Where Can I Purchase a Portuguese Water Dog

If you are in love with the President's new family member, Bo, you may be wondering, "Where can I purchase a Portuguese Water Dog?" Your first stopping point should be learning more about the Portuguese Water Dog breed. After determining if you, your lifestyle and your home are ready for this high-energy dog, turn to the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. Check out their recommendations in terms of both the care and training of the dog, and then investigate their breeder referral program.

There are reasons you need to curb your enthusiasm and not rush out immediately to buy a Portuguese water dog. While finding a breeder may not be a problem, finding a qualified and knowledgeable breeder can be. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America has a wealth of information on the breed, its training and care, and on responsible breeders throughout the United States.

When President Obama and his family announced they were getting Bo, the first thing the club did was to put out a well crafted press release on the responsible breeding and ownership of the Portuguese Water Dog. The PWDCA maintains a paid membership as well as a Breeder Referral List. To get on the list, members must not only meet stringent qualifications, they must also sign a Breeder Referral Agreement Form.

In signing the PWDCA Breeder Referral Agreement Form, a breeder is agreeing to breed and sell Portuguese Water Dogs in an environment that places attention primarily on the health and well-being of the dog. While meant to further the breed’s bloodline and help eliminate genetic problems, the agreement is also attentive to the fact the dogs must be raised in an environment suited to their temperament and needs.

The PWDCA Breeder Referral Agreement form also extracts a pledge from each breeder regarding the ethical advertisement and sale of each dog. Membership has its privileges, and those privileges are revocable at any time.

The importance of PWDCA and other dog breed clubs cannot be underestimated. They offer both a requirement and an incentive to their membership to strive for quality in the type of dog they breed, and encourage the fair and ethical treatment of future owners and customers.

A breeder of Portuguese Water Dogs is going to be able to show or give you the following:

• Proof of the health of the dog, including
  • The dog’s parents and the dog, if over a certain age, have had their hips checked and x-rayed for dysplasia, preferably by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
  • Proof the dog and its parents have had their eyes checked within the last year, preferably by a Canine Eye Research Foundation (CERF) ophthalmologist.
  • Proof of the dog’s vaccinations and preliminary checkups by a qualified veterinarian, according to the age of the dog or puppy you are buying.

• The breeder will allow you to tour the facilities and kennels and show you where and how your dog has been raised to date.

• The breeder is able to provide references from other customers including contact phone numbers so you may contact these customers directly and ask questions.

• The breeder allows you a certain time during which you can have your puppy or adult dog checked out by the veterinarian of your choice (at your expense).

One way to answer the question of "Where can I purchase a Portuguese Water Dog?" is by considering taking in a rescue dog. The PWDCA has a rescue branch currently headed by:

Mary Harkins (Coordinator)
1231 Nemeth Rd
Coopersburg, PA 18036-9084 610-346-9370 (Phone)
610-346-9371 (Fax)
rescue@pwdca.org

Not only is rescue work done by this branch, but PWD owners can also receive counsel and advice regarding health and training issues innate to the breed.

• Another place to look for a Portuguese Water Dog is at your local rescue shelter. Shelters are often the temporary home to pure bred and mixed breed Portuguese Water Dogs. The breed is often mistaken for a large Poodle. Outside of a breeder’s carefully controlled environment, the PWD has often been crossbred with Poodles.

• If you are in the mood for a vacation, try traveling to Algarve, Portugal, the home of the breed. With its sandy beaches and oceanside accommodations, it is the perfect place to go and watch the Portuguese Water Dog trials. The border town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio holds the dog trials periodically, especially during the month of April.

A Portuguese Water Dog is a beautiful, intelligent animal. The cost of owning a purebred PWD dog starts at approximately $1,500.00 and goes up from there. The cost helps cover the aforementioned testing, and this will help ensure you are getting a dog that will be a friend and companion for many years to come..

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