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Know your 'First Dog' - the Portuguese Water Dog
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Photo from the AKC gallery.
Know your First Dog, the Portuguese Water Dog
Well, now that a Portuguese Water Dog is trotting around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, you probably would like to know a bit more about them. The breed. that is, I can’t vouch for “Bo” himself, but there will be plenty of news forthcoming from the mainstream media, I’m quite sure. Read on.
A robust, medium-build breed, the Water Dog comes with its own waterproof coat (handy – considering their job description. See below) and an ability to swim all day (also very handy). Its coat can be curly or wavy and is black, white, or brown, or combinations of black or brown with white.
The AKC lists the Portuguese Water Dog as:
* Working Group; AKC recognized in 1983.
* Ideal size: 35 to 60 pounds and 17 to 23 tall inches at the shoulder.
* Fisherman’s working companion; family pet.
Fisherman’s working companion? Well – yes.
The Portuguese Water Dog was originally bred to accompany fisherman on their boats along Portugal’s coast and referred to as Cao de Agua (dog of water) in its native Portugal (Gee, now there’s a surprise, huh?).Known for centuries and prized for its strength, spirit and soundness, the Portuguese Water Dog was a loyal worker and companion.
The daily duties for a Portuguese Water Dog varied from retrieving broken nets, diving for fish, and carrying messages between boats and to shore. When ‘off-duty’ they were still expected to guard the boats while in port. Hope they got overtime.
But in the early 20th century their skills were gradually replaced by the increasing use of modern technology and the breed might have disappeared altogether if it hadn’t been for the efforts of a Dr. Vasco Bensaude, a Portuguese shipping magnate, who saved the breed out of his deep felt affection for them.
One of the key factors to the Obama family was that Bo be hypoallergenic, but there are other breeds that meet this requirement, should that be important to you as well, Also consider breeds whose coats require much less regular maintenance.
One other notable trait of the Water Dog is a high degree of intelligence. This means he takes well to training, and is a highly energetic and a diffidently curious breed. This combination brings the not-so-desirable trait of getting into anything and everything. It also means the Obama’s might have given access to their household to a bit of a scamp. Are you ready for the required daily vigorous walks, Mr. President? Hope so, or you just might find your morning reports shredded all over the West Wing! And the East Wing. Maybe The First Lady should consider putting a fish pond in the White House lawn?
Will Bo have his first 100 days press conferrence? I'm betting that he does!
In keeping with our theme of being a responsible pet owner, because of the high visibility of Bo, the probability is that people will now be scrambling to get their own Portuguese Water Dog – but should they? If you are considering inviting a Portuguese Water Dog into your home, please learn as much about them as you can and how (if) they fit into your family lifestyle before you commit.
Woof for now.
Email: dawghugger@att.net
Learn more about the Portuguese Water Dog at the AKC web site.
http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_water_dog/puppy.cfm
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