411 on Portuguese Water Dogs?
January 18, 2015 9:27 PM Subscribe
We're thinking of adopting a Portuguese Water Dog, if we can find one to adopt.
I had a beloved Bouvier for twelve years, which is about as long as you get to have a large dog, but as we're in our fifties now, we worry that we might not be able to carry a Bouvier, and sometimes you have to carry your dog.
Is a Portuguese Water Dog of a similar temperament? (Even-tempered, smart, sociable, alert, protective without being aggressive?)
If you have rescued or adopted a PWD, what was your experience like? And how did you find one to adopt or rescue?
Our Bouv was not allergenic, since he never shed. Are PWD's similarly non-sheddy?
I had a beloved Bouvier for twelve years, which is about as long as you get to have a large dog, but as we're in our fifties now, we worry that we might not be able to carry a Bouvier, and sometimes you have to carry your dog.
Is a Portuguese Water Dog of a similar temperament? (Even-tempered, smart, sociable, alert, protective without being aggressive?)
If you have rescued or adopted a PWD, what was your experience like? And how did you find one to adopt or rescue?
Our Bouv was not allergenic, since he never shed. Are PWD's similarly non-sheddy?
Just wanted to mention some other breeds to consider. We were looking for similar qualifications (even tempered, smart sociable, non shedding/less allergenic) as well as calm indoors. Our first dog was a standard poodle which we liked but had health problems that we felt were the result of in-breeding. Our next dog was a full-size labradoodle (at 50 pounds, smaller than a standard poodle but not a small dog) They have been bred for intelligence and temperament, not for show or breed standards. A really wonderful option although we were very careful to get one from a responsible breeder - not just a random cross of a lab and a poodle.
posted by metahawk at 12:28 AM on January 19, 2015
posted by metahawk at 12:28 AM on January 19, 2015
My sister adopted a PWC. The Humane Society thought she was a Bearded Collie, but at a large dog event the PWC folks identified Mischa as a Portie. Sissy just flipped through the pictures on the website until she found a doggie she liked.
Porties are mischievous, smart and very high energy. They're working dogs so they need lots of exercise to work out all of their energy. Sissy walks Mischa in the morning and at night to keep household destruction to a minimum.
MIscha doesn't shed, so that's a plus.
Sweet dog, loves affection and attention.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:21 AM on January 19, 2015
Porties are mischievous, smart and very high energy. They're working dogs so they need lots of exercise to work out all of their energy. Sissy walks Mischa in the morning and at night to keep household destruction to a minimum.
MIscha doesn't shed, so that's a plus.
Sweet dog, loves affection and attention.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:21 AM on January 19, 2015
You could also consider a Wheaten Terrier. They are extremely smart, not huge (mine is on the big side at 50 lbs), love people, are protective, don't shed, and are not super-hyper. If they didn't require some upkeep to keep from matting, I'd call them the perfect dog. As always - rescue or responsible breeder.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:23 AM on January 19, 2015
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:23 AM on January 19, 2015
(Even-tempered, smart, sociable, alert, protective without being aggressive?)
My F1 Goldendoodle, Muppet, hits these marks - except for being protective. She's too friendly to protect me.
But she is a Phantom Goldendoodle, meaning that she started out almost all black and is now a confusing mix of black-turning-to-silver/gray/white - the result being that she looks very menacing. She has what I call a Day of the Dead mask to her face. And she's big, so that helps.
(We have a little schnauzer/poodle mix who will absolutely protect me. His name is Fritz.)
Muppet was the last of her litter to be chosen, because, I guess, people getting Goldendoodles are looking for "golden", not black/sooty/gray?
The "F1" (poodle bred directly to golden retriever) helps with the allergy issue. She could almost pass as a PWD.
She looked like the Heidi's Girl #8 on this website, but she is tall and around 55lbs now. (This is not an endorsement of that breeder, just to show you what my phantom Goldendoodle looked like.)
Best tempered dog I've ever had. (Talked my husband down from an Irish Wolfhound due to their health issues and life brevity.)
posted by vitabellosi at 11:59 AM on January 19, 2015
My F1 Goldendoodle, Muppet, hits these marks - except for being protective. She's too friendly to protect me.
But she is a Phantom Goldendoodle, meaning that she started out almost all black and is now a confusing mix of black-turning-to-silver/gray/white - the result being that she looks very menacing. She has what I call a Day of the Dead mask to her face. And she's big, so that helps.
(We have a little schnauzer/poodle mix who will absolutely protect me. His name is Fritz.)
Muppet was the last of her litter to be chosen, because, I guess, people getting Goldendoodles are looking for "golden", not black/sooty/gray?
The "F1" (poodle bred directly to golden retriever) helps with the allergy issue. She could almost pass as a PWD.
She looked like the Heidi's Girl #8 on this website, but she is tall and around 55lbs now. (This is not an endorsement of that breeder, just to show you what my phantom Goldendoodle looked like.)
Best tempered dog I've ever had. (Talked my husband down from an Irish Wolfhound due to their health issues and life brevity.)
posted by vitabellosi at 11:59 AM on January 19, 2015
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Back to your PWD. I also have looked into these. Great looking dogs, non shedding, intelligent, people friendly etc. From those that I have encountered all of them are hyper active! Not quite the same temperament as a Bouvier...
posted by Mac-Expert at 11:07 PM on January 18, 2015