In recent years, PWD enthusiasts have been able to create many versatile looks for their Portuguese Water Dogs. Sometimes it is even difficult to imagine that it is essentially the same dog. In the show ring, not a few observers have mistaken a Portie for a poodle!

When it comes to the type of coat, there are two acceptable types. The wavy coat is said to be more in keeping with tradition, but this does not make the second type less acceptable, which is the curly coat. Curly coats are kept shorter than wavy ones. But worrying about a PWD coat to display will get you nowhere, as the importance of the coat is rated at 5%, while that of the poodle is 60%. True appreciation of the Portie begins with recognizing him as a working breed, not the glamor.

Greater interaction with Portuguese water dogs will lead to the observation of variations in the coat, from very tight curls to almost straight. Blow-dried straight hair looks artificial, so the coat should be laid out in a natural wave.

Let’s have some interesting trivia before we move on to coat color. Imagine meeting a Portie with a curly head but a wavy front (sometimes it takes a few years for the ultimate coat type to look). So will it turn out completely wavy or curly (never both)? The key to deciding what type of coat the dog is is to observe the sheen of the coat. Curly coats won’t shine, while wavy coats will.

The only permitted PWD colors of the coat are: all black, white and black, brown, brown and white, and all white. Dogs with white markings are consistent with the concept of “Irish Marks”, which is the same genetic pattern that boxers, for example, are colored with. Thus, the Portie may also be able to have a dramatic look, despite having active roots (and not showing).

Variations from the above guidelines are found in the US, and ticking is seen in a small number of dogs. Even the “party colors” also come to the shows. While this scheme is a no-no in most of the world for the show ring, there is no way to prevent dog owners from wanting a harlequin-like PWD the moment they see it.

The fading gene has been observed to be prevalent among Portuguese brown water dogs. Puppies most of the time come out a rich brown, only to fade to an ordinary light brown or mixed brown as they approach their second year.

One downside of browns with this tendency is that when crossed with blacks, the fading gene appears among black offspring. Some breeders try to maximize the opportunity by claiming a “silver” color, when the fact is that the dog is faded black. Brown dogs also tend to have a lighter eye, which can later be replicated when crossed with black dogs, providing puppies with a tinge of yellowish eyes.