Facts about Portuguese Water Dog
- 08
Excellent hearing and sense of smell made Portuguese Water Dogs invaluable for locating fish schools at distances up to several hundred meters from fishing boats.
- 07
Their distinctive black or brown coat color comes from a single recessive gene, meaning two Portuguese Water Dogs must both carry the gene to produce puppies of that coloring.
- 06
A Portuguese Water Dog's lifespan averages 11 to 13 years, with proper care and health screening helping many individuals reach their mid-teens.
- 05
Portuguese Water Dogs were originally bred to stand 17 to 23 inches tall and weigh 35 to 60 pounds, making them medium-sized working dogs perfectly proportioned for navigating rocky Portuguese coastlines and fishing boats.
- 04
Barack Obama's family adopted a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo in 2009, making the breed suddenly popular among American dog owners seeking the same hypoallergenic qualities.
- 03
The Portuguese Water Dog's double coat sheds heavily twice yearly, requiring regular brushing to manage the dense undercoat beneath its wavy or curly outer layer.
- 02
In the 1930s, Portuguese Water Dogs nearly faced extinction until Portuguese fisherman Vasco Bensaude began preserving the breed with only about 50 remaining dogs.
- 01
Webbed paws on Portuguese Water Dogs allow them to reach swimming speeds up to 5 miles per hour while herding fish into nets.