Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix: Pictures, Info, Care Guide & More
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The Portuguese Water Dog and Husky Mix is a beautiful breed mix that gets the best of both parent breeds. These pups are energetic, curious, and brave, and will make your everyday life much more interesting. Regardless of your experience as a dog owner, you can handle this intelligent breed as it is eager to learn and please its owner. Read more about this fantastic mix breed below, and decide whether it’s right for you and your family.
| Height: | 20–23.5 inches |
| Weight: | 45–60 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 11–14 years |
| Colors: | Black, white, brown, agouti |
| Suitable for: | Active families with a backyard, those looking for an energetic and curious dog |
| Temperament: | Loyal and intelligent, playful, easy to train, sometimes stubborn |
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky is a unique breed mix that is ideal for almost any owner. They are quirky and charming, with great qualities from both parent breeds. They are spirited dogs that will fit in perfectly in families with children.
Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix Characteristics
Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix Puppies
The puppies of Portuguese Water Dog and Siberian Husky are real cuties, with their characteristic thick fur and often bright blue eyes they acquire from the Husky parent breed. These puppies are playful, and they require plenty of mental stimulation that’s adequate for their age. Keeping them entertained with plenty of toys and outdoor activities will ensure their happiness and health. Training a puppy in time is a must to avoid disobedience and destructive behavior.
Buying a Portuguese Water Dog Husky mix from a reputable breeder is recommended if you want to avoid health issues. Ensure they have an adequate diet filled with plenty of protein, especially during their younger years.
Portuguese Water Dogs and Huskies are extremely social breeds, so being surrounded by people will be ideal for these puppies. They are excellent around children and even other dogs.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix 🧠
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix has a fairly quirky personality because of the unique origin of the parent breeds. The Portuguese Water Dog, as the name suggests, was bred for fishing, herding fish into nets, delivering messages from ships to ships, and retrieving nets. They adore learning new tricks and competing in various sports and water activities.
On the other hand, Huskies originate from eastern Siberia, where they were trained to be working sled dogs. They are extremely active and social. The mix between these two amazing breeds is an active and fun dog that wishes to entertain its owners at all times. Because of the Portuguese’s docile spirit, this mix is the best of both worlds—a gritty, brave, and curious pup with a will to please the owner, making it easy to train them.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky mix is a beautiful breed for active families with children. They are incredibly gentle, tolerant, and loyal. They are always willing to cuddle, protective, and will love playtime with children. While they are perfect with kids, monitoring your dog’s playtime if your child is younger than 10 is advisable.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
The Husky and Portuguese Water Dogs are excellent with other dogs, even smaller breeds. Both breeds are very social and outgoing, which is a positive trait that the mix gets from both parent breeds. Huskies have a high prey drive, so they might chase cats and livestock, but they will get along great with other dogs.
Things to Know When Owning a Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix requires high-quality dog food to stay fit and healthy. Based on their activity level, your dog should have an adequate protein intake. You can either feed them commercially manufactured food or homemade meals. Certain dogs of this mix are at risk of being overweight, so make sure to feed them a balanced diet while monitoring their calorie consumption.
Exercise 🐕
This particular mix is a very active and athletic breed, with plenty of physical stimulation needed. With vigorous daily exercise, you can maintain a fit and healthy Portuguese Water Dog Husky mix. You can include canine sports in the training of your dog, which will give them plenty of the physical stimulation they need.
Training 🎾
All breeds, including this mix, will benefit from being trained early on. The best way to ensure your dog has the proper training is to make sure it is fun for both of you. Creating a strong bond with your puppy will give you a better understanding and communication with each other. It is advisable to reinforce positive behavior and avoid any harsh punishments.
Grooming ✂️
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix has a unique coat mainly acquired from the Husky breed. While the color of the coat can vary and appear similar to either parent breed, its texture is most similar to a Husky’s coat. It is recommended to brush your dog weekly while only bathing them when necessary to avoid drying their skin.
Health and Conditions ❤️
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix is generally a quite healthy breed. However, as with all other breeds, there are several conditions to look out for when getting a new puppy. Since Siberian Huskies are prone to cataracts, it would be best if the breeder screened the pup for this condition. Regularly check and keep your dog’s ears clean to avoid ear infections.
- Obesity
- Cataracts
- Eye Problems
- Hip dysplasia
- Joint dysplasia
- Epilepsy
Male vs Female
As with many other breeds, this mix has specific differences regarding their sex. Depending on their sex, there are some differences in their temperament and behavior. Male Portuguese Water Dog Husky dogs are usually more outgoing with people and are more likely to show affection. However, training a male dog of this breed is more challenging than teaching a female because of the dominance issues. When dealing with this breed’s male dog, it is essential to establish a dominant place in the relationship.
Females tend to learn better and adapt more quickly than males. However, they can be more stubborn at times, and come for affection only when they feel like it.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix
1. The Portuguese Water Dog was bred to help fishermen
This unique breed had the purpose of helping owners fish, retrieve their nets, deliver messages, and direct the fish into boats or nets. This means that these dogs typically love water.
2. The Husky is capable of traveling long distances
The Portuguese Water Dog Husky is a breed with tons of energy and strength, so proper outdoor exercise can make your dog feel happy and content. Because the Husky is a breed meant for carrying sleds for long distances, they are excellent runners and have plenty of energy. This mix can quickly become frustrated and destructive if not enough daily activity is included.
3. The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix is great for first-time owners
Because this mix is incredibly smart, eager to please, and easy to train, it will be an ideal breed for first-time pet owners. Training this dog shouldn’t be too challenging with time and patience and can be a highly rewarding experience.
Final Thoughts
After reading about this amazing breed mix, hopefully, you’ll decide whether it is the perfect dog breed for you. Their lovely and unique appearance goes in hand with their quirky temperament and history. Both parent breeds were working dogs, and together they make an energetic and spirited pup. The Portuguese Water Dog Husky Mix is ideal for active families with children and even first-time owners, as their intelligent and positive nature perfectly aligns with almost any owner.
See Also:
- Portuguese Water Dog German Shepherd Mix
- Bernese Water Dog (Bernese Mountain Dog & Portuguese Water Dog Mix)
Featured Image Credit: Left – Jennay Hitesman, Shutterstock | Right – Saira Sustaita, Unsplash
