| Country of origin: | Portugal |
| Registries: | AKC, UKC, CKC |
| Occupation: | Water rescue dog |
| Size: | 17 to 23 in tall; 35 to 60 lbs |
| Longevity: | 13 to 15 years |
| Exercise: | Daily |
| Training: | Easy |
| Grooming: | Difficult |
| Colors: | Black, brown, white, black and white, brown and white |
Now seen increasingly at dog shows, this somewhat opinionated and circumspect breed was used as a successful rabbit hunter on land. But it was in the water that it shone, used at sea by Portuguese fishermen to pull nets and to carry messages between boats. Its ancestors probably arrived in Portugal with Visigoth invaders from central Europe.
All dogs can dog paddle, but some are born to swim. Water is their second home. Throughout Europe and later in America, medium-sized breeds were developed to work in water. Some had surprising uses, such as collecting shot arrows that had fallen on water, but the majority were bred selectively to retrieve and return game that had landed in water. The curious show cuts of some modern breeds have their origins in clipping hair to reduce drag in water, while leaving dense hair over the joints to help keep them warm. The Portuguese Water Dog pictured below benefits from this practice, emerging from the sea to reveal a suitably functional cut for a hard-working fisherman’s friend.