After years of living in the shadows of other working dogs, America's first family has redirected the breed spotlight to shine on the lovable Portuguese water dog. With such outgoing, intelligent and playful personalities, one of these wavy-haired canines may be the perfect addition to your family.

Athletic and Intelligent: You Can Have Both

The Portuguese water dog possesses boundless energy and a keen intelligence. Originally utilised by Portuguese fishermen, these dogs assisted with such chores as fetching fallen items from the water, chasing fish into nets and swimming messages between boats. Today's water-loving dog will enjoy fetching a tennis ball that is repeatedly tossed into the water, tagging along on fishing excursions or joining his owner for a daily jog on the beach. These dogs are highly energetic and crave opportunities to expend physical energy. They are also enthusiastic toward learning and discovery, so they also thrive on mental stimulation. Easy to train and eager to please, these dogs are loyal, obedient and excel at agility and other canine sports activities.

Family Ties

This social breed has a strong sense of family belonging and thrives with families that are active. He gets along well with children, other dogs and other pets. His outgoing nature assures a friendly greeting when meeting strangers, yet his fierce loyalty to protecting his home and family also makes him a devoted watchdog. He makes an ideal playmate for active children, joining in games of tag or running after their soccer balls. Owning this dog is a wonderful way to get the whole family off of the couch and moving. His insatiable curiosity, exuberance and spirit often provide families with entertainment through his amusing antics. Despite such high energy levels, as long as the dog is provided with enough opportunities to romp and expend some of that energy, he is actually a calm dog that enjoys the simple pleasure of human companionship.

Love the 'Do, and It's Hypoallergenic Too!

Portuguese water dogs have handsome, luxuriously wavy coats. The most commonly seen colours are black and brown, sometimes with white markings. White coats are also available, though they are much less popular. The similarity of the coat to that of a poodle renders this breed to be well tolerated in households with mild allergy sufferers. The curly locks grow and fall more loosely than those of the poodle. The coat may be trimmed regularly to resemble either a puppy cut or a lion cut style. Some owners may choose to allow the coat to grow long, an option that will require daily brushing at home.

If you are contemplating this rising star of the canine community as a potential new family member, consider browsing the many pages featured on social media websites by dog owners, breeders and rescue organisations. The informational network will educate, connect and guide you toward finding the perfect Portuguese water dog to make a splash in your household, providing your family with unwavering companionship, unrelenting affection and unconditional love.