How Long Do Portuguese Water Dogs Live?
Portuguese Water Dogs live 11-13 years on average. Here is the AKC breed profile, the health areas to stay ahead of, and how to give a Portuguese Water Dog more good years.
Breed profile
Breed profile and trait ratings: American Kennel Club. Trait scores are AKC ratings from 1 to 5.
At 42-60 pounds, the Portuguese Water Dog is a large breed. Large breeds tend to age faster and live a few years less than small dogs, which its 11-13 years average reflects.
Does a Portuguese Water Dog fit your life?
The Portuguese Water Dog is a highly trainable, endlessly affectionate athlete that's wonderful with kids, other dogs, and new people alike. It adapts easily to most homes and thrives on having a job. The tradeoff is real commitment: this breed needs serious daily exercise plus regular professional grooming for its coat.
A great match if you
- You'll find training comes easily, this is one of the most responsive breeds around.
- You'll have a dog that's wonderful with children.
- You'll enjoy an easy time with other dogs and new people, this breed is sociable across the board.
- You'll get a playful, upbeat companion that thrives on activity.
- You'll find this dog adapts well to new homes, routines, and travel.
Think twice if
- You'll need to commit to serious daily exercise, this breed needs real physical and mental work.
- You'll need to budget for regular grooming, the coat requires ongoing professional care.
- You'll want to keep this dog engaged, a bored, understimulated dog this smart will find its own project.
Health areas for the Portuguese Water Dog
Based on the breed profile, the health areas most worth staying ahead of for a Portuguese Water Dog are Dental and oral health (owners often watch for teeth, tooth).
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Portuguese Water Dog facts, quick answers
How long do Portuguese Water Dogs live?
Portuguese Water Dogs live 11-13 years on average, and plenty go beyond that. The two biggest levers on where a given dog lands are keeping it at a lean, healthy weight and staying ahead of the health issues the breed is prone to.
How big do Portuguese Water Dogs get?
A full-grown Portuguese Water Dog stands 20-23 inches (male), 17-21 inches (female) and weighs 42-60 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female), which puts it firmly in the large-breed range.
What kind of dog is a Portuguese Water Dog?
The Portuguese Water Dog is a working breed, and one of the country's more popular breeds, ranked 45 of 208. It is a large dog that typically lives around 11-13 years.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs high-energy dogs?
Portuguese Water Dogs are a high-octane breed that needs serious daily exercise and, ideally, a job to burn it off; without that outlet they get bored and restless.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs easy to train?
Portuguese Water Dogs are very trainable and love having their brain worked, picking up commands quickly with positive, consistent training.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs shed a lot?
Not really. They shed very little, though low-shedding coats often trade that for more regular grooming or clipping.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs bark a lot?
They bark a normal amount, mostly to let you know something is up.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs good with kids?
Portuguese Water Dogs are great with children, gentle and patient, which is a big reason families love the breed; supervise young kids around any dog.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs get along with other dogs?
Portuguese Water Dogs are generally sociable with other dogs and usually enjoy the company.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs friendly with strangers?
Portuguese Water Dogs are friendly with strangers and tend to greet new people like old friends.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs good for first-time owners?
Portuguese Water Dogs are rewarding but not the easiest first dog; they do best with an owner ready to commit to their exercise, training and grooming.
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