In the heart of Lisbon, Portugal, visitors often find themselves mesmerized by the sight of a dog elegantly gliding over the water surface, fetching a fish net dropped by its human counterpart. If you’re also charmed by these aquatic athletes, you’re not alone! This extraordinary breed is none other than the Portuguese Water Dog, a breed known for their strength, intelligence, and incredible swimming ability.
However, there’s another side to these aquatic champions. Can they be a great guard dogs too? This seemingly innocuous question has sparked numerous debates among dog enthusiasts. Let’s dive head-first (much like our trusty dogs!) into some fascinating insights about the Portuguese Water Dog and its potential role as a guardian of your household.
The Portuguese Water Dog, also endearingly known as ‘Portie’, has a long lineage with an origin story traced back over 2000 years ago. They were originally bred to work – to help fishermen catch fish, deliver messages between ships, and even act as a ‘sea-rescue dog’, jumping in the water to save drowning fishermen! This breed was moulded by nature and honed by humans to be brave, resilient, intelligent, and – above all – extraordinarily adaptable. With such a background, it’s easy to see how the question arises: can this working breed also work as a fine guard dog?
Now, to understand the suitability of a Portuguese Water Dog as a guard dog, one must first understand what makes an effective guard dog. Generally, an efficient guard dog has a combination of traits such as loyalty, intelligence, physical strength, and a natural instinct to protect. Moreover, essential is their ability to distinguish between normal everyday activities and potential threats.
So, where does a Portie stand when it comes to these traits?
To start with, Portuguese Water Dogs have undying loyalty towards their human families. They love to be involved in all aspects of family life, whether it’s playing fetch with the kids or standing guard while you work or sleep. Their high intelligence means they can be trained to identify potential threats and their robust physical strength ensures that they’re capable of handling these threats effectively.
Unlike some breeds with an ingrained protective nature, Porties aren’t particularly wary of strangers. It could be a visiting friend, the mailman, or even a potential intruder, they greet everyone with the same bounding enthusiasm. Although it can be tuned with training, the Portuguese Water Dog doesn’t usually have the instinctive suspicion towards strangers typically seen in classic guard dog breeds like the German Shepherd or Rottweiler.
One strength of the Portuguese Water Dogs in a guard role may actually surprise you – their loud bark! Yes, they have an impressively loud bark that can alert you about any suspicious activities. However, due to their friendly nature, they might ‘cry wolf’ a few times before waiting for an actual stranger!
But, let’s not forget, their aptitude to learn and adapt. These dogs are known to be easy to train, and with the right coaching, they might develop an understanding of what’s expected from them as a guard dog.
Despite these skills and characteristics, the consensus among dog experts is that while the Portuguese Water Dog makes an excellent family pet and working dog, they may not be the best choice as dedicated guard dogs. They can be protective and will definitely alert you to something amiss with their notable bark; however, their affable nature isn’t naturally suited to being overly protective or suspicious. But in the end, isn’t it their heart of gold that makes us truly love them?
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for a dog that doubles as a security system, the Portuguese Water Dogs might not be the ideal choice. But if love, loyalty, entertaining companionship, and a knack for getting wet is what you’re after, then the Portie might just be the perfect addition to your family.
After all, keeping our home safe and protected isn’t just about having a furry security system. It’s about sharing our space with faithful friends who love us, cheer us up, keep us company, and yes, occasionally also warn us when the mailman is at the door!
