Interested in training Portuguese water dogs? Discover how rewarding teaching your Portuguese water dog can be. Read our guide for more facts & information…
Portuguese water dogs are an intelligent and highly active breed. For owners who would like to engage in play and fun activities with pets, the Portuguese water dog or portie as they are sometimes called may be the best choice to have as a pet. Porties are very energetic and sociable dogs and if your portie is not this type, a visit to your trusted Veterinarian is in order. As far as this breed is concerned, exercise and training are must-do’s and not just nice-to-do’s. Before engaging in training activities, you would want to consider your portie’s temperament, and if it has any health issues.
Wet and Wild: Your Portuguese Water Dog’s Learning Instincts
Portuguese water dogs are working dogs that originated from Portugal where they were valued dearly by their fishermen-owners for having the ability to perform several tasks in and out of the water. They were taught to herd fish into the nets and if the fish escaped, the portie would dive to catch them. This would best explain the breed’s strong swimming and retrieving instincts. Get your portie to swim or fetch a Frisbee or a ball, and you can be sure that the pooch is having a great time.
The dog’s intelligence level is amazing as well. Porties would show ability to comprehend even complex instructions if trained right. Further, this breed is a pleaser which means your portie would love to be able to do what you say or ask. Remember to take advantage of this trait and train your dog on obedience commands. This will not only stimulate your portie’s mind but will also give you wonderful opportunities to bond with your pet.
Three R’s of Portie Training:
1. Remember to Start Easy
Portuguese water dogs being very trainable doesn’t mean you can start with advanced level or complicated commands. Start with the simple ones like handshakes and simple action commands. Do not let your dog wander the house unsupervised especially when it has not yet received any training if you do not want accidents to happen.
2. Routine, Routine, Routine
Routines and consistency make the training experience superbly effective for porties or any dog for that matter. Create routines for meals, training, play, and potty. Remember that generally, dogs have to relieve themselves every three hours.
3. Reward Performance
Porties are sensitive dogs. The most effective training would be one filled with praises like “good dog!” or “good job!” pats and even little treats when they excel. Never yell at, swat, or scold your pooch for accidents. These hardly work for porties, dogs, and even humans for that matter.
