Breed profile
Portuguese Water Dog
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeMedium
ExerciseModerate
GroomingHigh
ChildrenGood
BarkingModerate
HealthModerate
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classMedium
Adult weight16 to 25 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelHigh
BarkingModerate
Grooming effortHigh
Health burdenModerate
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Limited fit
- Alone tolerance
- Low
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Possible
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- High
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- High
- Professional grooming
- Professional grooming likely
- Shedding
- Very low
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Good
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- High
- Visitors
- Good
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Moderate
- Heat tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Moderate
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Hip dysplasia
- Progressive retinal atrophy
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.