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PWD or SWD? What's the difference?
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To the untrained eye, it is easy to mistake an SWD for a PWD. The
sizes, colors and coats may be similar in two dogs of these different
breeds, but they are very different dogs, indeed.
Below is a photo of a young brown male PWD in the traditional lion trim (for when they sat on the fish in the boat!), and a black adult female SWD in full cords. In the five minutes it will take you to read this page, you be able to revisit this photo and see the differences between them.
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Brief History and Function
It isn't true only in architecture--it's the same in breeding dogs: Form follows function.
SWDs and PWDs probably shared a major common ancestor several hundreds of years ago. However, it is important to understand how a line of dogs can be changed within only three generations through selective breeding practices. Due to political, social, and geographical differences, the SWD and PWD have been used, and therefore developed, in very different ways.
Spanish Water DogThis breed was primarily owned by the agrarian working in Spain, primarily in the southern regions. The dog was expected to fill many functions, but was mainly used to herd livestock including goats and pigs. The dog was also commonly used to hunt small game, including rabbits and birds. On the northern coastline of the country, the dog was used similarly to the PWD: as a working dog on manual fishing boats. There are also accounts of the dog being used as ratters and guard dogs in mines. The industrial revolution was slow to hit Spain, but its effects were felt nonetheless. Perhaps the largest impact felt by the SWD was in the fencing-off of fields, completely changing the management of livestock and the functionality of the SWD. Today, the SWD can still be found in the hills and farms of southern Spain working livestock or as a hunting dog, however it is becoming increasingly common to encounter these dogs as companion animals. |
Portuguese Water DogThis breed was primarily found on the coastline of Portugal and used on manual fishing boats to retrieve tackle, set nets, and guard the catch once in shore. The industrial revolution mechanized the fishing fleets, driving the breed to obscurity except for the efforts of two private kennels which collected and preserved the breed. One kennel eventually disappeared, and the other was decimated upon the arrival of communism to the country. The breed was re-built from just a handful of dogs. After thirty years of rebuilding the breed, the PWD population is now in the thousands. The modern dog is primarily a companion animal, although many owners take great pride in their dogs' working abilities and train for competitive venues such as water work, agility, obedience, and the like. A rather famous Portuguese Water Dog named "Dutch" worked search and rescue at the World Trade Centers after 9/11. |
Heights and Weights
| Spanish Water Dog | Portuguese Water Dog | |||
| Height | Weight | Height | Weight | |
| Males | 17.5" - 19.5" | 40# - 48# | 20" - 23" | 42# - 60 |
| Females | 15.5" - 18" | 30# - 38# | 17" - 21" | 35# - 50# |
As you can see, the SWD should be slightly lighter than a PWD, but significantly shorter at the shoulder. Both dogs are off-square, and proportionally of medium bone.
Appearance
In many ways, the SWD and PWD can look very alike. Indeed, when I visited the Monografica in Spain I was surprised at how similar the taller, leggier SWDs looked to PWDs. However, there are differences in appearance that can be dead give-aways to which breed you are looking at.
| Portuguese Water Dog | Spanish Water Dog |
| Head has a moderate stop to the muzzle. | Head has a slight stop. |
| Tail is undocked and is carried in a curved manner over the back. Traditionally, the hair of the end of the tail is left in a "flag". | Tail is traditionally docked. Some breeders are experimenting with a naturally-docked-tail gene in their lines. |
| The coat can either be wavy or
curly (or anywhere in between). As with the SWD, the coat is "single", with
little undercoat, although this varies from dog to dog (as with all
"single-coated" breeds).
The coat must be brushed at least once weekly and groomed every 4-6 weeks. Today, there are two cuts in which you may find a PWD: Lion Cut. This is the traditional cut for PWD working on the fishing boats (much easier to keep clean), although the Portuguese shaved the head further back and the jacket further up the ribcage. In countries other than the US and Canada, this is the only trim in which the dog may be shown. Retriever Trim. This cut was introduced to the American market since most Americans could not swallow a lion trim. This trim is allowable in the American and Canadian show arena, only. |
Coat is always curly, never wavy
or straight. The coat is "single", meaning there are very few undercoat
hairs, what some people call a "hypoallergenic" coat.
Traditionally, the coat is never brushed and is clipped down evenly and completely in a utilitarian manner at least once per year. Between clippings, the coat is left natural and will form cords. Dogs working in the fields of Spain sometimes have their faces and feet shaved close for cleanliness. |
| Colors are brown, black, brown and white or black and white. This breed does not carry the pattern for solid white, nor does it have coat color modifiers. Black-nosed dogs will not be brown, and brown-nosed dogs will not be black. | Colors come in all shades of brown, black, white, or any combination of a single shade of brown and white, or black and white. The breed carries coat color modifiers, so it is possible to have a black-nosed dog with a brown or beige coat color. |
 12-week old Portuguese Water Dog pup in a lion trim (with tail) and 13-week old Spanish Water Dog (docked tail). |
 Female Portuguese Water Dog in a retriever trim (brown) and female Spanish Water Dog starting to cord (black). |
Temperament
Although these dogs probably descended from similar Iberian-Peninsula stock several hundred years ago and retain similarities in their outward appearances, temperamentally the two breeds are very, very different, indeed!
The Portuguese Water Dog is about 30 years ahead of the Spanish Water Dog in the United States. In that time, the temperament of the PWD has gradually changed to meet the needs of its owners: the American family.
Temperamentally, PWDs are wonderful family and neighborhood dogs. They are happy and enthusiastic. They are also frequently in trouble! As puppies, they can be extremely mischievous and test your limits continuously. They are known "counter surfers". PWDs are very much working companions.
In contrast, the SWD is still very much a rustic herding dog, only recently being bred for companionship instead of farm assistance. While individuals certainly can be excellent family dogs, they tend more often than not to be most devoted to one person in the household. It is typical for this breed to be aloof and wary of strangers--what herder wanted his dog leaving the stock to give kisses to strangers? SWDs are happiest with active and purposeful lives. They are intelligent problem-solvers, and require a great deal of socialization during their first year of life.
