positive interaction and stable routines. Harsh correction or forceful handling may reduce confidence or create anxiety.

Many individuals coexist very well with children, other dogs, and household pets when properly socialized and supervised.

Because of their deeply social temperament, the breed generally does not tolerate prolonged boredom or isolation well.

Some individuals may initially appear somewhat reserved around strangers until comfortable, making early socialization especially important for balanced adult behavior.

Portuguese Water Dogs often maintain playful energetic personalities throughout adulthood while still developing into affectionate dependable companions indoors once exercise needs are properly satisfied.

In the right home, the Portuguese Water Dog becomes a loyal, intelligent, emotionally connected companion with exceptional trainability and lively personality.

For a broader overview of personality differences between breed groups, visit our Dog Breed Temperament Guide.

Exercise & Training Needs

The Portuguese Water Dog is a highly active and intelligent working breed that requires substantial daily exercise and mental stimulation to remain physically healthy and behaviorally balanced.

Daily activity should include walks, running, swimming, obedience exercises, retrieving games, agility, scent work, and mentally demanding activities that challenge both body and mind.

Because of the breed’s intelligence and strong working instincts, mental stimulation is especially important. Puzzle toys, advanced obedience exercises, trick training, and varied routines help prevent boredom and frustration-related behaviors.

Training is generally highly rewarding because Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent eager learners that enjoy cooperative work with people.

Positive reinforcement methods using praise, treats, encouragement, and consistency usually produce excellent long-term results. The breed responds best to engaging relationship-based training rather than harsh correction.

Early socialization is extremely important for encouraging confidence around unfamiliar people, animals, sounds, and environments.

Because of their natural love of water, many Portuguese Water Dogs especially enjoy swimming, dock diving, retrieving games, and outdoor adventures involving water activities.

The breed often excels in canine sports and activities including obedience, agility, rally, dock diving, therapy work, scent work, and advanced trick training.

Portuguese Water Dogs generally thrive best in active homes where companionship, structured engagement, and mentally stimulating activities are consistently provided.

Because of their high energy level and intelligence, insufficient activity may contribute to excessive barking, restlessness, or destructive behaviors.

Although energetic outdoors, many well-exercised individuals settle calmly indoors once physical and emotional needs have been properly satisfied.

For owners seeking an intelligent, athletic working breed with strong trainability and lively personality, the Portuguese Water Dog can become an exceptionally rewarding companion.

Learn more on our Dog Training Page.

Grooming Requirements

The Portuguese Water Dog has moderate-to-high grooming requirements due to its dense continuously growing coat.

The curly or wavy coat should be brushed several times per week using slicker brushes and grooming combs to prevent mats and maintain healthy skin and coat condition.

Without regular grooming, the coat can mat heavily, especially around the ears, legs, chest, and undercoat regions.

Most Portuguese Water Dogs require regular professional grooming or clipping every several weeks to maintain coat manageability and overall hygiene.

Bathing is generally needed periodically to maintain coat cleanliness and healthy skin condition, especially following swimming or outdoor activity.

Routine grooming should also include nail trimming, dental care, ear cleaning, and inspection of the skin and coat for irritation or trapped debris.

Because of the breed’s floppy ears and love of water, regular ear maintenance is especially important to help prevent moisture buildup and ear infections.

The low-shedding coat makes the breed popular among people seeking reduced household shedding, although no breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Owners may choose from several grooming styles, including the traditional lion clip and retriever clip.

Regular dental hygiene is especially important for maintaining long-term overall health and comfort.

Regular grooming sessions also provide valuable opportunities to monitor skin health, coat quality, muscle tone, and overall physical condition throughout life.

With proper grooming, exercise, preventive care, and regular maintenance, the Portuguese Water Dog maintains its healthy coat, athletic condition, and energetic working-dog vitality throughout its life.

Learn more on our Dog Grooming Page.

Health Overview & Testing

The Portuguese Water Dog is an intelligent, athletic, and highly energetic working breed known for its curly or wavy coat, strong swimming ability, and loyal personality. Originally developed to assist Portuguese fishermen by retrieving gear, herding fish into nets, and carrying messages between boats, the Portuguese Water Dog is generally considered a healthy and versatile breed, but like many active working dogs, it can still be prone to several inherited and structural health concerns. Understanding common Portuguese Water Dog health problems and recommended breeder health testing can help puppy buyers make more informed decisions when selecting a healthy puppy. Because this breed combines endurance, athleticism, high intelligence, and emotional sensitivity, maintaining healthy joints, cardiac wellness, eye health, mobility, and overall body condition is especially important throughout the dog’s life.

Health issues sometimes seen in Portuguese Water Dogs may include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy, storage disease, Addison’s disease, and age-related arthritis. Some individuals may also develop allergies, hypothyroidism, obesity-related orthopedic stress, hereditary eye concerns, or cruciate ligament injuries later in life. Because the breed is naturally active and highly athletic, maintaining proper conditioning and regular mental stimulation is especially important for supporting long-term orthopedic wellness and emotional balance. While not every Portuguese Water Dog will develop these conditions, understanding the breed’s health tendencies allows owners to make better long-term decisions regarding breeding, exercise, grooming, nutrition, and preventive veterinary care.

Health Testing & Responsible Breeding

Responsible Portuguese Water Dog breeders should perform appropriate health screenings before breeding in order to reduce the likelihood of inherited conditions being passed to future generations. Many puppy buyers are encouraged to ask about health testing, but they are often unsure which evaluations are most important for this breed. In the Portuguese Water Dog, careful attention to orthopedic, cardiac, eye, genetic, and overall structural health is especially valuable.

Buyers should ask whether the sire and dam have completed OFA or PennHIP hip evaluations, ophthalmologist-performed eye examinations, cardiac testing, and DNA testing for known inherited conditions affecting the breed. Responsible breeders may also discuss orthopedic longevity, temperament stability, working ability, swimming endurance, and overall lifespan within their bloodlines. Some breeders may additionally monitor for hereditary endocrine or immune-related concerns depending on pedigree history.

Unlike some breeds selected primarily for appearance alone, responsible Portuguese Water Dog breeding programs often place strong emphasis on athletic soundness, stable temperament, and working ability because the breed was developed for physically demanding work alongside fishermen in harsh coastal environments. Ethical breeders understand that preserving the Portuguese Water Dog involves much more than maintaining coat type or appearance — it also includes protecting healthy movement, emotional stability, intelligence, and long-term vitality.

Before Portuguese Water Dog puppies are placed into new homes, they should receive a complete veterinary wellness examination that evaluates the heart, eyes, joints, neurological responses, bite alignment, parasite status, overall structure, and general physical development. Because athletic working breeds place stress on developing bones and joints during growth, proper nutrition and carefully managed exercise during puppyhood are especially important. Puppies should also leave with age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming records, feeding guidance, and recommendations for safe socialization, grooming, and physical conditioning during development.

A responsible Portuguese Water Dog breeder should willingly provide documentation of completed health clearances and openly discuss inherited health concerns affecting the breed. Puppy buyers should be cautious of breeders who avoid health discussions, refuse to provide testing information, or claim their dogs are completely free of health problems. Ethical breeding focuses on reducing inherited risk through careful selection, health screening, pedigree knowledge, and lifelong breeder support rather than making unrealistic promises.

Preventive Care & Long-Term Wellness

Maintaining healthy body condition and regular exercise is especially important for the Portuguese Water Dog because this breed is naturally energetic, athletic, and mentally active. Without sufficient physical activity and mental stimulation, some individuals may become destructive, anxious, vocal, or emotionally frustrated. Regular exercise helps support cardiovascular fitness, muscle tone, coordination, joint stability, and emotional well-being throughout life.

The Portuguese Water Dog is also an extremely intelligent and highly trainable breed that benefits from regular mental stimulation and structured interaction. Walks, swimming, retrieving games, obedience work, puzzle toys, agility activities, dock diving, and interactive play all contribute to emotional balance and long-term wellness.

The breed’s low-shedding curly or wavy coat requires regular brushing and grooming maintenance to help prevent matting and maintain healthy skin and coat condition. Grooming sessions also provide an excellent opportunity to monitor for parasites, lumps, skin irritation, coat-quality changes, or developing health concerns.

Because Portuguese Water Dogs are naturally active and emotionally connected working dogs, early training and socialization are especially important for supporting long-term confidence, emotional stability, and manageable behavior.

Routine veterinary examinations throughout adulthood and senior years remain important for monitoring mobility, orthopedic wellness, cardiac function, eye condition, endocrine health, and overall quality of life. Early detection of developing health concerns often allows for more successful long-term management and improved outcomes.

Lifespan & Senior Portuguese Water Dog Care

The Portuguese Water Dog often lives approximately 11 to 13 years when responsibly bred and properly cared for. Senior Portuguese Water Dogs may gradually develop arthritis, reduced stamina, hearing decline, vision changes, muscle loss, or decreased mobility as they age. Some older dogs may also become more prone to orthopedic stiffness or endocrine-related concerns during the senior years.

As Portuguese Water Dogs enter their senior years, many owners focus on maintaining moderate low-impact exercise, healthy weight management, supportive bedding, joint support, continued mental stimulation, and routine wellness monitoring. Because the breed often remains mentally active and emotionally connected throughout life, continued companionship and purposeful interaction remain especially important even during old age.

With attentive care, preventive veterinary support, responsible breeding, and a healthy lifestyle, many Portuguese Water Dogs continue to thrive as affectionate, energetic, and highly devoted companions throughout their lives.

Is This Breed Right for You?

The Portuguese Water Dog is an intelligent, affectionate, and highly versatile working breed known for its athletic ability, trainability, and strong bond with its family. Originally developed for water work and assisting fishermen, the Portuguese Water Dog thrives when given exercise, companionship, structure, and opportunities to stay mentally and physically engaged.

While loving and adaptable, the Portuguese Water Dog is not the ideal fit for every household. Here’s a quick overview to help you decide:

✔ Ideal for:

Active owners who enjoy hiking, swimming, and outdoor activities
Families seeking an intelligent and interactive companion
People able to provide regular exercise and mental stimulation
Owners interested in obedience, agility, or canine sports
Homes willing to provide companionship and grooming care

❌ Not Ideal for:

People unable to provide regular exercise and engagement
Homes where the dog will frequently be isolated or inactive
Owners unwilling to provide regular grooming maintenance
People seeking a low-energy or low-interaction breed
Homes unwilling to provide training and structure

Finding a Responsible Breeder or Rescue

If you’re interested in bringing a dog of this breed into your home, consider adopting from a rescue organization or finding a reputable breeder.

Find a Reliable Rescue:

Read our page about how to adopt from a reliable dog rescue.

Find reliable rescues through our Dog Rescue Directory.

Find a Responsible Breeder:

Read our information page about buying a healthy puppy from a responsible breeder.

Find responsible breeders through our Dog Breeders Directory.

Puppy Considerations

Portuguese Water Dog puppies are playful, intelligent, and highly people-oriented from an early age. Early socialization and positive reinforcement training are extremely important to help puppies develop confidence, emotional stability, and appropriate behavior.

Because these puppies mature into active and highly trainable working dogs, early structure and healthy outlets for their energy are especially important. Their intelligence, curiosity, and eagerness to work with people often become obvious very early in development.

Puppies benefit from:

Early socialization with people, dogs, sounds, and environments
Positive reinforcement training and structured routines
Daily exercise and mentally stimulating activities
Confidence-building exercises and interactive play
Regular grooming handling and coat-care routines

Because Portuguese Water Dog puppies are highly intelligent and emotionally responsive, calm leadership and consistent training are especially important during development.

Living With a Portuguese Water Dog

Living with a Portuguese Water Dog is often rewarding for owners who appreciate intelligent, affectionate, and highly interactive companion dogs. These dogs generally form strong bonds with their families and often enjoy participating in active household routines and outdoor adventures.

The Portuguese Water Dog requires regular physical exercise and mental stimulation to remain healthy and emotionally balanced. Many enjoy swimming, retrieving games, obedience work, agility activities, puzzle toys, and interactive play with their families.

This breed generally does best in homes where it receives companionship, structure, training, and opportunities to stay mentally occupied. Without enough engagement or exercise, boredom may lead to destructive behavior, anxiety, excessive barking, or emotional frustration.

Although affectionate and social with family members, Portuguese Water Dogs may naturally be highly alert and energetic throughout life. Early socialization and responsible ownership are important for helping the breed develop into a confident and manageable adult.

Feeding a balanced, high-quality diet and maintaining a healthy weight are important for supporting endurance, mobility, muscle condition, orthopedic wellness, and overall quality of life. Routine veterinary care, exercise, training, grooming, and companionship all contribute to helping the breed thrive.

Final Thoughts…

The Portuguese Water Dog is an affectionate, intelligent, and deeply loyal working breed that thrives with owners who appreciate active companionship and close emotional connection. Their trainability, athleticism, and devotion make them remarkable companions in the right homes.

With proper exercise, preventive care, socialization, training, grooming, and companionship, the Portuguese Water Dog can become a deeply rewarding and highly devoted lifelong companion.

Are you considering adding a Portuguese Water Dog to your family?

🐶 Portuguese Water Dog FAQs

How long do Portuguese Water Dogs live?

Portuguese Water Dogs typically have a lifespan of about 11 to 14 years. With proper nutrition, regular exercise, and routine veterinary care, many enjoy long, healthy lives.

This breed is generally healthy but may be prone to certain inherited conditions such as hip dysplasia or eye issues. Regular health screenings help support long-term wellbeing.

What is the Portuguese Water Dog temperament like?

Portuguese Water Dogs are known for being intelligent, energetic, and affectionate. They are enthusiastic working dogs with a strong desire to be involved with their families.

They tend to form close bonds with their owners and enjoy both physical activity and mental challenges. Early socialization helps encourage confident and well-mannered behavior.

Are Portuguese Water Dogs good family dogs?

Portuguese Water Dogs make excellent family dogs for active households. They are playful, loyal, and thrive when included in family activities.

They generally do well with children who understand respectful interaction. Consistent routines and supervision help support positive family relationships.

Do Portuguese Water Dogs shed a lot?

Portuguese Water Dogs are very low shedders and are often considered hypoallergenic. Their curly or wavy coat traps loose hair rather than releasing it into the environment.

Regular grooming is required to prevent matting and maintain coat health. Professional grooming is typically part of routine care.

Are Portuguese Water Dogs easy to train?

Portuguese Water Dogs are highly intelligent and eager to learn. They generally respond very well to training when sessions are engaging and consistent.

Positive reinforcement and mental stimulation are essential. Structured training helps keep them focused and fulfilled.

Similar Breeds You Might Like

If you’re interested in the Portuguese Water Dog, you may also enjoy learning about these similar intelligent working breeds:

Poodle – A highly intelligent, low-shedding breed known for versatility and trainability.
Irish Water Spaniel – A curly-coated sporting breed valued for intelligence and water-retrieving ability.
Spanish Water Dog – A hardworking, intelligent breed known for adaptability and loyalty.
Families with allergy concerns may find our Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds guide helpful when comparing breeds with similar coat characteristics.

🐾 Lisa’s Picks for Portuguese Water Dogs

As someone who has worked with dogs for over 50 years—including more than 20 years helping with housebreaking and everyday care—I’m often asked for product recommendations. I’ve found that a few simple items can make a big difference in a dog’s comfort and daily routine.

If you have a Portuguese Water Dog or are planning to bring one into your home, these products and tips can help support your journey together.

🛏️ 1. Dog Beds

👉 My Tip: Waterproof Bed Protection (My Personal Favorite Trick)

One thing I personally do is use twin-size waterproof mattress covers over larger dog beds. They’re easy to wash, protect the bed beneath, and save money long-term—especially helpful for puppies, seniors, or heavy shedders. You can find different colors and patterns that fit your decor.

For tiny dog beds, you can use waterproof pillow covers that fit over the beds to protect them and save money long-term.

I use the same idea around the house, too. Washable, waterproof couch covers are a simple way to protect furniture from dirt, shedding, and accidents—especially helpful with puppies, seniors, or dogs that love the couch.

* Orthopedic Foam Dog Beds:
A high-quality orthopedic bed is one of the best investments you can make for your dog. I recommend these for every breed, once they are out of the chewing stage, especially as they age. They provide joint support, improve comfort, and help dogs truly rest.

* Tough Dog Beds for Dogs That Chew:
If your dog tends to chew or destroy their bedding, a standard plush bed may not last long. In these cases, I recommend tough, chew-resistant dog beds made with reinforced materials.
These are designed to hold up better against digging, scratching, and chewing, and can save you from constantly replacing beds. While no bed is completely indestructible, choosing a more durable option can make a big difference.

* Puppies need Simple Washable Bedding:
For young puppies that are still learning house training, I often suggest starting with simple, washable blankets instead of an expensive dog bed.
Thick towels, fleece throws, or washable pads work very well during this stage. They’re easy to clean, quick to replace, and help protect your main dog beds until your puppy is more reliable. Once house training is more consistent, you can transition to a more permanent, supportive bed.

✂️ 2. Proper Grooming Tools for the Portuguese Water Dog Coat

Portuguese Water Dogs have a dense, curly or wavy single coat that continuously grows and requires regular grooming to help prevent mats and maintain healthy coat condition.

A gentle slicker brush works well for regular brushing to remove loose hair and work through dense curls or waves, while a metal comb is essential for checking deeper areas around the ears, legs, chest, tail, and joints where mats commonly develop. Many owners also use a detangling spray to help reduce breakage and make brushing easier.

Because the breed’s coat is low-shedding and water-resistant, loose hair often becomes trapped within the coat rather than falling out naturally, making regular brushing especially important. Professional grooming and trimming are usually needed every several weeks to maintain the preferred coat style and overall coat health.

Regular brushing:

Helps prevent mats
Keeps the coat clean and manageable
Maintains healthy coat condition

🦴 3. Treats (Great for All Dogs)

Jerky Treats for Dogs: Almost all dogs love soft, easy-to-break NATURAL jerky treats. They’re perfect for rewarding good behavior without overfeeding. Soft jerky treats provide protein and are easy to chew.
Tiny Treats for Small Dogs
For small dogs, I recommend using very tiny, NATURAL training treats that are soft and easy to chew. This lets you reward often without overfeeding.

Stronger Chew Treats for Larger Dogs
Dogs that enjoy a more robust chewing experience will benefit from stronger chew treats. Some larger dogs may still go through them quickly, while others will take more time—so it often depends on the individual dog.

👉 My Tip: Check Ingredient Labels

I always recommend checking the ingredient label when choosing treats at the store. Dogs don’t need added sugar or artificial ingredients, and some treats can upset their stomach or cause diarrhea. Look for all-natural ingredient labels, and single ingredient or few ingredient labels are preferred.

It’s important to note that even among the same breed, some dogs enjoy chewing more than others, and many have preferences for certain types of chews. If you notice bleeding gums during chewing, it’s a good idea to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to rule out any dental issues.

🧠 4. Enrichment Toys for Mental Stimulation

Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent, so giving them something to do is important.

An enrichment toy can help:

Prevent boredom
Reduce unwanted behaviors
Keep their mind engaged

When choosing an enrichment toy, think about your dog’s personality and needs. Some dogs love puzzle toys and mental challenges, while others are happier with something they can chew or carry around.

🐕 5. Safe, Comfortable Harness, Collar & Leash

From my experience, choosing the right walking gear can make a big difference in both safety and control. Some harnesses and collars are designed to help prevent dogs from slipping out, which is especially important for strong or easily startled dogs, and those are the types I personally recommend for safety.

Harness: A quality, comfortable properly fitted harness can make walks more comfortable and easier to manage—especially for dogs that tend to pull or get excited outdoors. If you have a dog that tries to wiggle out of their harness, search for an “escape proof” harness that has an extra strap towards the back.

Collar: I use and prefer safety martingale collars, as they can help prevent dogs from backing out of their collar while still being more gentle than traditional collars when used correctly.

Leash: Choose a lightweight leash for small dogs and a sturdier, heavier leash for larger dogs to ensure good control. Nylon leashes are strong and long-lasting. Some leashes also include a comfortable padded handle.

👉 My Tip: Avoid Retractable Leashes

I don’t recommend retractable leashes, as they can break and tangle easily and create safety issues and tripping hazards.

💡 Lisa’s Tip:

You don’t need a lot of products to care for a dog well… just the right ones. Focus on comfort, consistency, and routine, and you’ll make life easier for both you and your dog.

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Learn more about responsible dog ownership, dog health and daily care:

Written by Lisa Puskas — Author and founder of Dog-Breeds.net with 50+ years of hands-on experience raising, showing, and training dogs. She is dedicated to preserving dog breeds, educating responsible ownership, and supporting rescue organizations by helping improve long-term adoption success.