Best Pooch

Since the First Family’s selection of a Portuguese Water Dog as their new addition, many people who had never heard of the breed are now considering getting one of their own. Hopefully these people are doing their homework and researching the breed to see whether or not a Portuguese Water Dog is the right dog for their lifestyle and living conditions, before bringing one home.

While they are great dogs, there are some things you should know about them first, before looking for a reputable breeder, and they are:

• Portuguese Water Dogs, also called Porties, can make good apartment dogs, as long as they get enough exercise. They tend to be quiet around the home – a plus for apartment living.

• The approximate size of an adult would be 16 to 22 inches to the withers and between 35 and 55 pounds.

• They are energetic dogs and need a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour of brisk exercise every day, so if you were a jogger they would make a great companion on your runs.

• If they do not get enough exercise, they can become destructive.

• Unbelievably smart, fun-loving, people friendly and highly-trainable are all traits of the breed.

• They love (and need) toys – they especially love to chew, so provide them with enough chew toys in order to prevent your furniture or other belongings from becoming a chew-target.

• Portuguese Water Dogs are very intelligent and love to learn new things, however you must keep the training challenging and entertaining in order to keep him/her from getting bored.

• This breed gets along well with children and other animals, especially if socialized early.

• A big plus for those who tend to be allergic - they do not shed very much and are considered to be hypoallergenic as far as pets go. That being said, no animal is completely hypoallergenic.

• A Portuguese Water Dog is an inside dog who loves being with their family. This is not the dog to have if you want it left outside in the yard.

• These dogs love water and swimming as exercise, hence one of their characteristics – webbed feet.

• Life Span – 10 to 14 years.

• Health Considerations – As with any breed there are certain health problems that could be associated with the breed. In this case, they have been known to be predisposed to skin conditions, canine hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy (inherited disease that could cause vision loss).

• Grooming – Their curly/wavy hair needs to be brushed regularly. Ears should be kept clean and checked routinely – check with your vet for proper instructions on ear maintenance.

It has happened to me in the past and if you’re a dog owner, it has probably happened to you. C’mon, admit it, it’s okay! Your wonderful little pooch has taken off on you unexpectedly - running like the wind and there’s no chance in hell that you can catch him. You chase him down, or at least try to, but end up looking like a fool who can’t control their dog. Hopefully, when you finally do reunite, you’ve regained your composure enough not to be too hard on the tuckered out little pain in the you-know-what. This scene more than likely could have been avoided with proper training, and it is really not hard to accomplish.

Common sense is the key in training your dog to come to you on command. The worst thing you can do is to swat or scold your dog after he or she runs away from you. Think about it - I mean really - put yourself in the dog’s paws for a second. Would you want to run to someone you know is going to reward you with pain and humiliation? If so, there’s help for you somewhere, but not here. Take it from personal experience - dogs are all about positive reinforcement!

Seriously, there will be times when your dog may get away from you unexpectedly, and knowing how to train them to come on command, could save their lives and your sanity. You must remember though, rule number one is to never, ever punish your dog for coming to you after getting away.
You need to teach your dog the “come” command. This is much easier than you might think and I actually completed the task myself in just a few days with a 4 year old dog. A younger pup probably would have been easier, but he didn’t join our family as a puppy. Instead of assuming that your dog already knows how to sit and stay (a must before proceeding), we will go over that briefly first.

In a nutshell, here’s how you can teach Rover to learn the “sit” and “stay” commands. First, make sure to take your dog somewhere quiet, where he will not be distracted. Use a long leash.  The “sit” command is easily taught by standing along the right side of the dog, holding a treat in front of the dog’s nose high enough for him to point his nose up to the treat, but not too high (that will make him want to jump). Then if you move the treat back a little bit he will naturally lower his rump to a sitting position.  As he does this, you say “sit” and as soon as he sits, you reward him with praise and the treat.  Using the dog’s name before giving the command will help him focus his attention on you (ie: “Rover, Sit”). Do this little drill, until he has mastered the task.

To accomplish the “stay” command, start by asking the dog to sit, then say “stay” and at the same time take your left hand (firm and straight, fingers together) and place it (vertically, fingers down, palm facing doggie,like an upside down stop sign) a few inches in front of his eyes. Then step in front of your dog and turn to face him, and hold the leash so that the leash and collar are positioned high on his neck. In this position, the dog cannot easily move as you position yourself in front of him. Praise him, every time he stays in position and repeat this move a few times.  Then once he has that down, take a small step back and command “stay.” If he starts to move take the leash and hold it over his head so that he will sit back down. Once he understands what you want by the “stay” command, you can gradually increase the time and distance you move away from the dog (reason for the long leash). If he breaks the “stay,” then go back to about a foot away from him and start over from that distance. Remember praises & treats!

Now, back to the command “come.” This is probably the easiest command, once they learn what you want. While still on his leash, call his name, say “come” and reel him in with the leash, praising him as he gets to you. Gradually increase your distance with longer leashes, just keep praising him abundantly, get down on your knees, clap your hands and get him excited to come to you! The first time I accomplished this with our dog, I was hysterical laughing at how excited he got, he just ran right to me and stopped for praise. Practice everyday, in different situations.

When you feel confident enough, practice the commands indoors, without the leash. Also, when you are in the house, start using the “come” command, instead of just calling his name. This is probably one of the most important commands to master, for your dog’s safety.