Tips to Raising Well Your Portuguese Water Dog

Upon hearing of such a new-sounding dog breed, fans of the portuguese water dogs must be well versed by now in the basic information that there is to know about the breed. But no Wikipedia entry can fully capture what is essential in each individual portie—as these dogs can also be called—or in the portie that is being considered as family pet.

For example, among the many concerns that can be known about the breed, an important one is the degree of challenge in training a Portie. Is the portie open to being trained, or does it end up struggling against independence streaks?

Indeed, training a portuguese water dog is something not to take for granted. After all, the portie is one of the smartest dogs worldwide, and it has no patience for repetitive, lifeless lessons. So the portie is truly a trainer’s dream assignment, but trainers who become nervous, or erratic, lacking confidence or consistency, will soon see the portie grow inexplicably unresponsive.

Lest it be imagined that porties are schemers and four-footed cheats, porties are on the contrary only too anxious to please. Their day is made when they know that their master is happy with the way they do things. This encouraging thought drives them to finish what is asked of them. Another interesting thing about porties is that they are capable of sensitivity, like shelties. Thus nothing can be more effective in training them than “praise-based” training, which taps into their emotions.

In any event, it needs noting that any dog breed will certainly benefit from obedience training, or in the case of porties, portuguese water dog training. A veteran portuguese water dog breeder is the able source of authority to explain the more challenging topics of caring for the breed: its tendency to counter-surf, its love for loitering on couches and furniture; and on to things owners least expect, like teething dogs, dogs inclined to destruction, and caring for an energetic pet’s hips. Socializing is the one activity that can have a significant impact in those early years.