Portuguese water dog

[Canigoonroblox]

Anyone have one of these or experience with the breed. Reading up on possible breeds for our family. I have 2 sons 9 and 13, husband at home during the day I’m home from 4. I like to swim in the sea, we are very active hillwalking etc.

A friend has one and it’s delightful. An absolute pleasure.

We had a Spanish water dog and I would avoid that breed completely. Very few breeders in the UK and from our experience, aggressive dogs being used as stud dogs over and over because they’re the “perfect specimen” looks wise.

Both breeds are herders and no matter how well trained, are bloody fast! So recall goes out the window, when they catch that scent.
These are breeds that can, and will, actually catch squirrels in the park for example.

I hadn’t thought about a herding trait! I’d preferably like to meet one if possible. It seems very difficult to find potential breeders, however I’m not in a hurry. Train ability is important.

Take a trip to Portugal and meet with some breed specialists here. They are gorgeous dogs

We have a Spanish water dog and don't recognize the experience of them being aggressive at all.

Infact ours is the most loving, affectionate dogs we have ever had. We also do fb meet ups with the other SWDs in Scotland and have never met an aggressive example of the breed.

We have no problem with recall except if he spots sheep but then this is true of a lot of breeds. We just make sure he is on his lead of sheep may be present. He doesn't chase squirrels, deer etc.

I don't know much about PWDs but if they are at all similar to swds then they would be an excellent addition to an active family.

This sounds like an excellent idea!!! I think I would struggle to choose a breed I had never met, but they sound amazing dogs. We have a caravan next to the coast so lots of time spent on the beach and now the boys are a bit bigger I’m starting to think a dog would be a lovely addition and we could give the right dog a good life, I think.

Sorry that reply was for Costacoffee - I don’t know how to tag people in my replies!

However I will now look up Spanish water dogs

What about a just a show cocker. I feel working cockers should be proper working dogs and not pets.

There's Welsh spaniels but I don't know much about those and what homes they are suited to.

My working cocker is a great pet - he’s currently asleep on my knee. He loves running, swimming, hillwalking, but he’s happy to snooze in between walks (except when terrorising squirrels in the garden). We do three walks - morning, lunchtime, after work - one longer (an hour) and two shorter (20-30 mins), or at weekends sometimes two walks but one will be longer and in a more exciting place such as woods or beach. He’s a really cuddly, clever, easily trained dog with loads of personality, and he’s lighter and faster than show cockers and not as barky. Puppy year is hard going as he was constantly on the go finding new things to be naughty over, but after that he’s a lovely, chilled in the house and excited on walks dog.

I know this sounds ridiculous but have you considered their size in a caravan? A friend had two on their family farm and they are delightful but not compact.

I have two Spanish Water Dogs and although they can be a difficult breed to live with if their needs aren't met, I disagree with the negative comments above regarding them.

There aren't many breeders in the UK, but those that are are in the main responsible IMO and breeding good examples with relevent health tests etc. I don't know of anyone currently breeding in a kennel scenario in the UK, the dogs are kept in the home/as pets. Different lines have different temprements and some are definitely more laid back than others, so definitely meet some breeders/dogs if you want to consider this breed. Shows are a great place to chat to breeders and owners, especially the breed club show if you are near Stafford.

They are a guarding breed and they DO bark. Very lucky if you find one that doesn't. They do have a herding instinct, but I don't find this a problem. One of mine is super easy to motivate and train, one of mine is more nonchalant/not easily motivated, so more tricky to train, but both have an excellent recall and are well behaved/can be taken anywhere.

They definitely need someone with time to commit to them and they can be quite high maintenance dogs compared to some other breeds, but are smaller than a Portugese. Maybe worth looking at Lagottos/Italian Water Dogs too?

Tibetan Terrier or a Poodle? Smaller but still all the fun you want from a family pet .... a Poodle is a "water dog" so definitely ticks all the boxes.

I thought of Lagottos too. A friend has one and they're a nice dog.

Barbet? I believe they are increasing in popularity.