PWD
Breed Description

The Portuguese Water Dog carries a rich tradition of nomenclature reflecting its deep cultural roots along the Iberian coast. In its homeland of Portugal, this breed is universally known as Cão de Água, which translates directly to dog of water, a name that perfectly captures the essence of this remarkable swimming breed. Portuguese fishermen affectionately referred to their working companions by this name for centuries, recognizing the inseparable bond between these dogs and their aquatic duties.

The abbreviated form PWD has become the standard informal designation among English-speaking enthusiasts, breeders, and owners worldwide. This shorthand appears frequently in breed publications, kennel club documents, and casual conversation among those familiar with the breed. The nickname Portie has also gained widespread acceptance, particularly in North America, offering an affectionate diminutive that reflects the close relationship owners develop with these charismatic dogs.

Historically, regional variations in Portugal produced slightly different names for dogs working in specific coastal areas. The breed found particularly strong representation in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, where fishing traditions ran deepest and the dogs proved most essential to daily operations. Local fishermen sometimes referred to their dogs using terms specific to their villages or fishing communities, though Cão de Água remained the universal identifier understood throughout Portuguese coastal regions.

The breed's recognition by major international kennel organizations has standardized its official designation while preserving historical naming conventions. The American Kennel Club, which granted full recognition in 1983, uses Portuguese Water Dog as the official breed name, establishing the standard that most English-speaking countries have adopted. The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom similarly recognizes the breed under this name, maintaining consistency across major English-language registries.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale maintains the Portuguese designation Cão de Água Português as the official breed name, honoring the breed's national heritage while providing the international community with the authentic Portuguese terminology. This practice acknowledges Portugal's ownership of the breed standard and the country's role in developing and preserving these remarkable water dogs over centuries of careful selection.

Canadian and Australian kennel clubs have aligned their nomenclature with North American and British conventions, using Portuguese Water Dog as the recognized breed name. This standardization facilitates international breeding programs, show competitions, and health registries that require consistent identification across national boundaries. The breed's relatively recent introduction to many countries outside Portugal has meant that naming conventions established by early importers have remained largely unchallenged.

The Portuguese Water Dog enjoys recognition from all major international kennel organizations, each maintaining breed standards that preserve the essential characteristics developed over centuries of Portuguese coastal breeding. These standards ensure that PWDs bred throughout the world maintain the physical attributes, temperament, and working capabilities that defined the breed during its long history as a fisherman's indispensable companion.

The American Kennel Club granted the Portuguese Water Dog full recognition on August 1, 1983, admitting the breed to the Working Group where it competes today. This recognition followed years of dedicated effort by American enthusiasts who imported breeding stock from Portugal and worked tirelessly to establish the breed in North America. The AKC standard emphasizes the PWD's robust, medium build, exceptional swimming ability, and the intelligent, biddable temperament that made these dogs invaluable to Portuguese fishermen.

The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America serves as the AKC parent club, having formed in 1972 when just sixteen dedicated individuals met at the Connecticut home of Herbert and Deyanne Miller to establish an organization for breed preservation and promotion. From those modest beginnings with only twelve known dogs in America, the PWDCA has grown into a thriving organization that oversees breed education, health initiatives, rescue programs, and regional clubs throughout the United States. The club maintains detailed breed standards and provides breeder referrals for those seeking well-bred puppies.

The United Kennel Club recognized the Portuguese Water Dog in 1987, placing the breed in the Gun Dog Group in acknowledgment of its retrieving and water work heritage. The UKC standard emphasizes the breed's working origins, describing a spirited, intelligent dog of medium build whose physical structure enables exceptional performance in aquatic environments. The UKC's emphasis on working ability complements the conformation focus of other registries.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale classifies the Portuguese Water Dog in Group 8 (Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, and Water Dogs), Section 3 (Water Dogs), under Standard Number 37. As the international federation recognizing Portugal as the breed's country of origin, the FCI defers to the Portuguese Kennel Club for standard maintenance while ensuring worldwide consistency in judging criteria. The FCI standard describes in exacting detail the mesomorphic body type, rectilinear profile, and harmonious proportions that distinguish well-bred specimens.

The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognizes the Portuguese Water Dog in its Working Group, maintaining standards consistent with international guidelines while accommodating British show traditions. British breeders have contributed significantly to the breed's development outside Portugal, with early exports to the UK helping establish foundation stock that influenced breeding programs worldwide.

The Canadian Kennel Club registers the Portuguese Water Dog in Group III (Working Dogs), with the Portuguese Water Dog Club of Canada serving enthusiasts in that country. Canadian breeders have maintained close relationships with their American counterparts, sharing breeding stock and participating in cross-border health initiatives that benefit the entire North American PWD population. The breed gained particular prominence in Canada when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed a Portuguese Water Dog named Kenzie into the family, following the Obama family's popularization of the breed in the United States.

The Portuguese Water Dog presents an impressive picture of athletic functionality, every aspect of its structure contributing to exceptional performance in aquatic environments. This medium-sized breed demonstrates the robust build and powerful musculature developed through centuries of demanding water work along Portugal's coast, where stamina and swimming ability determined a dog's value to fishermen who depended on these canine companions for their livelihood.

Males typically stand between 20 and 23 inches at the withers, with the ideal height being 22 inches, while females range from 17 to 21 inches with an ideal of 19 inches. Weight varies according to height and bone structure, with males generally weighing between 42 and 60 pounds and females between 35 and 50 pounds. The breed standard calls for a slightly off-square proportion, with body length from prosternum to point of buttocks slightly exceeding height at the withers, creating the powerful swimming silhouette that allows efficient water locomotion.

The head commands attention with its impressive breadth and well-proportioned mass, presenting a strong, wide appearance when viewed from any angle. The skull appears slightly domed from the front, with the occiput well-defined and the stop pronounced but not abrupt. The muzzle narrows toward the nose while maintaining substantial width at its base, creating the powerful jaw structure needed for retrieving and carrying objects through water. The nose is large and well-pigmented, black in black or black-and-white dogs and various shades of brown in brown or brown-and-white specimens.

The eyes contribute significantly to the breed's intelligent, alert expression, appearing medium-sized, set well apart, and slightly obliquely placed in the skull. Eye color ranges from black to various shades of brown, with darker eyes preferred in black-coated dogs. The eye rims show full pigmentation matching the nose color. The ears are heart-shaped, set above the eye line, and held against the head, their thin leather preventing water accumulation during swimming.

The neck rises proudly from well-laid-back shoulders, appearing short, round, and muscular without dewlap or excessive throatiness. This powerful neck supports the substantial head during water work and retrieval tasks. The topline remains level from withers to croup, with the well-sprung ribs extending well back to provide the lung capacity essential for sustained swimming. The chest reaches to the elbow, broad and deep enough to house the powerful heart and lungs demanded by athletic water work.

The distinctive coat represents one of the breed's most recognizable features, covering the entire body in tight, low-shedding curls or gentle waves. This single-layer coat provides insulation and water resistance without the heavy undercoat that would become waterlogged during prolonged swimming. The coat grows continuously throughout the dog's life, requiring regular trimming to maintain manageable length. Traditional clips include the lion clip, which leaves the hindquarters, muzzle, and base of tail closely trimmed while maintaining full coat elsewhere, and the retriever clip, which follows the body outline with an even one-inch length throughout.

The webbed feet constitute a defining breed characteristic, the thick skin between the toes spreading to create efficient swimming paddles. Front feet appear round and rather flat with arched toes, while rear feet are similar but slightly longer. Dewclaws may be present or removed. The tail, thick at the base and tapering toward the tip, serves as an effective rudder during swimming, often carried in a ring over the back when the dog is alert. A tuft of hair at the tail tip, left long regardless of which body clip is chosen, provides additional steering capability in water.

The Portuguese Water Dog traces its origins to the ancient maritime traditions of Portugal's rugged Atlantic coastline, where these remarkable canines became integral partners in the fishing industry that sustained coastal communities for centuries. While the precise origins remain somewhat obscured by time, evidence suggests that water-working dogs existed along the Iberian Peninsula for at least a thousand years, evolving alongside the fishing methods and maritime culture of Portuguese seafarers.

Some historians propose connections to dogs brought to the region by ancient traders, possibly including ancestors of the Poodle and other European water dogs, while others suggest indigenous development from dogs already present on the peninsula. Regardless of their ultimate origin, by the medieval period these water dogs had become essential fixtures in Portuguese fishing communities, their skills refined through generations of selective breeding that prioritized swimming ability, trainability, and the physical stamina required for demanding daily labor.

The breed flourished throughout Portugal's coastal regions, with fishermen in every port town relying on these dogs to perform tasks impossible for humans to accomplish efficiently. PWDs would herd fish into waiting nets, their natural herding instinct adapted to the aquatic environment where visible fish schools could be directed toward fishing gear. When nets broke or equipment fell overboard, these tireless swimmers retrieved valuable gear from the ocean depths, diving with remarkable ability to recover items from the sea floor.

Perhaps most impressively, PWDs served as courier dogs, swimming between boats and from vessels to shore carrying messages in waterproof pouches. This communication role proved invaluable in an era before radio contact, allowing fishing fleets to coordinate their activities and enabling urgent messages to reach land without requiring boats to break off productive fishing. The dogs also stood guard when boats anchored in foreign ports, their alertness and loyalty protecting valuable cargo from thieves.

The breed's golden age corresponded with Portugal's maritime prominence, but technological advances gradually rendered many traditional fishing methods obsolete. As motorized equipment replaced manual labor and modern communication eliminated the need for swimming couriers, the working population of Portuguese Water Dogs declined precipitously. By the early twentieth century, the breed that had once populated every fishing village along Portugal's coast was approaching extinction, preserved only in the southern Algarve region where traditional fishing methods persisted longest.

The breed's salvation came through the efforts of Vasco Bensaude, a wealthy Portuguese shipping magnate and dedicated dog fancier who recognized the PWD's cultural and genetic value. After observing two Portuguese Water Dogs at a Lisbon dog show in 1934, Bensaude committed himself to preserving the breed, traveling to the Algarve to locate remaining working specimens. His discovery of a magnificent male named Leão, still working daily on fishing boats, provided the foundation sire for his Algarbiorum Kennel, which would produce many of the dogs from which modern PWDs descend.

Bensaude's nearly thirty years of dedicated breeding established the genetic foundation for breed preservation, though he rarely sold puppies, preferring to maintain control of the developing gene pool. His collaboration with Dr. António Cabral resulted in the first comprehensive breed standard, documented in Bensaude's 1938 monograph that remains an essential historical reference. Following Bensaude's death, his kennel manager Conchita Cintron continued his work, eventually facilitating exports that would establish the breed internationally.

The Portuguese Water Dog's journey to North America began in the 1960s when a few dogs reached American shores. Deyanne Miller of Connecticut emerged as a pivotal figure in American breed development, importing foundation stock and recruiting fellow enthusiasts to the cause of breed establishment. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America formed in 1972 at her home, beginning organized efforts toward AKC recognition that would culminate in 1983 when the breed entered the Working Group.

The breed received unprecedented public attention when President Barack Obama's family selected a Portuguese Water Dog named Bo as their White House pet in 2009, later adding a second PWD named Sunny. This high-profile exposure introduced millions to the breed's charming personality and hypoallergenic coat, dramatically increasing public interest though also raising concerns about uninformed breeding to meet sudden demand. Today, dedicated breeders work diligently to maintain breed health and temperament while meeting responsible demand, ensuring that this ancient working breed continues thriving for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

The Portuguese Water Dog embodies a unique combination of intelligence, athleticism, and devotion that made this breed indispensable to Portuguese fishermen and continues to endear PWDs to modern families worldwide. Bred for centuries to work in close partnership with humans, the PWD has developed an exceptional understanding of human communication and an eager desire to please that makes training a collaborative joy rather than a contentious battle of wills.

Intelligence stands as perhaps the PWD's most defining mental characteristic, a sharp mind that grasps new concepts quickly and retains learned behaviors reliably. This cognitive capacity reflects the breed's working heritage, where dogs needed to understand complex commands, make independent decisions in challenging situations, and adapt their behavior to changing circumstances. Modern PWDs apply this same intelligence to learning household routines, interpreting human emotions, and solving problems that present themselves in daily life.

The breed's biddable nature complements its intelligence perfectly, creating dogs that not only understand what their owners want but actively desire to provide it. PWDs generally approach training with enthusiasm, viewing lessons as opportunities for engagement rather than impositions to resist. This cooperative spirit, combined with a certain sensitivity to handler mood and tone, means that positive training methods produce exceptional results while harsh corrections may damage the bond between dog and human.

Energy and enthusiasm characterize the PWD's approach to life, with most individuals maintaining playful, active personalities throughout their lives. Puppies display boundless energy that gradually moderates with maturity but never fully disappears, leaving adult PWDs ready for adventure at any moment. This spirited disposition requires appropriate outlets, as under-exercised PWDs may channel their energy into destructive behaviors or develop anxiety from insufficient stimulation.

Socially, PWDs tend toward a balance of friendliness and reserve that reflects their dual heritage as working partners and family companions. With their own families, these dogs demonstrate profound affection and loyalty, forming particularly strong bonds with those who participate most actively in their care and training. The breed typically selects one or two individuals as primary attachments while remaining affectionate with all family members.

Strangers receive a more measured response, with well-socialized PWDs displaying polite interest rather than immediate enthusiasm or fearful retreat. This reserved dignity around unfamiliar people served the breed well in its historical role guarding boats in foreign ports, where dogs needed to distinguish between threatening strangers and harmless passersby. Early socialization helps PWDs develop appropriate responses to new people, preventing excessive shyness that can develop if puppies lack exposure to diverse human interactions.

With children, the PWD typically excels, showing patience, playfulness, and a robust tolerance for the sometimes clumsy affection of young family members. The breed's solid build handles rough play better than more fragile dogs, while their active nature makes them excellent playmates for energetic children. Supervision remains important, as with any dog-child interaction, but PWDs generally show good judgment around youngsters and rarely display aggression toward family members of any age.

Other dogs usually find PWDs agreeable companions, though proper socialization during puppyhood establishes the foundation for good canine social skills. The breed's working heritage did not require aggressive behavior toward other dogs, and modern PWDs typically display friendly curiosity toward unfamiliar canines. Same-sex dog aggression occasionally develops, particularly among intact males, but represents the exception rather than the rule in well-bred, properly socialized individuals.

The PWD's clownish sense of humor delights owners who appreciate canine comedy, as these dogs seem to recognize and repeat behaviors that elicit human laughter. This playful cleverness can complicate training if dogs discover that amusing disobedience generates more attention than quiet compliance, requiring handlers to channel the breed's entertainment value constructively.

The Portuguese Water Dog integrates beautifully into family life, bringing energy, affection, and intelligence that enrich households willing to meet this breed's significant needs for activity and engagement. Understanding the PWD's requirements before bringing one home helps ensure that both dog and family enjoy a harmonious relationship built on realistic expectations and appropriate lifestyle adjustments.

Space considerations favor homes with securely fenced yards where PWDs can run, play, and explore safely, though the breed's primary need is for active engagement rather than mere territory. Apartment living can succeed with sufficiently active owners who commit to multiple daily outings, regular visits to dog parks or swimming locations, and creative indoor exercise and mental stimulation. The PWD's relatively clean habits and minimal shedding make indoor living practical, though their size and energy level require adequate room for comfortable movement.

Swimming access represents an ideal amenity for PWD ownership, as few activities satisfy this breed's instincts and exercise needs as completely as water work. Owners fortunate enough to have pools, lake access, or proximity to dog-friendly beaches find that swimming sessions tire their PWDs thoroughly while fulfilling deep-seated behavioral needs. Even non-swimming PWDs typically show immediate affinity for water, wading, splashing, and retrieving with obvious joy.

Exercise requirements rank among the highest of any breed, reflecting the PWD's heritage as a working dog capable of laboring all day in demanding conditions. Minimum daily exercise typically includes an hour or more of active engagement, with swimming, running, and retrieving games providing superior workouts compared to sedate walks. Mental exercise through training, puzzle toys, and interactive games supplements physical activity, addressing the breed's cognitive needs that remain as demanding as their physical requirements.

Children and PWDs often form exceptional bonds, with the breed's playful energy matching the activity levels of younger family members. PWDs show particular patience with children they know well, tolerating noise, sudden movements, and enthusiastic handling with good grace. Teaching children appropriate interaction with dogs remains important, as even patient PWDs have limits, and rough treatment may eventually provoke defensive responses.

Other pets typically coexist successfully with PWDs, particularly when introductions occur during puppyhood. The breed's relatively low prey drive compared to many sporting and terrier breeds means that cats and smaller animals often live harmoniously alongside PWDs, though individual variation exists and caution during initial introductions remains advisable. Dogs of other breeds usually find PWDs agreeable housemates, their sociable nature facilitating pack integration.

Separation tolerance varies among individuals, with many PWDs struggling when left alone for extended periods. The breed's strong human attachment means that isolation can trigger anxiety, destructive behavior, or excessive vocalization. Households where someone is typically home suit PWDs better than those where dogs must spend long hours alone. Crate training, gradual acclimation to alone time, and enrichment activities can help dogs cope with necessary separations.

Vocal tendencies in PWDs run toward the moderate end of the spectrum, with most individuals alerting to unusual occurrences but not barking excessively. Early training can shape vocal behavior, encouraging appropriate alerting while discouraging nuisance barking. The breed's intelligence makes them responsive to vocal management training when approached consistently.

Grooming demands present a significant commitment for PWD owners, as the continuously growing coat requires regular attention to prevent matting and maintain skin health. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks keeps coats manageable, while home brushing several times weekly maintains condition between appointments. Many owners learn to perform routine maintenance themselves, developing skills that reduce professional grooming costs while strengthening the bond between dog and handler.

Training the Portuguese Water Dog offers one of the most rewarding experiences available in canine partnership, as this breed's exceptional intelligence and eager-to-please temperament combine to create an ideal student for handlers willing to invest time and creativity in the educational process. The PWD's working heritage instilled a deep desire for partnership with humans, manifesting today as an enthusiasm for learning that distinguishes the breed among all dogs.

Positive reinforcement methods produce outstanding results with PWDs, their food motivation and desire for human approval creating powerful incentives for correct behavior. Treats, toys, praise, and play all serve effectively as training rewards, with most individuals responding to varied reinforcement that keeps lessons interesting and engagement high. Harsh corrections, physical punishment, or intimidation-based methods prove counterproductive, damaging the trust-based relationship that enables PWDs to perform at their best.

Puppy training should begin immediately upon bringing a PWD home, capitalizing on the early socialization window when young dogs most readily accept new experiences. Housetraining typically proceeds smoothly given the breed's cleanliness instincts and desire to please, though consistency in schedule and praise for outdoor elimination speeds the process. Basic commands including sit, down, come, and stay provide foundation behaviors upon which more advanced training builds.

Socialization during puppyhood shapes adult temperament profoundly, making exposure to diverse people, places, sounds, and experiences an essential investment in the PWD's future behavioral health. Well-socialized PWDs develop into confident adults comfortable in various situations, while undersocialized individuals may struggle with anxiety, fearfulness, or inappropriate reactions to novel stimuli. Puppy classes offer excellent socialization opportunities while introducing basic training concepts.

Obedience training builds naturally on early foundation work, with PWDs excelling in formal obedience competition at all levels. The breed's attention span, willingness to work, and physical capabilities enable precision performances that satisfy the most demanding competition requirements. Many PWD owners discover that obedience training strengthens their bond with their dogs while providing the mental challenges these intelligent animals crave.

Agility offers another venue where PWDs shine, their athletic ability and trainability combining to produce fast, accurate performances over obstacle courses. The breed's medium size, endurance, and love of activity make agility an ideal sport for PWDs and their handlers. Rally obedience, dock diving, and other canine sports similarly showcase PWD capabilities while providing exercise and engagement.

Water training reconnects PWDs with their heritage, and most individuals take to swimming and water retrieval with obvious enthusiasm. Introducing young PWDs to water gradually and positively establishes lifetime enjoyment, while formal water work training can develop sophisticated retrieval and swimming skills. The Portuguese Water Dog Club of America maintains water trial programs that test and certify dogs' aquatic abilities.

Exercise requirements demand serious commitment from PWD owners, as this breed's energy reserves far exceed casual daily walks. Minimum exercise typically includes 60 to 90 minutes of vigorous activity daily, with swimming providing perhaps the most complete workout for these water dogs. Running, hiking, and retrieving games offer alternatives when swimming isn't available. Mental exercise through training, puzzle toys, and interactive games supplements physical activity, addressing cognitive needs that remain as demanding as physical requirements.

Under-exercised PWDs invariably develop behavioral problems, channeling unused energy into destructive behavior, excessive barking, or anxiety-driven activities. The owner's commitment to meeting exercise needs largely determines whether life with a PWD proves delightful or frustrating. Potential owners should honestly assess their activity levels and available time before selecting this demanding breed.

Training challenges with PWDs typically involve their intelligence and creativity rather than stubbornness or defiance. These clever dogs quickly identify loopholes in training, exploiting inconsistencies to achieve their preferences. Handlers must remain alert to manipulation attempts while keeping training sessions engaging enough to maintain the PWD's willing participation.

Understanding breed-specific health concerns enables owners to provide appropriate preventive care while recognizing early signs of developing problems that benefit from prompt veterinary attention. The PWD community has demonstrated exceptional commitment to health improvement, establishing comprehensive testing protocols through the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America's health committee. These efforts have dramatically reduced the incidence of several conditions that once plagued the breed, demonstrating what dedicated breeding programs can accomplish when health becomes a priority alongside conformation and temperament.

Health screening before breeding includes hip and elbow evaluation, eye examinations, cardiac testing, and genetic testing for conditions with available DNA tests, ensuring that breeding decisions consider health alongside other qualities. With appropriate preventive care, prompt attention to developing problems, and the genetic advantages conferred by health-conscious breeding, many Portuguese Water Dogs enjoy active, healthy lives well into their senior years.

Grooming the Portuguese Water Dog requires significant time investment but rewards owners with a clean, hypoallergenic companion whose coat, when properly maintained, presents a handsome appearance while protecting the dog during water work and daily activities. Understanding coat care requirements before acquiring a PWD helps ensure that owners can meet this breed's maintenance needs throughout the dog's lifetime.

The PWD's single-layer coat grows continuously throughout life, lacking the shedding cycles that limit coat length in many breeds. This growth pattern creates the hypoallergenic qualities that attract many owners while necessitating regular trimming to maintain manageable length. Without grooming intervention, PWD coats continue growing indefinitely, eventually matting and causing skin problems if neglected.

Two traditional clip styles predominate in the PWD world, each with historical precedent and practical advantages. The lion clip leaves the hindquarters, muzzle, and base of tail closely trimmed while maintaining full coat on the front body, creating a distinctive silhouette that recalls the breed's Portuguese heritage. This clip originally served practical purposes, reducing water drag on the hindquarters while maintaining insulation over the vital organs. The retriever clip trims the entire coat to approximately one inch in length, following the body's outline to create a uniform, lower-maintenance appearance. Both clips leave the tail tip's natural flag, preserving the rudder function this tuft serves during swimming.

Brushing frequency depends somewhat on clip style and coat texture, with longer coats requiring more frequent attention than shorter retriever clips. Most PWDs benefit from brushing two to three times weekly, with thorough sessions that reach the skin to detect developing mats before they tighten into painful tangles. Slicker brushes, pin brushes, and metal combs all serve useful roles in PWD grooming, with many owners developing preferred tool combinations based on their individual dog's coat characteristics.

Bathing typically occurs monthly for most PWDs, though swimming dogs may require more frequent washing to remove chlorine or natural water contaminants. Using high-quality dog shampoo maintains coat health while avoiding the skin irritation harsh detergents can cause. Thorough drying after bathing prevents the skin problems that develop when moisture remains trapped against the skin beneath dense coat.

Professional grooming every six to eight weeks maintains manageable coat length while ensuring thorough attention to areas owners may miss during home maintenance. Finding a groomer experienced with PWDs proves valuable, as the breed's coat requires different techniques than many common breeds. Some owners learn to perform complete grooms themselves, developing skills through practice and instruction that reduce grooming costs while enabling more frequent attention.

Ear care assumes particular importance in PWDs, whose drop ears and water-loving nature create conditions favorable to ear infections. Weekly ear inspection and cleaning with appropriate solutions removes debris and excess moisture before problems develop. Dogs showing signs of ear infection, including odor, discharge, or apparent discomfort, require veterinary attention for appropriate treatment.

Dental care follows standard canine protocols, with regular brushing using dog-specific toothpaste preventing the periodontal disease that affects many breeds. Dental chews and professional cleanings supplement home care, maintaining oral health throughout the dog's life. PWDs' intelligence often makes them cooperative dental care patients once accustomed to the brushing routine.

Nail trimming maintains proper foot structure and comfortable movement, with monthly trimming typically sufficient for most dogs. Active PWDs exercising on hard surfaces may wear nails naturally, requiring less frequent trimming, while less active individuals need more regular attention. Establishing positive associations with nail care during puppyhood eases lifetime maintenance.