In recent years, PCD 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, not a few observers have mistaken a Portie for a Poodle!
When it comes to coat type, there are two acceptable types. It is said that wavy hair is more in keeping with tradition, but this does not make the second type, which is curly hair, any less acceptable. Curly layers are kept shorter than wavy ones. But worrying about a PWD coat for the show won’t get you anywhere as his fur’s importance is rated 5% while the poodle’s is 60%. True appreciation of the Portie begins with recognizing it as a working breed, and not for glamour.
Further interaction with Portuguese Water Dogs will lead to the observation of variations in the coat, such as very tight or almost straight curls. Blow-dried hair that is straight looks artificial, so the coat should be presented in a natural wave.
Let’s have some interesting trivia before moving on to coat color. Imagine meeting a Portie with a curly head but wavy forehead (sometimes it takes a few years for the ultimate coat type to show). So will it be completely wavy or curly (never both)? The key to deciding what type of coat the dog is is to look at the coat chandelier. Curly coats will not shine, while wavy coats will.
The only allowed PWD coat colors are: all black, black and white, brown, brown and white, and all white. Dogs with white markings are consistent with the concept of “Irish markings”, which is the same genetic pattern that boxers are colored with, for example. Therefore, the Portie can also have a dramatic appearance, despite having working (and not showing) roots.
Variations of the above patterns are found in the US, and ticking is observed in a small number of dogs. Even the “parti-colors” also make it to the shows. While this scheme is a no-no in most of the world for the show ring, there’s no stopping dog owners from wanting a harlequin-shaped PCD the moment they see one.
The discoloration gene has been observed to be prevalent among brown Portuguese Water Dogs. Most of the time, the pups come out a deep brown color, only to fade to a common light brown or mixed brown color as they approach their second year.
One disadvantage of browns with this tendency is that when crossed with blacks, the fading gene appears among the black offspring. Some breeders try to maximize the opportunity by claiming a “silver” color, when the fact is that the dog is a faded black. Brown dogs also tend to have a lighter eye, which can later be replicated when crossed with black dogs, giving puppies a yellowish tint to their eyes.
