Breed History
The Portuguese Water Dog traces its origins back to the Dark Ages, and is believed to share the same Central Asian forebears as the Poodle....
How the dog reached Portugal is not precisely known, though most experts believe it arrived either with the Visigoths during the 5th century or the Moors during the 8th century. In Portugal, the dogs were used to guard fishing boats, carry messages from one ship to another, and even to herd fish into the nets! This makes the Portuguese Water Dog the only breed recognized by the American Kennel Club that can count fish herding as one of its primary occupations. In some instances, the PWD was also put to work as a traditional herder of sheep. With the advent of modern fishing equipment during the late 19th century, Portuguese Water Dogs found that their skills were no longer needed on the Atlantic trawlers. The dogs disappeared rapidly, and by the early 20th century many believed the breed had gone extinct; in fact, experts today believe that at one point there were fewer than 25 Portuguese Water Dogs left in the world. The breed was saved by a Portuguese shipping magnate named Dr. Vasco Bensuade. Bensuade initiated an extensive breeding program with all the PWDs he could find, and also established a breed standard and club. The breed was introduced to the United States in 1958 and the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America was formed in 1972; at the time, it was the rarest breed in America. The AKC admitted the Portuguese Water Dog Club into the Working Group in 1984. From its near extinction less than 100 years ago, the Portuguese Water Dog has made a full recovery, and is enjoying a rapid growth in popularity today. In Portugal, the Portuguese Water Dog is still used to rescue imperiled swimmers from the water. Senator Ted Kennedy owns a PWD named Splash.