Living with a Portuguese Water Dog: What to Expect
The day-to-day reality of sharing your home with this medium breed for the next 11-13 yrs - routine, grooming, money and temperament.
โก Daily routine
This is an active dog. The Portuguese Water Dog needs 1-2 hours of exercise daily - brisk walks, fetch or a jog - or the spare energy turns into barking and chewed furniture.
โ๏ธ Grooming & shedding
This coat is a commitment: near-daily brushing and professional grooming every 4-8 weeks. Budget both the time and the salon money.
Shedding is minimal - your black clothes are mostly safe.
๐ฐ First-year Portuguese Water Dog budget
Plan on $2,000-$3,500 upfront for the puppy, then roughly $1,200-$2,000 every year for food, vet care, grooming and supplies. Year one usually adds one-off costs on top: crate, leash, training classes, spay/neuter.
๐ Temperament at home
Around the house, the Portuguese Water Dog is best described as:
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