| The Portuguese Water Dog was once a familiar sight
throughout the fishing ports of the Iberian Peninsula,
and is still commonly found in the Algarve region
of Portugal. It is a fisherman's dog and undertakes
a wide variety of tasks, including guarding the catch
and retrieving fish or objects lost overboard. There
are two distinct varieties of the breed, one with a
long,, glossy, wavy coat and the other with a shorter,
thicker, curlier coat, but conformation is identical.
This intelligent, energetic dog is self-willed but
obedient to its owner, and somewhat apprehensive of
strangers. It is a superlative swimmer and diver, needs
ample exercise, and regular brushing and combing.
For exhibition, the hindquarters are clipped from
the last rib, and two-thirds of the tail are clipped.
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