Portuguese Water Dogs (Cão de Àgua)

The Portuguese Water Dog (Cão de Àgua) is a curly-haired, poodle like breed of dog native to Portugal.

These energetic dogs, which are excellent swimmers, worked alongside fishermen in the Algarve for hundreds of years, earning their names as Water Dogs.

The dogs were in fact considered a valuable member of the crew on trawlers and small fishing boats. The dogs, which are loyal by nature, not only received part of the catch as reward, but also earned a wage.

It is said Portuguese Water Dogs were very valuable assets to fishermen, but they were not sold, only given.

The working dogs were given a particular hair cut to aid swimming in the sea, which gave them the look of a lion.

The muzzle and rear end would be shaved, though hair was left long on the main body, neck and head to ensure vital organs were protected. The dogs worked in herding and catching the fish as well as retrieving anything which was lost overboard, which included the odd fisherman.

However the Portuguese Water Dog population fell into decline at the beginning of the 20th century after modern and efficient fishing equipment was brought in replacing the need for the dogs. However wealthy ship owner Vasco Bensaude, who was introduced to the breed by a friend, began a breeding programme to save the breed.

Bensaude's first Portuguese Water Dog, Leao, was the founding sire of the modern breed and the first litter of puppies was born in May 1937 at his Algaborium Kennels.

The fate of the Portuguese Water Dog breed is more or less assured today thanks to a wealth of breeding programmes set up the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America The Portuguese Water Dogs hit the headlines in 2009 when newly elected American president Barack Obama was given one by Ted Kennedy, a fan and owner of the breed.

In Portugal there is also a breeding programme to save the Portuguese Water Dogs with kennels situated at the Ria Formosa Nature Park in the Algarve.