Portuguese Water Dog vs Spanish Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dogs are quintessential working dogs who have successfully transitioned to family pets over the centuries. These proud seafarers hail from the southern coast of Portugal, where they swam out to nets to help Portuguese fishermen retrieve their catch. You don’t need a boat, however, to befriend a Portie.

Porties typically have a friendly and kind temperament and are very loyal to their families. Meaning, they’ll likely shoot a suspicious glance or growl in the new deliveryman’s direction, but that’s as far as it goes. They have low biting tendencies and are generally good around strangers.

They also tend to get along great with other dogs and fairly well with cats and kids they grew up with. Still, they benefit from proper socialization early on (great excuse for a “Meet My Puppy” party with all your friends).

On the flip side, Porties are so smart and energetic, they crave constant mental stimulation and can get bored if left to their own devices. Pet parents can keep their dog from going to town on favorite footwear by engaging Porties in vigorous activity, indoors or out. Prepare to play fetch for hours on end with your tireless pet and keep them away from your belongings with an army of chew toys at their disposal. At the end of the day, as active and independent-minded as they can be, Porties are happiest when exercising with the family they love—all the better if that involves swimming in a lake, beach or pool.

Affectionate, highly intelligent, loyal and playful, the Spanish Water Dog embodies pretty much all of the traits you’d hope to find in a BFF. And if you like to stay active, you’re in luck—this dog’s energy levels are sky-high. They need daily exercise, for long intervals, whenever possible. Otherwise, prepare yourself for sleepless nights as your woolly pet looks for ways to release their energy, like using your favorite pair of heels as their new chew toy.

Spanish Water Dogs need socialization, or exposure to all kinds of people and social scenarios, early on in their lives—it helps to curb their natural herding instincts and tendency to shy away from strangers.

They won’t bark at every leaf that blows across your yard—we’re looking at you, Cairn Terrier—but they will alert their family when people come to the front door or when they think something’s not quite right, making them an effective watchdog. But a Spanish Water Dog’s temperament is not aggressive, nor are they prone to bite.

Originally bred for high-intelligence tasks like herding and hunting, Spanish Water Dogs benefit from mental stimulation. Engage them in a game of hide-and-seek or searching for hidden treats, and they’ll be even more enamored with you (a feat you might not have thought possible).

These dogs are happiest with an active job, whether it’s dog sports, farm chores or finding their parent’s keys. When not working, they’ll match your energy. If you’re always on your feet, they will be, too. If you are a couch potato, they’ll be snuggled beside you.

These pups are eager to please, but they’re intelligent and hard-working dogs, which means they know they’re pretty smart and may think their way is better. This can often look like an unwillingness to follow your lead—a frustrating trait for a first-time dog parent. What the Spanish Water Dog needs is an experienced, gentle, confident and patient leader to guide them.