Puli vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Puli vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed ComparisonPuli is originated from Hungary but Portuguese Water Dog is originated from Portugal. Puli may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Portuguese Water Dog. Puli may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Portuguese Water Dog. Both Puli and Portuguese Water Dog has same life span. Both Puli and Portuguese Water Dog has almost same litter size. Puli requires High maintenance. But Portuguese Water Dog requires Low maintenance

History

puli - historyThe Puli’s history is ancient, going back about 2,000 years. It is believed that Sumerians used Puli-type dogs to herd sheep thousands of years ago.

Ancient excavations show signs of Puli dogs. It is believed that Magyar tribesmen brought Pulis to Hungary for their herding abilities. The Puli was registered by the American Kennel Club in 1936, and the Puli Club of America was formed in 1951.

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.

Description

puli puppy - descriptionThe Puli is a medium sized dog from Hungary standing at between 36 an 45cm in height and weighing 10 to 13kg. He has always been a herding dog and his long,corded coat has been his trademark.

The color of the coat can be black, white or cream but black is the color most seen with the Puli. The dog may well be a low shedder, but the coat is still going to need a lot of maintenance to keep it looking reasonable. It gets longer and longer and will need to be groomed to keep the cords neat and clean.

Temperament:

The Puli is an intelligent dog and it can be trained to respond to some simple commands. If the dog gets enough exercise, he can adapt to life in the country or in the city. As a herding dog he is used to being busy and will need walks, a run off his leash in the park and ball games.

They get on well with children and with other pets and are loyal to their owners and wary of strangers. They are highly active dogs these, and they just love playing games throughout their adult lives.

Because they are dogs which need a lot of exercise and space, they are more suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life on a small property in the city. They also make good faithful family guardians.

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.

Characteristics

puli dog - characteristicsYour Puli is a self-confident, strong willed dog that is intelligent and can learn to be obedient and well mannered. They are also social and playful, and will love to be a family pet, being prepared to provide friendship and loyalty.

Because he has always been a herding dog, he takes his role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He makes a splendid pet if you’re ready to tackle the long coat which makes sure he doesn’t fit into the low-maintenance category.

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.

Health Problems

puli puppies - health problemsJoints, eyes, and skin problems can cause problems with the Puli dog. Hip dysplasia is a problem with many dogs that can cause pain and also lameness.

Check your pet over with grooming sessions and make sure both the ears and eyes are free of discharge and redness.

The coat is thick and the Puli will require you to watch his skin for bacterial infections which can be caused by a lot of itching and scratching. Other common canine health issues to look out for are cancer and bloat.

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.

Caring The Pet

Training:

puli dogs - caringTraining and socialization is important for any dog and not just the Puli. Well trained dogs are a joy to have around – they are obedient and well mannered. The Puli is intelligent enough for you to train him yourself or you can have a professional trainer do it for you.

Exercise:

The Puli is an athletic dog but you don’t want to start with any strenuous exercise with a young dog less than a year of age. Take your young dog for walks and give him some ball games. Only start more strenuous exercise later on to spare unnecessary pressure on the joints which could lead to hip dysplasia later on.

Grooming:

Every dog needs to be brushed and groomed to ensure its health. A dog like the Puli will need additional grooming because of the long dreadlocks for a coat. Many Puli owners prefer to have the hair cut short.

The coat of the Puli luckily doesn’t shed much but the coat, if you keep it long, will require a special wide tooth comb. You’ll need to check inside his ears, check that his eyes are bright without any discharge and also trim his nails.

You will have to check inside his mouth too. He can’t tell you if he has a rotten tooth that is painful and causing him to be sick. You need to regularly check his teeth.

Diet:

It is important to know how much to feed your Puli. A healthy diet is so important for good health and a long life. All dogs have different appetites depending on their age, their breed, their size, the season of life they’re in and their activity levels.

It is better to feed your dog twice a day as opposed to one meal a day to avoid life threatening illnesses such as bloat. There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, but also bad ones, so you want to make sure that the kibble you choose is a high quality one with lots of vitamins and minerals.

You want to give him some home-made food too, keeping it simple and uncomplicated – the way dogs like it. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.

Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week. Some raw meat added in from time to time will contribute to him being healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Hungary
Portugal
Height Male:
36 - 45 cm
14 - 18 inches
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
Height Female:
36 - 45 cm
14 - 18 inches
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
10 - 13 kg
22 - 29 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
10 - 13 kg
22 - 29 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
5 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
None
PWD, Water Dog, Portie
Colors Available:
Black, white, cream
black and white, or silver-tipped, Black, brown
Coat:
Long and corded
single coated - curly and wavy
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

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

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds