10 Portuguese Water Dog Pros & Cons You Should Know About

With their shaggy curls, webbed toes, and enthusiastic personality, Portuguese Water Dogs are known for being all-weather friends. These friendly, intelligent dogs are becoming more popular, and for good reason! They make great pets for families and are perfect adventuring buddies. But these dogs aren’t right for everyone. If you are thinking of getting a Portuguese Water Dog, check out these ten pros and cons to see if a Portuguese Water Dog is right for you.

 

The 5 Pros of Portuguese Water Dogs

1. Great With Kids

If you’ve got a house full of kids and want to bring a new dog into the family, a Portuguese Water Dog might be the right choice. Portuguese Water Dogs are known for their good-natured love of play and are usually very tolerant towards roughhousing. You’ll want to keep a close eye on interactions with a new dog first and make sure that your kids know how to treat it with respect, but Portuguese Water Dogs have a lot of potential to be the perfect playmate.

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2. Very Trainable

A Portuguese Water Dog is a great choice if you want to go beyond basic training with your dog. Once you get a good relationship, they are eager to please you, and they’re smart enough to learn many different commands and get the hang of new tricks quickly. You can even use Portuguese Water Dogs in obedience and agility trials, and they’ll perform well against more famous breeds.

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3. Low Shedding

Just like a poodle, the Portuguese Water Dog has a soft, curly coat that doesn’t shed much. This makes it a great choice if you have allergies or simply hate shed fur. Although lower-shedding dogs like Portuguese Water Dogs can release fewer allergens into the air, there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, so it’s best to go into ownership with the right expectations.

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4. Great for Active Owners

A Portuguese Water Dog might be a perfect choice if you want an all-terrain dog to match your adventurous life. Portuguese water dogs are great for hiking, running, swimming, and all sorts of other activities. They love to go along on adventures of all types, so if you are outdoorsy and active, a Portuguese water dog might be perfect.

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5. Super Smart

Portuguese water dogs also have lots of smarts. They are some of the most intelligent dogs, which means that they are fast learners and can easily figure out things that might leave other dogs scratching their heads. If you want a dog that can solve problems, learn complex commands, and tune into your emotions, this might be the dog for you.

The 5 Cons to Owning a Portuguese Water Dog

1. Strong Prey Drive

On the other hand, if you’ve already got cats, birds, or small mammals in your home, you might want to hold off. Portuguese Water Dogs were bred to help in hunting and have a very high prey drive. Although some Portuguese Water Dogs have successfully been raised to get along well with small pets, many love to bark at and chase smaller animals. If you’ve got a menagerie already, maybe pick a more placid breed.

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2. Can Be Stubborn

Even though they have a reputation for being trainable, they also tend to be very stubborn. If you’re not experienced with owning and teaching dogs, it may be hard to get off the ground. Portuguese Water Dogs need a calm, firm, experienced owner in order to thrive, so if you’re not already at that level, you and your Portuguese Water Dog may need a lot of help to be ready for training.

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3. Needs Grooming and Trimming

While the Portuguese Water Dog is not a heavy-shedder, they do need a bit of upkeep to keep that fur healthy, though. Their curly fur tends to trap dust, dirt, and shed fur, leading to tangles and mats if it isn’t taken care of. You’ll also need to have regular trims to keep the shag down. There are several different haircuts out there that work well for Portuguese Water Dogs but keeping hair long and loose is often a recipe for disaster.

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4. High Exercise Needs

All that activity needs to be constant and consistent, though. Portuguese water dogs have high exercise needs, so you’ll probably need to schedule an hour or more every day for high-intensity playtime. This could be any kind of exercise, and different dogs have slightly different needs, but you’ll definitely need to spend time with your dog every day to keep it happy and burn off excess energy.

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5. Can Be Destructive

Unsurprisingly, all that intelligent insert energy needs a healthy outlet. If your dog isn’t stimulated enough—physically and mentally—they might turn all that energy to their own devices. Portuguese water dogs can be mischievous and destructive, especially if they aren’t given training, exercise, and stimulating play. This is one place where experience makes a big difference in helping your dog find healthy outlets and follow your rules.

 

Last Thoughts

Portuguese Water Dogs are great for many owners, especially if you’ve got an active family or need an exercise buddy. They’re clever, friendly, and capable, and their gorgeous coat is just the cherry on top. But dogs of this breed also have pretty high needs—you’ll have to spend time training, exercising, and grooming your Portuguese Water Dog in order to keep it healthy and happy. Are you up for the challenge?

You Might Be Interested In: 

• How Much Exercise Does a Portuguese Water Dog Need? Vet-Approved Facts

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Featured Image Credit: Brook Robinson, Shutterstock