normal, but should not be bred. Puppies are usually tested at seven to eight weeks of age. There is no treatment or cure for the disease, but all indications are that breeders will eventually be able to eliminate the defective gene for storage disease from the Portuguese Water Dog gene pool.
OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
The health issues discussed here represent some of the most commonly seen in the PWD. Visit the PWDCA’s website for an in-depth look at these and other problems, including heart disease (juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy being the most critical), renal dysplasia (causing kidney failure), cancer, seizure disorders, microphthalmia (an eye disorder) and allergies.
ADDISON’S DISEASE
Signs of Addison’s disease have been seen in young to middle-aged PWDs. It is caused by an adrenocortical hormone deficiency. Symptoms are rather generic, including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and other signs that are not necessarily indicative of a serious condition. Thus Addison’s may be misdiagnosed, but it will be fatal if not detected and treated. If symptoms persist, it is essential to have the veterinarian test the dog for Addison’s disease, since it does occur in the Portuguese Water Dog. Treatment is through hormone-replacement therapy, usually for the rest of the dog’s life. With treatment, an affected dog can live a normal life.
DISTICHIASIS
A dog affected by distichiasis may suffer from eye irritation caused by improperly located eyelashes. Although not yet established, it is probable that this is a hereditary condition; thus, incidences should be noted by breeders and discretion exercised in breeding affected dogs. The Portuguese Water Dog is one of a number of breeds in which distichiasis is present, and the condition can appear in a dog of any age.
CATARACTS
A cataract is a lens opacity that may affect one or both eyes and may involve the partial or complete portion of the lens. It usually develops as a small white area and is hardly noticeable to the naked eye. A cataract can be a result of many different things, including heredity, trauma, inflammation and nutritional deficiencies. Although the exact occurrence of cataracts in the breed is not known, many older Portuguese Water Dogs develop cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts are readily amenable to surgical intervention with excellent results of restoring vision.
The Portuguese Water Dog is, in general, a healthy and hardy breed with an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
FOLLICULAR DYSPLASIA
One of the causes of hair loss in the PWD is follicular dysplasia, a genetic disorder. In the PWD, it is seen primarily in curly-coated dogs produced from two curly-coated parents. Loss of hair occurs on the chest, flanks, back, abdomen and around the rectum. Dogs that are afflicted with the disease will often show slight hair loss around one or both eyes when stressed. At the current time, there is no effective treatment. To eliminate follicular dysplasia, Portuguese Water Dog breeders recommend that curly-coated dogs be bred to wavy coats, not other curly coats.
WHAT IS A STANDARD?
All of the breeds currently recognized by the American Kennel Club for registration have a standard. The standard is written by the breed’s parent club. The standard portrays what would be the ideal representative of the breed. The standard is not the representation of any actual dog, but simply a theory. The breed standard authorized by the American Kennel Club is used as a measuring stick by which AKC judges evaluate dogs at shows.
MEETING THE IDEAL
The American Kennel Club defines a standard as: “A description of the ideal dog of each recognized breed, to serve as an ideal against which dogs are judged at shows.” This “blueprint” is drawn up by the breed’s recognized parent club, approved by a majority of its membership and then submitted to the AKC for approval.
The AKC states that “An understanding of any breed must begin with its standard. This applies to all dogs, not just those intended for showing.” The picture that the standard draws of the dog’s type, gait, temperament and structure is the guiding image used by breeders as they plan their programs.
In a typical dog show, a judge will evaluate every competitor that is shown under him or her. The dog that most closely resembles the standard in the judge’s determination is the dog that is placed first in the class. Not every judge will agree on which dog or dogs are best. That’s what makes conformation competition exciting and appealing to the show dog aficionado. Each show features a different judging panel and completely different opinion as to which dogs best conform to the standard. The breed standard is the “blueprint” of the breed, the ideal for which every breeder strives.
The breed standard can be a very valuable asset for the novice and experienced dog owner, dog breeder and show judge. Any person interested in buying a puppy or adult PWD should study the breed standard thoroughly. It is a valuable guideline in determining the physical and temperamental qualities that make up the Portuguese Water Dog, and some of the less desirable features (or faults) that you should be aware of before buying, even if selecting a pet-only dog. Although the perfect dog portrayed in the breed standard will likely never exist, it is in your best interest to attempt to obtain or breed a dog that closely resembles it.
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB BREED STANDARD FOR THE PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
General Appearance: Known for centuries along Portugal’s coast, this seafaring breed was prized by fishermen for a spirited, yet obedient nature, and a robust, medium build that allowed for a full day’s work in and out of the water. The Portuguese Water Dog is a swimmer and diver of exceptional ability and stamina, who aided his master at sea by retrieving broken nets, herding schools of fish, and carrying messages between boats and to shore. He is a loyal companion and alert guard. This highly intelligent utilitarian breed is distinguished by two coat types, either curly or wavy; an impressive head of considerable breadth and well proportioned mass; a ruggedly built, well-knit body; and a powerful, thickly based tail, carried gallantly or used purposefully as a rudder. The Portuguese Water Dog provides an indelible impression of strength, spirit, and soundness.
“Spirited” and “attentive” are two adjectives from the breed standard that are aptly shown on this PWD’s face.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Size—Height at the withers—Males, 20 to 23 inches. The ideal is 22 inches. Females, 17 to 21 inches. The ideal is 19 inches. Weight—For males, 42 to 60 pounds; for females, 35 to 50 pounds. Proportion—Off square; slightly longer than tall when measured from prosternum to rearmost point of the buttocks, and from withers to ground. Substance—Strong, substantial bone; well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body.
