In recent years, PWD enthusiasts have been able to create many versatile looks for their Portuguese Water Dogs. Sometimes it’s even hard to imagine that it’s essentially the same dog. In the show ring, quite a few observers confused a portie with a poodle!
When it comes to coat type, there are two acceptable types. The wavy coat is said to be more in line with tradition, but that doesn’t make the second type, the curly coat, any less acceptable. Curly coats are kept shorter than the wavy type. But the excitement for a PWD coat for the show will go nowhere as its coat importance is rated at 5% while the poodle’s is 60%. True appreciation of the Portie begins with recognizing them as a working breed, not for glamour.
More interaction with Portuguese Water Dogs will lead to observation of coat variations, from very tight curls to almost straight. Straight, blow-dried hair looks artificial, so the coat needs to be presented in a natural wave.
Before we move on to coat color, let’s have some interesting trivia. Imagine meeting a portie with a curly head but a wavy front (sometimes it takes a few years for the final coat type to show). So will it be completely wavy or curly (never both)? The key to deciding what coat type the dog is is the shine of the coat. Curly coats don’t shine while wavy coats do.
The only allowable PWD colors of coat are: all black, black and white, tan, tan and white, and all white. The dogs with white markings correspond to the “Irish Markings” concept, i.e. the same genetic pattern with which boxers, for example, are colored. As such, the portie can also be capable of dramatic looks despite having working (rather than showing) roots.
In the US, there are deviations from the previous guidelines, with ticking observed in a small number of dogs. Even “Parti-Colours” make it to shows too. While this scheme is a no-no for the show ring in most parts of the world, there’s no way to stop dog owners from wanting a Harlequin-esque PWD once they see one.
The fading gene has been observed to be widespread in brown Portuguese water dogs. The puppies come out a rich brown color most of the time, only to turn into a common light brown or mixed brown color as they approach their second year.
A disadvantage of bays with this tendency is that when bred with blacks, the fading gene shows up among the black offspring. Some breeders try to maximize the opportunity by claiming a “silver” color when the dog is actually a faded black. Brown dogs also tend to carry a lighter eye, which can then replicate when bred to black dogs, giving puppies a yellowish eye tinge.
