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The first Portuguese water dog I ever met was owned by a friend of my mother's, who cut our hair. Every time I would come over for a hair cut I'd play with the dog, and he was very sweet to me even when I was little. At the time, it didn't mean much to me that he didn't shed. Now, seeing as I have a lab and frequently have to vacuum, I appreciate Portuguese water dogs even more. In the future I would definitely consider getting one of my own, as I've enjoyed the company of every one of these dogs that I have encountered.

These dogs, however, are not just good pets because they don't shed. They are also incredibly good with children. The woman who owned Tucker (the Portuguese water dog) had two young children, and though Portuguese water dogs are large dogs, they are usually very good with young children.

The reason they are called Portuguese water dogs is because they were originally found along Portugal's coast, and were used by fishermen to herd in nets and perform other water based tasks. As you can infer from that, Portuguese water dogs are also very good swimmers, and are also obedient and train quickly.

These dogs make wonderful pets for almost any family. They're also good pets if you or a family member have an allergy to dogs, since they don't shed. In addition to that, they're very intelligent dogs and they learn quickly. They also tend to be quiet dogs, though they will bark if they feel threatened and will also bark if they see someone approaching the house. They can also be trained to bark when the phone rings, which helps if you are hard of hearing, as they can bark very loudly. Portuguese water dogs are often trained as dogs for the blind or deaf.

Portuguese water dogs require some grooming as their coat grows somewhat quickly. They are friendly with strangers and not incredibly aggressive. They will jump sometimes to greet, but can be trained not to.

Though very friendly and affectionate, this dog is not for everyone. Portuguese water dogs require a lot of attention as they are a very active dog, and enjoy having their master spend time with them. If you don't have time to walk or play with your dog, this is not the dog for you. If you do have time to train and play with your dog, a having a Portuguese water dog will be very rewarding. These dogs love to play fetch and enjoy activity within sight of a human companion, so they will rarely wander off.

Learn more about this author, E. R. Smalter.
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