Understanding Our Dogs

In 1985, the PWDCA conducted a survey of PWD owners to identify the most pressing problems facing our breed. The first-ranked issue was hip dysplasia. The second issue was temperament.

Twenty years later, in spite - or perhaps because - of rapid increases in the popularity of our breed, almost half (47%) of respondents to the 2005 Health Survey reported a temperament or behavior issue.

Logically, we must ask ourselves: How well do we understand the Portuguese Water Dog? How much of the concern over the temperament of our breed arises from the dogs themselves, and how much from our expectations of what the breed is? What is the relationship between difficulties in living with our dogs, genetics, our perceptions of the dogs and of each other, and the training and socialization methods we use?

In February of 2007, the PWDCA Board of Directors approved a year long emphasis on temperament and behavior. This initiative, called Understanding Our Dogs, has three primary purposes:

• To explore better ways of expressing, understanding, and responding to the Portuguese Water Dog temperament and behavior
• To respond to owner concerns expressed in the 2005 Health Survey
• To compile and disseminate educational resources, descriptions, and information about breeding and living with Portuguese Water Dogs of sound temperament

This program will emphasize the interconnected roles of breeders, owners, and trainers as we examine genetic, environmental, and human perception influences on behavior.

Last Edited:  August 31, 2009