Spanish Water Dogs

Descriptions :
The Spanish Water Dog is rustic, well proportioned of medium weight. The head is strong and carried with elegance. The Skull is flat with only slight marked occipital crest. Axes of skull and muzzle are parallel. The nostrils well defined. The nose is of the same color or slightly darker than the darkest one of the coat. The lips are well fitting; labial corners well defined. The teeth are well-formed, white, with well developed canines. The eyes are slightly oblique position, very expressive; of a hazel to chestnut color, should harmonize with the color of the coat. The conjunctiva is not apparent. The neck is short, well muscled, without dewlap, well set into the shoulders. The body is robust and the topline straight. The withers are hardly marked and the back is straight and powerful. The croup is slightly sloping. The chest is broad and well-let down-ribs well arched; diameter of thorax ample indicating considerable respiratory capacity. The belly is slightly tucked up. The tail is set at medium height. Docking must be done at the height of the 2nd to the 4th vertebra. Certain subjects show a congenital shortened tail (brachyouria). The forequarters are strong and vertical. The shoulders are well muscled and oblique. The upper arms are sturdy and the elbows are close to the chest and parallel. The forearms are straight and sturdy. The front feet are rounded, toes tight, nails of varied colors, resistant pads. The hundquarters are perfectly vertical with not too pronounced angulations and muscles capable of transmitting to the body a very energetic impulsion and the spring necessary for easy and elegant jumping. The upper thighs are long and well muscled. The skin is supple, fine and well adhering to the body. Can be pigmented brown or black, or be without pigment according to the color of the coat. The same applies to the mucous membranes. The coat is always curly and of woolly texture. Curly when short, can form cords when long. Clipped subjects are admitted; the clipping, always complete and even, must never become and (aesthetic) grooming. The recommended maximum length of the hair for shows is 12 cm (15 cm extending the curl) and minimum is 3 cm to see the quality of the curl. The puppies always are born with curly hair. Colors include white, black and chestnut in their different shades. Bicoloured: White and black or white and brown in their different shades. Tricoloured subjects and black and tan, as well as hazelnut and tan dogs are not admitted.

Temperament :
The Spanish Water Dog is an extremely intelligent and well balanced versatile working dog with strong herding, hunting and guardian instincts. He is an exceptional companion, devoted to family, attentive and happy dog, showing strength and stamina combined with unusual agility. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with competence and dignity. He is reserved with strangers but should not exhibit shyness. Although an authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable. The Spanish Water Dog is a large dog in a medium body. They should be socialized at a young age with people and other small animals. Be sure you are this dogs firm, consistent, confident pack leader to prevent them from becoming protective and territorial. Although they make fine companions and pets, Spanish Water Dogs (as any other dog) should never be left unsupervised with small children. Because of their high intelligence and working drive, they must be kept mentally and physically active doing something. Some of the tasks that the Spanish Water Dogs are used for are search and rescue, bomb detection, narcotics detection, herding, water sports, competitive agility, therapy work. etc.. teams of Spanish Water Dogs as rescue dogs were sent to Turkey, Mexico and Colombia after they experienced earth-quakes.

Height:
Males 17-20 inches (44 to 50 cm.) Females 16-18 inches (40 to 46 cm.)

Weight:
Males 40-49 pounds (18-22 kg.) Females 30-40 pounds (14-18 kg.)

Health problem :
While the SWD seems to be a very healthy breed there are some issues that the SWD have, just like all other breeds. There are cases of Hip Dysplasia in the breed, so choose your breeder carefully. All breeding dogs should have their hips tested, either by OFA or PennHIP. There have been a few cases of PRA reported in Europe so it is advised that all breeders should test their breeding stock for PRA and other such genetic eye diseases with a yearly CERF exam. A responsible breeder will be able to produce the results in writing. Like other Water Dogs and related breeds, they grow hair in their ear canals and can be prone to ear infections. The ears must be kept dry and clean. . Because these dogs are (as a general rule) so active and energetic as puppies, they may seriously injure themselves from too much running and jumping when their skeletal structure is still developing.

Living condition :
The Spanish Water Dog can adapt to almost all environments or circumstances, as long as it gets enough exercise and is suitable for all climates. These hardy dogs can endure both extreme heat and cold with no problems

Exercise :
The Spanish Water Dog should get plenty of exercise, which includes a daily walk. They are energetic and lively and are in their glory when allowed to romp and play. As young puppies (from 1 month to 7 months of age), their exercise should never be over-taxed, to avoid possible bone an joint problems later on, but should still be taken on a daily walk. They become more active and sleep less as they mature and by the time they are a year old, these dogs have endless stamina and are very fast, athletic and agile.

Life expectancy :
About 10-14 years

Grooming :
First one must determine what duties the dog will undertake. Will he be used for hunting, water-sports, agility or some other form of work, or will he be a show dog. As a working dog you might want to shear the dog often as the coat will hinder his work in the bush while hunting, the hair will be broken of on the branches in the woods thus causing him to have an un-kept look, however if you shear him down he will always look clean and neat. The SWD is a rustic working dog. The coat of the SWD should never be combed or brushed. When allowed to grow, the coat may form cords. To maintain the coat, bathe only when necessary, using a mild shampoo without heavy conditioners. During the bath, the coat should never be rubbed excessively, the soap should be worked through the coat as if washing a sweater. After the dog is allowed to shake, the coat may be blotted with a towel, never rubbed vigorously. Allow the dog to air dry, or use a crate dryer, never a blow dryer. The coat will naturally mat which is what forms the cords. If the coat becomes excessively matted, the cords can be separated by pulling the mats apart with your fingers down to the skin. For show dogs, the Spanish Water Dog should never be aesthetically groomed. The cords should never be trimmed. The coat should be sheared down at least once a year (or more if you prefer a shorter coat) using a #5 blade on the entire body which leaves 1/4 inch of hair, including the head, and the ears. Once or twice a week one should look behind the ears and the area where he sits and with your fingers separate any cords that might bind together. Bathe as needed, drying takes some time. Consistent minimal work is needed to help develop the proper cording. The Spanish Water Dog does not shed it's coat and is a single coated breed. While this produces less dander, people with severe allergies should use caution. The Spanish Water Dog is a hypo-allergenic dog (meaning LESS allergies) but not a non-allergenic dog. Some people are allergic to the saliva and urine as well as the dander. If there are concerns about allergies, it is recommended that one spends time with the Spanish Water Dog to see if they are indeed allergic.

Origin :
History of the Spanish Water Dog

The Spanish Water Dog is an ancient breed. There are several theories regarding its origins, however, the exact origin is not known. One theory suggests that the Turkish merchants brought the dog to the South Iberian Peninsula along with the flocks of livestock as they moved throughout the Mediterranean. Another theory suggests North African origin. Regardless of its exact origin, there is documentation of a wooly coated Water Dog on the Iberian Peninsula in 1110 AD. It is generally accepted that these wooly coated dogs were the ancestors to the common trunk of water dogs.

The breed has been known by many different names, including, Perro de Agua, Perro Turco, Laneto, Perro de Lanas, Perro Patero, Perro Rizado, Churro, Barbeta and most recently Perro de Agua Espanol.

In Spain, the Water Dog was primarily used for herding sheep and goats. In the eighteenth century, a large company called “La Mesta” was responsible for moving livestock, including the Water Dogs, from south to north of Spain and back again searching for fertile grazing areas. This route was known as “Canada Real”. The movement of animals was known as “Trashumancia” Because of this, there were dogs working throughout Spain. When the French Napoleonic forces occupied Spain, the “Trashumancia” began to diminish. Spain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s minister Espartero, gave plots of land to farmers, including livestock and dogs to guard and herd the livestock. The French Aristocracy admired the Water Dog and brought them back to Paris. There are paintings depicting French and Spanish Royalty with Water Dogs which can be seen in “La Palacio de Granja” in Segovia.

While the Industrial Revolution affected the North of Spain and Madrid, it “forgot” the Andalucians. While shepherds in other parts of Spain replaced their herding dogs with German Shepherd Dogs and Belgian Shepherds, the Water Dog remained in the Southern part of Spain, especially Cadiz and the mountains of Malaga in Andalucia due to its ability to work in the mountains. At the same time, in the ports of Seville, Algecieras and Malaga, the Water Dog was used to tow boats to shore. Later, when this task was no longer necessary, they were used in the Northern part of the country to assist the fisherman with their nets.

The Water Dog was also used for hunting water fowl and upland game.

The fishermen in the Northern part of Spain, preferred the lighter colored dogs because they were easier to see in the water, so they primarily used white, beige and bi-colored dogs. The farmers preferred the darker colored dogs because they were easier to see in the pastures, so most of those dogs were brown or black.

The recent history of the breed began around 1980 when at a dog show in San Pedro, Malaga, a woman named Mrs. Mesdag brought a Spanish Water Dog to be shown as an Andalucian Breed. This show was organized by Santiago Montesinos Rubio and judged by RSCE judge David Salamanca Ortega. At the show, Antonio Garcia Perez, who was showing German Shepherd Dogs, saw the dog and told Mr Montesinos and Salamanca that he has seen many of these dogs in Ubrique and surrounding areas (Andalucia) and always wondered why he could never find the breed in any dog book, as they were with his family as long as anyone could remember. Santiago Montesinos, who was from Estepa (Seville) also remembered the dogs from his youth. Antonio Garcia asked Mr Salamanca and Mr. Montessinos to help him get the breed recognized, and they agreed. The first thing they did is request photographs and any records that might be available. Santiago Montessinos Rubio then formed Club de Perro de Agua and designed the logo. He came to Ubrique and surrounding areas, using his own money to take photographs and study the breed. He sent many letters to the RSCE (Central Kennel Club of Spain), but got no response.

In the summer of 1983, Antonio Garcia Perez met with the Ministry of Agriculture, bringing many photographs and Super 8 film, to discuss the Standard for the Breed. The Standard that he initially wrote and presented was for two different sizes of Spanish Water Dogs, but they would not accept this, so the Official Standard was made into one with a larger range of sizes. It was based on a dog named “Lucky” owned by Antonio Morena. It was accepted by the Ministry of Agriculture. In the fall of that same year, at the Madrid World Dog Show at Hipodromo de la Zarauela, two brown dogs were shown, one male and one female. The President of the Spanish Government, Mr. Filipe Gonzalez was in attendance at the show. He told the President of the RSCE, Mr. Valentin Alvarez that he knew the breed because he had seen them in South Andalucia where he grew up. Antonio Garcia Perez promised Mr. Gonzalez a puppy once the breed was officially recognized.

On May 19, 1985, at the Madrid International Dog Show, held at Retiro Park, 47 Spanish Water Dogs were shown to be registered for the first time. There were 42 dogs from the South of Spain and 5 from the North. Due to all the dogs not meeting the Standard, for example some were Albino or had the incorrect bite, about 40 dogs were registered. The breed was officially recognized by RSCE and put into FCI Group VIII (flushing dogs) Section 3 (water dogs). The PDAE was provisionally recognized by FCI until 1999 when it received full recognition.

On September 6, 1986, Antonio Garcia Perez presented a male puppy to Mr. Gonzalez at the Palacio de LaMoncloa. The dog was a brown dog called “Rabon”, born with a natural bob tail. A few days later, the first “Monografica” was held in Ubrique with 27 dogs and was judged by Mr. Marquez de Parales. Best in Show was a brown male named “Marquez Chocolat”. Best of Opposite was a bitch called “Mori”

The Spanish Water Dog can still be found working in the mountains of southern Andalucia herding goat and sheep as they have been for the last 1000 years. They are also used for many more modern tasks such as Search and Rescue and bomb sniffing by the Spanish Government.

Barbet - The French Water Dogs

Almost everybody on this earth has heard of such breeds as the Poodle, the Griffon and the Bichon Frise…have you ever asked yourself where all those breeds came from? Your answer is this…they all came from the Barbet or as some people know him, the French Water dog.

Now, where did the French water dog come from? Well, that is the question for which nobody has a concrete answer, but there are a lot of guesses. Some people say that the French water dog is a descendant of the original Griffon; other people say that the French Water dog or Barbet came from the corded coated dogs that were brought over from Asia when Europe was invaded; others say that the Barbet came from northern Africa, traveling across Spain and settling in France; people say that, although the French Water dog is not the origin of all water dogs he was probably close to the original type. Some good guesses but we will never really know, now will we? The French Water dog has been in Europe for centuries, there are even writings about him from the Elizabethan Era describing the Barbet and the kind of care needed for his coat. The Barbet was used as a water dog (as his name implies) he was the hunters constant companion retrieving fallen game from the land and the water; they also used him as a tracker and a pointer. This dog has been used by farmers to herd sheep and goats, but that is not all, this dog, the French Water dog was also frequently taken to sea to be the sailors’ friend and companion. Talk about a versatile dog, they practically used him for everything. The French Water dog is a medium sized dog that should be 21-25 inches at the shoulder (male) and should weigh 33-55 pounds; the female should be 19-22 inches at the shoulder and weigh 33-55 pounds. This is a breed in the gun dog group and they have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. The French Water dog has a long thick wooly coat which protects him from the elements as he is a working breed, the color of the coat is almost always a solid color including black, grey, chestnut, sand and white, it is almost unheard of for a litter to be born that is multi colored, although it has been reported once or twice it is generally accepted that the French Water dog only comes in solid colors. The French Water dog has a very thick, very dens coat and because of this, even a simple walk outside can result in his hair being matted and full of twigs; consequently, brushing out the coat of the Barbet is an every day must, to keep it twig and matte free. Remember, a clean dog is one step closer to a happy dog! The puppies have soft wavy coats, so to make sure they will have a true Barbet coat, it is advised that you fully shave the whole coat ( at 5 to 6 months) for when it comes back, it will be curlier and some say it will be thicker. When considering a puppy, always look for a good responsible breeder either in your city, the neighboring city, county or even state.

A responsible breeder will be able to offer you proof of vaccines and veterinary health checks, not only on the puppy you are considering buying but also the mom and dad of the puppy. You might be paying a couple of hundred dollars extra but the quality of the puppy that you are getting is going to be much better then if you bought him from say a puppy mill.

Puppy mills usually do not care about the breeding of their dogs, their puppies have not been vaccinated and the dogs are usually kept in horrible conditions. It’s just worth the extra money to get something that you are sure of! The French Water dog is a happy friendly dog that loves to work and he also has a high energy level which means that plenty long walks are a definite must! With an attitude that only wants to please, the Barbet is one of a kind…unique some would say.

Portuguese Water Dog

Descriptions :
The Portuguese Water Dog is a hardy, muscular, medium-sized dog. The coat varies from flat, wavy, shiny type to a thick, open curl, to a tight curl. Two coat clips are used: One clip with the face and rear shaved, and the working retriever or pet clip where the dog is scissored so the coat appears to be about an inch long all over. The single-layered, non-shedding, virtually hypo-allergenic coat comes in black, white or brown, parti-color (white with dark spots), black or brown with white markings, or even silver fox or gray. The body is slightly longer than it is tall; solid and sturdy. The topline should be straight and level. The brisket should reach the elbows, and chest should be broad. The head is large and broad on top with a pronounced stop occiput. The top of the skull should appear rounded. The heart-shaped ears hang down beside the head, but should not hang beyond the lower jaw. The eyes are dark and the teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The tail starts out thick near the body, then tapers. The legs are very straight, strong and parallel. It has more webbing between the toes than many other breeds, which aids in swimming.

Temperament :
The Portuguese Water Dog is a water-loving, lively but sensible, and loyal dog. Affectionate and fun to be around. It is excellent with children and usually gets along with other dogs and pets without any problems. They need to get to know cats so that the company of them will also cause no problems. It has a stable, pleasant temperament. Brave, highly intelligent and trainable; keen to work and quick to learn and understand instructions. Training these dogs is not difficult if you understand the dog's character. They are very sensitive to the tone of your voice. Alternate training and play, and bear in mind that this extremely intelligent dog will take liberties if you think you can just fit a bit of training in when it suits you. Make sure you are consistent, firm and confident in the way you handle the dog. This breed may out-think its owner! Generally willing to please, this is an obedient dog. Spirited, with great stamina, yet calm. Portuguese Water Dogs have a super sense of humor and love to be in the spotlight of attention. They make good watchdogs. They have a very good sense of smell. Suitable for agility skills trials and numerous other dog sports. Portuguese Water Dog puppies are notorious chewers. Be sure to provide them with things they are allowed to chew on. Dominance, barking, and indoor activity level varies greatly with the individual owners. Make sure you are this dog's firm, consistent, confident pack leader, providing daily mental and physical exercise.

Height:
Dogs 20-22 inches (50-57 cm.) Bitches 17-20 inches (43-52 cm.)

Weight:
Dogs 42-55 pounds (19-25 kg.) Bitches 35-49 pounds (16-22 kg.)

Health problems :
Some lines are prone to hip dysplasia and PRA. Breeding stock should be tested for GM-1 Storage Disease, a fatal nerve disease that appears when a puppy is six months old.

Living Condition :
The Portuguese Water Dog will be okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is moderately active indoors and a small yard will be sufficient. It can live outdoors in temperate climates, but would be much happier living close to its family and spending days in the yard.

Exercise :
The Portuguese Water Dog is an active dog with great stamina. It needs daily physical and mental exercise, which includes a daily, long, brisk walk or jog. This breed loves to swim and there is nothing they would love more than if you threw a stick or ball in water for it to retrieve. It will also enjoy a vigorous romp. They make excellent jogging companions.

Life expectancy :
About 10-14 years

Grooming :
The Portuguese Water dog should be brushed and combed regularly. Primarily coat type does not determine which trim they are put in. It is a personal preference. The lion trim is the traditional trim, and it had a specific purpose. The fishermen would shave the rear and muzzle to aid in swimming and working in the water. Long hair was left to help keep vital organs warmer and protect the dog from injury on the main body neck and head. This breed is good for allergic persons as the coat sheds little to no hair and is virtually hypo-allergenic. The coat grows more slowly than that of a poodle and does not require a frequent scissoring or clipping.

Origin :
Developed from working dogs brought by invaders and settlers to the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese Water Dog has aided Portuguese fisherman for many centuries. He herded and caught fish, carried messages between ships, retrieved anything that fell overboard, and guarded the catch and boats when in port. The dogs were valuable enough to be considered part of the crew and were given their share of both the fish and the money earned for the catch. Retired fisherman would often rent out their dogs to bring in some extra money. Gradually technology replaced the Portuguese Water Dog. Radios sent messages and winches pulled the nets. By the 1930's the breed was almost gone. Luckily, a wealthy shipping tycoon, Vasco Bensaude, took an interest in the Portuguese Water Dog and set out to gather fine specimens and start a breeding program. United States interest in the Portuguese Water Dog began in 1958 with the importation of the first pair. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America was formed in 1972 and the breed was accepted for AKC registration in the early 1980's. In the United States, the highly intelligent Portuguese Water Dog is primarily a companion dog, but also excels at water trials, obedience, agility, and as a therapy dog and assistance dog.

Water Dogs and the Portuguese Water Dog

The breeds known as water dogs include the:

- Labrador/Retriever
- Spaniel
- Portuguese Water dog
- French Water Dog (Barbet)
- Spanish Water Dog

Water dogs are in the News because the Obama family has chosen one for their pet.

The water dogs which are best known in the US, and the United Kingdom are Labrador retrievers, and spaniels. There is no UK breed called a specifically an American, UK or English water dog but the spaniels probably come closest. On the Barbet breed web site it is recorded that, from 'The Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature' by Charles Knight (London: 1844), "The water-spaniel is extremely useful to persons engaged in the pursuit of water-fowl; it swims well, is very hardy, and is an excellent retriever".

The Water Dogs would also in some countries, we are told, act as couriers, carrying messages between ships and from ship to shore, and would dive into the sea to retrieve broken fishing nets and equipment that had gone overboard. Often they would have to dive under water to retrieve submerged articles.

The Portuguese Water dogs are typical of the water dog breed family. They are generally happy dogs, and sometimes in the case of the Barbet called laid-back, but the PWD needs to stay busy or it will get bored. You should have plenty of toys for it to play with and you may want to consider crate training when you are not at home. Generally healthy, some can develop hip dysplasia and eye problems such as cataracts. However, in spite of their thick, wavy coats, Portuguese Water Dogs are fairly easy to groom, needing only regular brushing and clipping.

Portuguese Water Dogs are very playful, obedient, and easy to train, plus they really enjoy retrieving games of any sort. They are medium-sized, usually described a "spirited but obedient." They make a good dog for modern day boat owners. PWDs have a body that is slightly longer than tall, the top line is straight and level and the brisket reaches the elbows. Sometimes called 'Porties', they have a broad chest and large head with a rounded skull, and heart-shaped ears that shouldn't hang past their lower jaw.

They were, in times gone by, used for various duties while on board. The most used was their ability to retrieve nets and lost articles at sea, but some say that they were also good at herding fish to the nets. Another use was to get them barking in the fog to alert other boats of their location.

Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent, rugged, robust, and love to work in and out of the water. They are exceptional swimmers and divers with great stamina.

As energetic, lively canines the Portuguese Water Dog adjusts well to almost any lifestyle. They need physical exercise and they love to swim.

If intending to show them please note that they are a very tightly controlled breed in the US, but for the whole breed that is good as we doubt there are very many, if any, puppy farms involving the breed.

Portuguese water dogs are medium sized, strong swimmers and active energetic family pets. in fact they can make very good family pets with their cheerful attitude.

PWD's can have either a wavy or curly coat. Some people call this a tousled coat, and it requires regular brushing, and also clipping and trimming. But don't expect your pet PWD to look like the show dogs you've seen in books or on TV, unless you are trained to do this or the trimmer you employ knows the technique.

They are a hypoallergenic breed making this a perfect choice for the Obama family.

They can come in black, black and white, brown, or brown and white. PWDs are very intelligent and obedient with those who work with them; but they are also self-willed, and not a breed for everyone!

Those who are considering a Portuguese Water Dog should talk with the breeder about their plans for training and being active with the dog, to make sure the breed is a good fit with your lifestyle.

So to summarize, Portuguese Water Dogs are a good indication of the dogs which represent this category of breed. They are very loving, independent and intelligent dogs. They love attention while being glued to their master's side. Portuguese water dogs are known to be great family pets.