Portuguese Water Dog - breed description

The content of the article

1 History of breed origin
2 What does portuguese watery look like?
3 Character Features of Portuguese Water Dog
4 Portuguese Water Content and Dog Care Features
5 Video: portuguese water dog

Each breed of dog has its own character and character. This must be taken into account, especially if you have never met such a pet before. A correctly selected breed is a mutual understanding of the owner and the animal, the absence of possible problems in feeding and keeping the pet. Today we’ll talk about the Portuguese water dog - what kind of breed it is, what are its features and for people with what character the dog is most suitable.

The Portuguese water dog is a very rare guest in our country, we do not have kennels for breeding this breed of dogs. If you look at the cropped Portuguese, it may seem like a simple poodle, which is more common in our latitudes. However, the Portuguese Water Dog is a special species that is distinguished by high intellectual development and quick wits. The long coat of the animal with proper care allows you to use it for aesthetic purposes. The Portuguese water dog often performs at exhibitions, shiny and curly hair becomes the subject of luxury and pride of the animal.

History of breed origin

The first mention of a dog of this breed was among Persian chroniclers, at that time the dog served as a guard, helped peasants in everyday life, and was often used to graze cattle. But the name of the breed suggests that the dog was widely used in Portugal. There the animal came along with Persian sailors. Port cities quickly appreciated the benefits of this breed of dog. Despite the long coat of the animal, the dog moves perfectly in the water, and the special sebum makes the coat water repellent. This allows the dog not to get wet and move perfectly in the water element. Dogs in the 16th century began to be used for professional fishing - the animal was able to drive a school of fish on the net. Great speed, high intelligence and sharp movements allowed the Portuguese dog to catch even the fastest and brisk fish. That is why the second name of the dog is water.

In the future, they began to use the animal as messengers between ships and the shore - the dog perfectly understood the task and brought all the messages safe and sound. With the development of modern communications and industrialization, dogs began to die out, a millionaire Vasco Bensuade, who owned a huge number of military and industrial ships, played a large role in their conservation. He organized clubs and kennels for the Portuguese water dog, thanks to which the breed became known around the world, it was recognized by the International Cynological Organizations. Today, the most famous representative of the breed can be called a dog named Bo, the owner of which is Barack Obama. Surprisingly, modern Bo, unfortunately, does not know how to swim.

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What does portuguese watery look like?

The appearance of the Portuguese has not changed much since ancient times, they were able to save the breed in its original form - dogs were not bred to anyone. The growth of the Portuguese aquatic at the withers is a little more than half a meter, the weight of the animal is 20-25 kg. The head of the dog is large enough, with a wide skull and proportional features. The mouth of a good Portuguese does not sag, the ears are set high, hang and resemble a heart shape. In general, if the dog is properly looked after - to observe the diet and physical activity, then the body of the Portuguese water dog turns out to be very developed, muscular and strong.The standard says that the color of the dog can be white, black or brown, combinations of these shades are also allowed. The hair of the animal is curly or wavy, long. Portuguese water dogs are often made haircuts that can leave long or very short strands, depending on the preferences of the owner or fashion. As a rule, a “lion” haircut is made on the tail - only a brush of wool is left at the end.

Character Features of Portuguese Water Dog

Water Portuguese is a great dog for active and cheerful people who often go outdoors and prefer physical activities - hiking, running, swimming, descending a fast river, hunting, fishing, etc. If you decide to get a dog of this breed, be prepared for the fact that you will have to regularly take the dog out to the countryside or to a wide area to run around and fool around with the pet. In closed enclosures or apartments, the dog gradually goes out, loses interest in food, and may even become ill. Remember that physical activity is one of the main conditions for the full development of the animal.

This is a very smart dog that constantly inspects the nearby territory, is able to independently assess the situation and intervene in the events if necessary. The Portuguese has a very developed scent that even a bloodhound can envy. This makes the pet indispensable during the hunt. The dog is able to track and catch even the fastest beast. Dogs of this breed have a very developed sense of loyalty to the owner, the dog will do everything to make the person happy. At the same time, the high intelligence of the animal often exceeds the ability of a person, this should be taken into account. The owner of the Portuguese water must be smart, strong physically and mentally. If you do not have time to train, this breed of dog is not for you. If you do not direct the animal’s energy into a peaceful direction, the dog can begin to spoil, damage property, spoil in spite, not follow commands, etc.

We can say that a dog combines two amazing and contradictory qualities - devotion and independence at the same time. If the dog will clearly know the owner and respect him, she will do anything for the person, will carry out any commands and instructions. If a person gives slack and shows the dog disrespect in the form of physical punishment or indifference, the Portuguese can become uncontrollable and even aggressive. If you love and take care of a dog, it will become a true friend and companion.

The Portuguese water coexists well with children - he loves spending hours with them, the mischief and mobility of the dog makes it an indispensable friend for any child. The Portuguese water dog gets along well with other pets - respects and does not offend them. Surprisingly, it was this breed of dog that was chosen by doctors for the rehabilitation of people who suffered psychological trauma, loss of loved ones, etc. The dog feels the mood of a person, is able to support and pity him. If you are prone to stress and depression, be sure to get yourself such a pet - he will save you from bad thoughts.

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Portuguese Water Content and Dog Care Features

The maintenance of the Portuguese usually does not bring any additional trouble, the puppy from an early age quickly understands where to go to the toilet, perfectly mastered in the territory entrusted to him. It is much better to keep the dog in a private house on the street. If the pet lives in the apartment, it needs to be walked much longer and more often than representatives of other breeds. Be sure to from a young age (from two months) you need to accustom the dog to society - to bring the dog to people and other animals, so that the pet passes the adaptation process safely. Ideally, if these are well-bred dogs that do not bark for no reason and carry out the owner's commands.The puppy will understand how to behave. Professional training and regular classes should be introduced into the regime of the day already from six months of age - at this time puppies already understand a lot. It is necessary to train not only physical skills, but also creative abilities, to develop intellectual potential.

The hair of the animal is quite long, so it should be combed periodically, preferably at least 2-3 times a week, this will protect the pet from the formation of tangles and debris. In addition, regular combing provides a beautiful appearance of the coat. The dog should be combed out with a special brush for curly hair. Very often, wool gets knocked in the winders in the winter, when the dog happily runs through snowdrifts. To avoid this, you need to wear a lightweight canvas jumpsuit on the dog. He should not be warm - his own hair warms the dog. But it’s often not advisable to bathe the dog - the wool has water-repellent properties, once every 2-3 months it will be quite enough.

Some people especially value the Portuguese water dog for the fact that the dog does not have an unpleasant odor, which is very important for clean owners. Do not forget the name of the dog breed - if there is a pond nearby, be sure to give the dog the opportunity to swim in it. In the water, a Portuguese dog feels great - he swims well, perfectly splashes out energy, plays and plays pranks. Remember that after such a walk you need to pat the animal’s hair with a towel. Parasites can live in stagnant water, which means that anthelmintic prophylaxis must be carried out in a timely manner. Check your animal’s hair regularly for ticks, mosquitoes and fleas. The area around the eyes should be cleaned with a clean cloth, if necessary, trim the long hair around the eyes so that it does not interfere with the dog.

Take your pet to the vet regularly to get rid of tartar. To prevent tartar, you need to give the dog soft bones. Particularly responsible should be the issue of feeding the animal. The menu should have either premium quality feed or a balanced natural diet. It should consist of cereals, meat and offal, vegetables, dairy products. If the diet is compiled by you yourself, you must definitely give additional vitamin-mineral complexes that will protect the dog from diseases and deficiency of important substances. In winter, the usual serving size usually increases due to increasing energy costs. The health of the dog as a whole is considered good, one of the most common disorders is neurological. They occur during adolescence, when growing joints can pinch the nerve endings. Fortunately, these violations are temporary and pass away without age.

A Portuguese water dog is not just a pet. This is a loyal guard, reliable friend and companion, an indispensable partner in hunting and fishing. In order for a dog to grow up intelligent, well-mannered and friendly, a lot of time and effort should be spent on his upbringing. You give the first 2-3 years to the dog in order to adapt it in society and teach it the necessary skills. A competent approach will make a true friend out of a dog who will support and help in any situation!

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