 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2014) |
| Portuguese Water Dog | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 Portuguese Water Dog | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | cão de água português, cão de água algarvio | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common nicknames | Portie, PWD, Wa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||||||
The Portuguese Water Dog originated from the Algarve region of Portugal. From there the breed expanded to all around Portugal's coast, where they were taught to herd fish into fishermen's nets, retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and act as couriers from ship to ship, or ship to shore.[1] Portuguese Water Dogs rode in fishing trawlers as they worked their way from the Atlantic waters of Portugal to the waters off the coast of Iceland fishing for cod.[2]
In Portuguese, the breed is called cão de água (IPA: [ˈkɐ̃w dɨ ˈaɣwɐ]; literally 'dog of water'). In Portugal, the dog is also known as the Algarvian Water Dog (cão de água algarvio), or Portuguese Fishing Dog (cão pescador português). Cão de água de pêlo ondulado is the name given to the wavy-haired variety, and cão de água de pêlo encaracolado is the name for the curly-coated variety.[3]
The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed; only 36 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Britain's Crufts competition in 2013.[4] Though some breeders claim they are a hypoallergenic dog breed, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that hypoallergenic dog breeds exist.[5] Their non-shedding qualities have made them more popular in recent years. The Portuguese Water Dog was the chosen breed of US President Barack Obama, who had two of them, Bo and Sunny.[6] The Obama family chose Sunny for the breed's comparatively hypoallergenic nature, while Bo was given to them by Senator Ted Kennedy.[7]
- ^ Portuguese Water Dog. Dogs 101. Animal Planet. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
These versatile aquatic animals have been helping humans with water work for centuries. The Spanish Armada relied on Portuguese Water Dogs to carry messages from vessel to vessel...This rugged animal was bred to assist fisherman at sea. 'They did everything from retrieving fishnets to actually chasing fish or scaring fish into the nets themselves.' Exceptional swimmers and divers, Porties also retrieve lost tackles and rescue drowning sailors.
- ^ Correa, Paolo (2001). Portuguese Water Dog (Pet Love). Interpet Publishing. ISBN 1-903098-75-0.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
NCPWDwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Crufts 2013 Results". 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Li, James. "Pet allergy: Are there hypoallergenic dog breeds?". Mayo Clinic.
"There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed
- ^ Leonard, Tom (12 April 2009). "Obamas choose Portuguese water dog called 'Bo'". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "World | Obama family 'picks first puppy'". BBC News. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2014.