Portuguese Water Dog - breed description

The content of the article

1 The origin of the breed
2 What does a Portuguese water one look like?
3 Characteristics of the Portuguese water dog
4 Water content of the Portuguese and the care of the dog
5 Video: Portuguese water dog

Each breed of dog has its own character and character. This must be considered, especially if you have never met such a pet before. The right breed is the mutual understanding of the owner and the animal, the absence of possible problems in the feeding and maintenance of the pet. Today we will talk about the Portuguese water dog - what is this breed, what is its peculiarity and for people with what character the dog is most suitable.

The Portuguese water dog is a very rare guest in our country, we do not have kennels for breeding this dog breed. If you look at a cropped Portuguese, he may seem like a simple poodle, which is more common in our latitudes. However, the Portuguese water dog is a special kind, which is distinguished by high intellectual development and ingenuity.The long hair of the animal with proper care allows you to use it for aesthetic purposes. The Portuguese water dog often performs at exhibitions, the shiny and curly wool becomes the object of luxury and pride of the animal.

The origin of the breed

The first mentions of the dog of this breed were among the Persian chroniclers, while the dog served as a guard, helped the peasants in everyday life, and was often used to feed cattle. But the name of the breed suggests that the dog has received wide distribution in Portugal. There the animal got along with the Persian navigators. Port cities quickly appreciated the advantages of this breed of dog. Despite the long hair of the animal, the dog moves perfectly in the water, and the special sebum makes the wool water-repellent. This allows the dog not to get wet and move very well in the water element. Dogs in the 16th century began to be used for professional fishing - the animal was able to drive shoals of fish into the net. High speed, high intelligence and sharp movements allowed the Portuguese dog to catch even the fastest and brisk fish. That is why the second name of the dog is water.

Later, the animal began to be used as messengers between the courts and the shore - the dog perfectly understood the task and brought all the messages intact. With the development of modern communication and industrialization, dogs began to die out, the millionaire Vasco Bensuade, who owned a huge number of military and industrial ships, played a large role in their preservation. He organized clubs and kennels for the Portuguese water dog, thanks to which the breed became known to the whole world, it was recognized by the International Canine Organizations. Today, the most famous representative of the breed can be called a dog named Bo, whose owner is Barack Obama. Surprisingly, modern Bo doesn’t know how to swim.

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What does a Portuguese water one look like?

The appearance of the Portuguese has not changed much since ancient times, the breed could be kept in its original form - dogs were not knitted with anyone. The growth of Portuguese water in the withers is a little over half a meter, the weight of the animal is 20-25 kg. The head of the dog is large enough, with a wide skull and proportional features.The good Portuguese's mouth does not hang down, the ears are set high, hang and resemble the shape of a heart. In general, if the dog competently care for - to observe the diet and exercise, the body of the Portuguese water dog turns out very developed, muscular and strong. The standard says that the color of the dog may be white, black or brown, and combinations of these shades are also allowed. The animal's hair is curly or wavy, long. Often, Portuguese water dogs make haircuts that can leave long or very short strands, depending on the preferences of the owner or fashion. On the tail, as a rule, the haircut is “lion” - only a brush of wool is left on the end.

Characteristics of the Portuguese water dog

Water Portuguese is an excellent dog for active and cheerful people, who often choose the nature and prefer physical activities - hiking, jogging, swimming, descending a fast river, hunting, fishing, etc. If you decide to have a dog of this breed, be prepared for the fact that you have to regularly take the dog to nature or to a wide area,to run around and have some fun with your pet. In closed enclosures or apartments, the dog gradually goes out, loses interest in food, and may even get sick. Remember that physical activity is one of the main conditions for the full development of the animal.

This is a very intelligent dog that constantly inspects the nearby territory, is able to independently assess the situation and intervene in the events taking place if necessary. The Portuguese has a very developed sense of smell, which even the bloodhound can envy. This makes the pet indispensable during the hunt. The dog is able to track down and catch even the fastest beast. Dogs of this breed have a very developed sense of loyalty to the owner, the dog will do everything to make the person happy. At the same time, the high intelligence of the animal often exceeds the capabilities of a person; this should be taken into account. The master of the water portuguese must be smart, physically and morally strong. If you do not have time to train, this dog breed is not for you. If you do not direct the energy of the animal into a peaceful course, the dog may begin to tamper, spoil property, shit out of spite, not execute commands, etc.

We can say that the dog combines two amazing and contradictory qualities - loyalty and at the same time independence. If the dog clearly knows the owner and respects him, she will do anything for the person, will carry out any commands and orders. If the person gives up the slack and shows a dog disrespect in the form of physical punishment or indifference, the Portuguese can become uncontrollable and even aggressive. If you love a dog and take care of it, it will become a true friend and companion.

Waterman Portuguese gets on well with children - he loves to spend time with them, the mischief and mobility of the dog makes it an indispensable friend for any child. Portuguese water dog gets on well with other pets - respects and does not offend them. Surprisingly, it was this breed of dogs that was chosen by doctors for the rehabilitation of people who suffered psychological trauma, loss of loved ones, etc. The dog feels the mood of a person, is able to support and pity him. If you are prone to stress and depression, by all means get yourself such a pet - it will save you from bad thoughts.

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Water content of the Portuguese and the care of the dog

The maintenance of the Portuguese usually does not bring any additional troubles, the puppy from an early age quickly understands where to go to the toilet, perfectly mastered the territory entrusted to him. It is much better to keep a dog in a private house outside. If the pet lives in the apartment, it needs to be walked much longer and more often than other breeds. It is imperative from an early age (from two months) that the dog should be taught to society — to bring the dog to people and other animals so that the pet can safely go through the process of adaptation. Ideally, it will be educated dogs who do not bark for no reason and carry out the owner’s commands. The puppy will understand how to behave. Professional training and regular classes should be introduced into the daily regimen from the age of six months - at this time puppies already understand a lot. It is necessary to train not only physical skills, but also creative abilities, to develop intellectual potential.

The animal's hair is long enough, so it should be periodically combed out, preferably at least 2-3 times a week, this will protect the pet from the formation of tangles and debris.In addition, regular combing provides a beautiful appearance of wool. Dog should be combed out with a special brush for curly wool. Very often, the wool is knocked off into the mats in the winter, when the dog gladly runs through the snowdrifts. To avoid this, you need to wear a light canvas overalls to the dog. It should not be warm - own wool heats the dog. But often you should not bathe a dog - wool has water-repellent properties, once every 2-3 months will be quite enough.

Some people especially appreciate the watery Portuguese for the fact that the dog does not have an unpleasant smell, which is very important for clean owners. Do not forget about the name of the dog breed - if there is a reservoir nearby, be sure to give your dog the opportunity to swim in it. In the water, the Portuguese dog feels great - swims well, splashes energy well, plays and plays pranks. Remember that after such a walk you need to wet the animal's hair with a towel. Parasites can live in still water, which means that antihelminthic prophylaxis should be carried out in a timely manner. Regularly inspect the animal's fur for ticks, mosquitoes and fleas.The area around the eyes should be wiped with a clean cloth, if necessary, the long hair around the eyes is cut so that it does not interfere with the dog.

Regularly take your pet to the vet to get rid of tartar. To prevent tartar, you need to give the dog soft bones. Especially responsibly should be taken to the question of feeding the animal. The menu should be either premium quality food, or a balanced natural diet. It should consist of cereals, meat and offal, vegetables, dairy products. If the diet is compiled by you on your own, be sure to give additional vitamin and mineral complexes that will protect the dog from diseases and deficiency of important substances. In winter, the size of a normal portion usually increases due to increasing energy costs. The health of the dog is generally considered to be strong, some of the most common disorders are neurological. They occur in adolescence, when growing joints can pinch nerve endings. Fortunately, these violations are temporary and disappear without a trace.

The Portuguese water dog is not just a pet.This is a faithful guard, reliable friend and companion, an indispensable partner in hunting and fishing. In order for a dog to grow up intelligent, well-mannered and benevolent, a lot of time and effort should be spent on raising it. The first 2-3 years you give the dog to adapt it in society and teach the necessary skills. A competent approach will make the dog a true friend who will support and help in any situation!

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