Are you looking for a canine companion? Choosing the right dog breed can be a difficult decision. There are so many wonderful dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds, and mixes that choosing a particular one can be a real challenge. You’ll want to take them all home! One dog breed that will likely attract more attention in the future is the Portuguese water dog, the breed the Obamas have chosen to be their family dog. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Portuguese water dogs as pets?

Advantages of Portuguese Water Dogs

They don’t shed a lot.

If your house is as clean and tidy as Martha Stewart’s and you want to keep it that way, the Portuguese water dog may be for you. This breed has the advantage of being a single coated dog that sheds minimally. Despite this, their hair will grow quite long unless properly cut and groomed on a regular basis which can be costly. This is usually best done by a professional groomer.

They adapt well to other pets and children.

Portuguese water dogs tend to be good natured and adaptable and usually get along fine with other dogs, although cats may present more of a challenge. As a generalization, they interact well with children.

They’re obedient and intelligent.

This is a dog breed that’s intelligent and responsive to training, although they need a firm, but loving, trainer to show them the ropes. Once they understand you’re the leader, they’re extremely eager to please and are very fast learners.

They’re not too big and not too small

This breed averages around fifty pounds when fully grown, although females can be smaller. This makes them large enough to be a fun loving companions you can romp with, yet small enough not to intimidate children.

Disadvantages of Portuguese Water Dogs

They require regular exercise

This dog breed thrives on exercise and activity. With their athleticism and love of water, they would enjoy nothing more than to spend the day with you at the lake retrieving sticks from the water. If you’re a couch potato at heart, this may not be the dog breed for you.

They love to chew.

When a Portuguese water dog becomes bored from lack of activity, they usually manifest their boredom by chewing on whatever objects happen to be around. To prevent this, they need to have a regular outlet for exercise and lots of safe chew toys to keep them mentally challenged.

They’re expensive.

At one point this breed was almost extinct. Although no longer rare, breeders still charge top dollar for Portuguese water dogs, often over a thousand dollars. It’s also unlikely you’ll find this dog breed in shelter.

Health problems

Portuguese water dogs are susceptible to a variety of health problems including a genetic disease known as GM-1 storage disease and juvenile cardiomyopathy, a genetic form of heart disease. They’re also prone to cataracts and hip dysplasia. Their average life expectancy is around thirteen years.

As you can see the Portuguese water dog can be an intelligent, obedient, but very active companion. Do your research before buying this breed due to their propensity towards genetic health problems. As always, when selecting a dog breed, don’t forget about checking rescue groups and local shelters first to help reduce the problem of animal overpopulation.