Portuguese water dog is a breed of dog noted for its exceptional swimming ability. Portuguese water dogs can swim as far as 5 miles (8 kilometers) and dive to depths of 12 feet (3.7 meters). For hundreds of years, the Portuguese have used these dogs in fishing to pull fish and nets from the ocean. The dogs have also served as messengers between ships.
The origins of the Portuguese water dog are uncertain. According to one theory, Portuguese water dogs descended from sheepdogs in southern Russia. Migrating tribes brought the sheepdogs to northwestern Africa by the 700’s. From there, Moor invaders carried the dogs to Portugal, where they were bred to become water dogs.
Portuguese water dogs are muscular and have webbed feet and a tail that curls over the back. The webbed feet enable the dogs to tread water, and the tail serves as a rudder while swimming. Males stand 20 to 23 inches (51 to 59 centimeters) tall at the shoulder and weigh 42 to 60 pounds (19 to 27 kilograms). Females are slightly smaller. The dog’s coat may be long and wavy or short and curly. The most common colors are black and white, and brown and white.
