Portuguese Water Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison

Portuguese Water Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed ComparisonPortuguese Water Dog is originated from Portugal but Alaskan Husky is originated from United States. Both Portuguese Water Dog and Alaskan Husky are having almost same height. Both Portuguese Water Dog and Alaskan Husky are having almost same weight. Both Portuguese Water Dog and Alaskan Husky has same life span. Both Portuguese Water Dog and Alaskan Husky has same litter size. Both Portuguese Water Dog and Alaskan Husky requires Low maintenance.

History

portuguese water dog - historyThe Portuguese Water Dog is a working dog hailing from the Portuguese region of the Algarve. The dog has always been a friend of the sea, working around fishing boats, loving his life around water.

He descends from dogs that have always been used by Portuguese fishermen, and its believed he has Poodle in him. Known also as the Cao de Agua, which means Dog of the Water, the Portie as he is also known, almost disappeared.

Their numbers dropped in the early 20th century, but a certain Vasco Bensuade saved the breed, forming a breed club, writing a breed standard.

They then also made their way to England and the United States. It was in 1972 that the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America formed. In 1983, the AKC recognized the dog as a distinct breed.

alaskan husky - historyAlaskan Husky is created to be a working dog who can do many different jobs like hauling logs, transport, supplies delivery, racing dogs, etc. Mushers created this breed. Alaskan Husky is created as a mix of Inuit dog, Siberian Husky, Greyhound and German pointers, and it is very difficult to find pure breed Alaskan Husky, and they are not recognized by any Kennel club.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Portugal
United States
Height Male:
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
48 - 56 cm
18 - 23 inches
Height Female:
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
41 - 49 cm
16 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
21 - 25 kg
46 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
17 - 19 kg
37 - 42 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
PWD, Water Dog, Portie
Colors Available:
black and white, or silver-tipped, Black, brown
Any color
Coat:
single coated - curly and wavy
medium coat
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

portuguese water dog puppy - descriptionStanding at between 43 and 57cm in height and weighing in the region of 16 to 27kg, the Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized, curly-coated dog.

It is believed that the dog is hypoallergenic. He does however shed, though not a lot. He just loves the water and is always ready to plunge in. One of the distinctive characteristics of this dog is its webbed feet.

Temparament:

The Portuguese Water Dog is an intelligent dog that will do well with training and socialization.

It won’t be troublesome training this dog as he is intelligent. They're also calm dogs. Referred to fondly as the Portie, this is a fun-loving dog, friendly and social, getting on well with all members of his human family.

These dogs get on well with children and other family pets. They can be reserved toward strangers, but this makes them good watchdogs.

alaskan husky puppy - descriptionAlaskan Husky average weight depends from dog to dog, but on average male weights 21-25kg, while their height is moderate size. Females are slightly smaller than males, and they can weight 17-19kg.

A lifespan of Alaskan Husky depends, again, from dog to dog, but it is 10-15 years. Of course, if you are taking care of your dog, they can live much longer.

Litter Size of average female is 4-10 puppies.

Characteristics

portuguese water dog dog - characteristicsWith training, your Portie can make a splendid pet. He is also adaptable to different living situations, and is capable of living in the city or in the countryside, just so long as his exercise needs are met.

He is such an affectionate and loyal, fun-loving dog while also being hard working, and all these wonderful characteristics mean that he can be a treasured pet and companion.

alaskan husky dog - characteristicsAlaskan Husky is the best dog for the active people or families. They are bred to be working dogs. This breed is not created for it looks or pedigree, but this breed is bred purely to help with various tasks. They love being around the family, and they are very happy and cheerful. Alaskan Husky is not good watchdogs because they love everyone, including strangers. They are highly intelligent breed, but it can be tricky to train them sometimes. You must be a leader who makes decisions because if you are not confident, they will not see the reason for listening to you. The best way of training your dog would be with patience and firm, decisive manner. The old-fashioned way of training that includes punishment is not recommendable. They do not respond well to that. Training with awards is the best way to teach your dog. Alaskan Husky is a very active dog, so they are not very good for apartments. Although, you can have them in apartments but only if they have active walks and exercises. They love jogging, and they can be excellent buddies in any activity. They will love all the animals but it is important for them to socialize from the early age.

Health Problems

portuguese water dog puppies - health problemsPortuguese Water Dogs are generally healthy, but like most other dogs they are more prone to certain heath conditions, though your pet is unlikely to get any of them. Still it pays to know of some of the more complicated- and disabling ones.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Hip dysplasia spells pain for your dog and he may show lameness with one or both rear legs. Arthritis can develop too.

Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but it can be worsened by allowing your dog to become obese and from injuries from leaping off your bed for instance.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):

This is a degenerative eye disorder that can lead to blindness, but fortunately it is detectable long before the dog shows signs of blindness.

Reputable breeders have the eyes of their dog certified each year by a veterinary ophthalmologist and they don’t allow the dogs to produce puppies.

alaskan husky puppies - health problemsThis breed has no any specific health issues. However, as any breed they can develop some issues that are related to genetics. It is very important to discuss with owners that you are getting the dog from, and if they are not ready to show medical records or proofs that dogs are healthy then you should be extra careful. If you do not have a lot of experience in getting a puppy or an adult dog, you should bring someone who has more experience. Again, this breed is very healthy and if you give them adequate caring with regular vet checks you will have a healthy and a happy dog for a long time.

Caring The Pet

portuguese water dog dogs - caringYour Portie is a dog that loves outdoor life and lots of exercise. Take him with you on your walks and give him a run off his leash. When he gets home, if you have a pool h’ll be the first to plunge right in. He makes a great pet to have at the sea too.

Provide him with plenty of nice chewy toys, balls and ropes so he doesn’t get bored.

Provide him with a nice, dry, warm sleeping area and don’t allow him to be disturbed when he retreats there.

Keep his vaccines up to date to prevent some life threatening illnesses.

Provide him with high quality food that has lots of vitamins and minerals instead of fillers, preservatives, colorants and toxins.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods which can be convenient and good for your pet. Try and provide him with some tasty homemade food occasionally. Nothing spicy and exotic. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes chopped up and added twice week to the dry kibble is all your dog requires to keep him energetic happy, thankful, healthy and happy.

A little bit of raw meat added in from time to time will be superb. See that he always has access to clean, cool water.

Feeding the Alaskan Husky

alaskan husky dogs - caringFeeding Alaskan Husky, or basically any other dog depends on how active your dog is, and how big it is. Basically, if it is big and very active you will have to give it more food. On average, Alaskan Husky can eat 3-4 cups of high-quality dry food and that should be enough to keep them well-fed and healthy. You can always add vegetables, oil or fruits in their meal, but first, consult which additional food is the best for your dog. Carrots, broccoli, apples are always a good treat for any pet.

Feeding the puppy

Puppies eat more than an adult dog, so it would be perfect if you can divide small portions of food 3-5 times per day. It will help them develop into perfectly healthy adult dogs.

Grooming the Alaskan Husky

They are not very difficult to groom. Overall, Alaskan Husky does not need any special care, except twice a year during shed season. Then you have to brush them with a metal comb every day, but overall, occasional brushing and bathing when it is necessary is more than enough to have a healthy and perfectly groomed pet.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Border Collie vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. Sakhalin Husky vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  3. Alaskan Husky vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  4. Alaskan Husky vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  5. Alaskan Husky vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  6. Alaskan Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Catahoula Leopard vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  8. German Pinscher vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  9. Portuguese Water Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  10. Puli vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  11. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  12. Borador vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  13. German Spaniel vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  15. McNab vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  16. Porcelaine vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Finnish Lapphund vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  18. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  19. Griffon Nivernais vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Hokkaido vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  21. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  22. Pumi vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  23. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  24. Istrian Sheepdog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  25. Jamthund vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Sakhalin Husky vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Portuguese Water Dog vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  28. Portuguese Water Dog vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  29. Portuguese Water Dog vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  30. Portuguese Water Dog vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  31. Portuguese Water Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  32. Portuguese Water Dog vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  33. Portuguese Water Dog vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  34. Portuguese Water Dog vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  35. Portuguese Water Dog vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  36. Portuguese Water Dog vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  37. Portuguese Water Dog vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  38. Portuguese Water Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  39. Portuguese Water Dog vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  40. Portuguese Water Dog vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  41. Portuguese Water Dog vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  42. Portuguese Water Dog vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  43. Portuguese Water Dog vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  44. Portuguese Water Dog vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  45. Portuguese Water Dog vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  46. Portuguese Water Dog vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  47. Portuguese Water Dog vs Jamthund - Breed Comparison
  48. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelian Bear Dog - Breed Comparison
  49. Portuguese Water Dog vs Karelo-Finnish Laika - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds