Things to do in the Algarve, Portugal

The Portuguese Water Dog - Ria Formosa Natural Park

The ancestry of the Water dog is thousands of years old.  In Asia, the early people bred herding dogs, as the dogs were bred in each tribal clan, interbreeding developed particular dog types of which the Water Dog was one.  As the tribes started to migrate, their animals went with them settling in various parts of Europe.  In the Algarve the dogs of the primitive societies were trained by techniques passed down from the Romans.  They were taught to retrieve nets and herd fish, thus the Portuguese Water Dog (PWD) was developed.

The PWD has long been associated with the Algarve.  The breed was used by fisherman to work on the boats and treated as part of the crew earning as much right to a share of the catch as rations as the men.  Famous for it's ability to swim and dive to retrieve, they were used, as their ancestors, to herd fish, retrieve nets and take messages between boats.  However as the number of working boats began to dwindle due to modern fishing techniques, the need for the PWD became less.

The modern Portuguese Water Dog has been recognised since the 1930's when the breed standard was set by a dog named Leao.  A shipping magnate named Vasco Bensaude became interested in the breed when he heard that they were faced with extinction.  He acquired a dog named Leao from a fisherman and set about a planned breeding programme and standardisation.  Leao became the founding father of the modern breed and was widely known for his intelligence, affection and temperamental (almost moody) nature.

The breed standard asks for a dog that is “ very intelligent and tremendously energetic with great swimming and diving techniques”.   The dog should be well muscled, balanced, robust and resistant to fatigue.  The penetrating gaze that the dog is known for is said to have come from their ability to detect sharks by staring into the water.  The dog is also said to be able to jump from the sea into a boat, possible because of the strength in the shoulders, chest and legs. The PWD's strong swimming ability is improved by their characteristic “webbed” feet - the toes are joined by a membrane which greatly aids power through the water.  The PWD is not a mild breed, strong willed due to their working heritage, friendly, they love to play, dig and chew but they are extremely faithful to their owners and love to spend all their time with their master.

Although PWD's can still be found on the Algarve today, as pets and working dogs, the PWD is still a rare breed.  One place though that they can be guaranteed to be seen is the Rio Formosa National Park near Olhao in the Algarve.  Here there is a kennel specialising in the Portuguese Water Dog. Visitors can see and stroke the dogs, talk to their handlers and learn more about the breed.  Talks about the dogs are often given as part of an education programme.

Follow the links for more on Portuguese Water Dog Breed Shows and Water Trials and the May 2007 trial at Vila Real de Santo Antonio 

Would you like more suggestions?  Take a look at our Things to do in the Algarve and Places to go in the Algarve sections for loads of ideas of what to do and where to go

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