Portuguese Water Dog
The breed makes an excellent watchdog as they are highly intelligent and trainable. It is important, as with all intelligent breeds to be consistent and firm with your training. These dogs will push the boundaries as far as you let them, so make sure you put a clear set of rules in place whilst the dog is young, the first of which should be that you are the boss! Don’t let these dogs jump up (unless instructed to), and as with any breed I would discourage you from letting it sleep on the bed. This can give the dog mixed messages about its place in the home hierarchy, not to mention the fact that dogs can pass many species of worms, which can be passed on to humans. They are generally clipped in one of two traditional clips: the first is when the back end and the face of the dog are clipped making it look like a “lion” with a beautiful mane. The second is the traditional retriever clip, which is of an even length all over. If you are thinking about getting one of these dogs, make sure you can commit to spending time each day exercising the dog both mentally and physically. The average lifespan is around 13 years, but they can live for up to 15 years with the right diet, genetics and lifestyle. They usually grow to about 45-57 cm in height and weigh between 17 and 25 kgs in peak condition. The Portuguese Water Dog has recently shot to fame as there are rumors that this will be the breed of the next “First Dog”, with President Barack Obama promising his girls they could get a dog if he won the election.
The New "First Dog" - "Bo"
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