Medium Working Group

Portuguese Water Dog

Also called Cao de Agua, Cão de Água Português and Portie

Great with kids
Easy to train
Barely sheds
Needs space
Needs lots of exercise
Lots of grooming

The Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized working dog from Portugal. They are active, intelligent, and loyal, and make great family pets. Portuguese Water Dogs have a thick, wavy coat that can be black, brown, or white in color. They are easy to train and require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.

Weight: 35–60 lb (16–27 kg)
Height at the shoulder: 17–23 in (43–58 cm)
Life span: 12–15 years
Exercise: About 60 minutes a day
Coat: Medium, Curly
Origin: Algarve coast, Portugal (medieval, working breed among fishermen)

Traits

Family and friends

Children: Good with children
Other dogs: Good with other dogs
Strangers: Polite with strangers

Home and activity

Energy: Very energetic
Apartment living: Needs space
Barking: Barks a little
Training: Very easy to train

Care

Grooming: Lots of grooming
Shedding: Barely sheds
Drooling: Hardly drools

Temperament

Affectionate Athletic Brave Independent Intelligent Spirited

Coat colours

Black, black and white, brown, brown and white and white

Males and females

Measure	Males	Females
Weight	42–60 lb (19–27 kg)	35–51 lb (16–23 kg)
Height	20–23 in (51–58 cm)	17–21 in (43–53 cm)

Recognized by

American Kennel Club (AKC), Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), The Kennel Club (UK) (KC), New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC)