 The Portuguese Water Dog has had a most unusual and exhausting task in past years; that of swimming about in the water to drive fish into nets, retrieve lost fishing tackle and be a ship to shore or even ship-to-ship courier. The unique qualities it needed to develop to cope with such an energetic and wet lifestyle were stamina, endurance and the ability to store large reserves of energy. It is one of the few dog breeds to have webbed feet, no doubt an incredible aid in doing its tasks.
The Portuguese Water Dog also has the protection of a coat that never sheds and a lean body that will not be too heavy for swimming. The Portuguese water dog has been mistaken for a poodle; understandable since poodles were bred from them.
Portuguese Water Dogs are mainly used for show these days and so are clipped in a similar manner to the poodle; the lion clip that leaves long hair on the front of the dog while clipping it short on the back part. Since the coat does not shed it needs lots of brushing to remove loose hair that would otherwise tangle and matt.
As a breed that spent much of its time on and in the water, the diet of the Portuguese water dog was a great deal different from that of a land dog, being mainly fish, rice and nuts with olive oil. Fruits available were oranges and dried figs.
Today, their diet should reflect foods such as fish found in coastal areas and avoid those heavier types of meat like beef and horsemeat. Also avoid beet products, potatoes and soy.*
As for the Portuguese Water Dog and most breeds of dogs it is highly recommended that a quality dog vitamin supplement be added as a regular part of their daily nutrition as dog foods alone cannot provide all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrition that your beloved Portuguese Water Dog needs. A quality dog vitamin will aid in maintaining a healthy dog and thereby increasing their quality of life and longevity.
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Portuguese Water Dog on a path to a longer, healthier life!
*Before altering your dog's diet it is absolutely necessary that you discuss this with your vet. Your veterinarian should have all the vital information on your dog such as any previous ailments etc. and should make the final determination on the proper feeding and nutrition of your dog.
To learn more about the ingredients that NuVet uses and the benefits of each, please follow this link. NuVet Dog Vitamin Supplement Ingredients |
