Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Portuguese Water Dogs Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Portuguese Water Dogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Easy to Train?
- Do Portuguese Water Dogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Portuguese Water Dogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Portuguese Water Dogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Portuguese Water Dogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Portuguese Water Dogs
- Conclusion on Portuguese Water Dog Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Portuguese Water Dog breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Portuguese Water Dog by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Portuguese Water Dog.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Portuguese Water Dog for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog.
The summary table below shows the score of the Portuguese Water Dog for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Stranger Directed Fear | 8.2 percent |
| Stubbornness | 8.1 percent |
| Energy Level | 78.3 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 65.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 6.1 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 5.0 percent |
| Prey Drive | 44.6 percent |
| Excitability | 38.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 29.2 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 26.3 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 23.3 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 18.7 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 15.5 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 11.8 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Portuguese Water Dog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Portuguese Water Dog, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Portuguese Water Dog.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 103 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 18.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Eurasier | 20.0 % |
| 101 | Collie | 19.3 % |
| 102 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 18.8 % |
| 103 | Portuguese Water Dog | 18.7 % |
| 104 | Basset Hound | 17.1 % |
| 105 | Borzoi | 16.9 % |
| 106 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 16.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 116 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has an owner-directed-aggression score of 5.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 5.7 % |
| 114 | Mastiff (English) | 5.6 % |
| 115 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 5.4 % |
| 116 | Portuguese Water Dog | 5.0 % |
| 117 | Bouvier des Flandres | 4.9 % |
| 118 | Irish Setter | 4.6 % |
| 119 | Scottish Terrier | 3.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Portuguese Water Dogs are a little bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 94 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a dog-directed aggression score of 29.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit dog-aggressive just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Mastiff (English) | 29.9 % |
| 92 | Ibizan Hound | 29.4 % |
| 93 | Scottish Terrier | 29.3 % |
| 94 | Portuguese Water Dog | 29.2 % |
| 95 | Shih Tzu | 28.9 % |
| 96 | Great Pyrenees | 28.8 % |
| 97 | Havanese | 28.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not fearful of strangers.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for fear of strangers.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 115 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a stranger-directed-fear score of 8.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not stranger-fearful just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 9.2 % |
| 113 | Airedale Terrier | 9.1 % |
| 114 | Golden Retriever | 8.8 % |
| 115 | Portuguese Water Dog | 8.2 % |
| 116 | Keeshond | 7.7 % |
| 117 | Scottish Terrier | 7.7 % |
| 118 | French Bulldog | 7.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Portuguese Water Dogs are a little bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks low for fear of other dogs.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 89 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a dog-directed-fear score of 26.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit other-dog-fearful just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Boston Terrier | 26.5 % |
| 87 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 26.4 % |
| 88 | Mastiff (English) | 26.3 % |
| 89 | Portuguese Water Dog | 26.3 % |
| 90 | Bouvier des Flandres | 25.7 % |
| 91 | Pit Bull | 25.2 % |
| 92 | Great Dane | 24.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for non-social fear.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 115 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a nonsocial-fear score of 6.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Schipperke | 12.5 % |
| 113 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 12.0 % |
| 114 | Rottweiler | 6.2 % |
| 115 | Portuguese Water Dog | 6.1 % |
| 116 | English Setter | 6.0 % |
| 117 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 5.9 % |
| 118 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 5.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low on dog rivalry.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 103 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a dog-rivalry score of 23.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are not competition-driven just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Mastiff (English) | 24.9 % |
| 101 | Bichon Frise | 24.6 % |
| 102 | Poodle (Standard) | 24.6 % |
| 103 | Portuguese Water Dog | 23.3 % |
| 104 | Bouvier des Flandres | 22.6 % |
| 105 | Weimaraner | 22.4 % |
| 106 | Havanese | 22.1 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Portuguese Water Dogs are very much easy to train.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very high for trainability.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 6 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the trainability of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a trainability score of 91.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Border Collie | 97.3 % |
| 4 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 95.3 % |
| 5 | Irish Water Spaniel | 95.0 % |
| 6 | Portuguese Water Dog | 91.9 % |
| 7 | Australian Cattle Dog | 91.8 % |
| 8 | Rottweiler | 91.1 % |
| 9 | Australian Shepherd | 91.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Portuguese Water Dogs are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 75 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a chasing score of 44.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Miniature Pinscher | 45.8 % |
| 73 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 45.4 % |
| 74 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 45.0 % |
| 75 | Portuguese Water Dog | 44.6 % |
| 76 | Bull Terrier | 44.3 % |
| 77 | Rottweiler | 44.3 % |
| 78 | Yorkshire Terrier | 43.5 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Portuguese Water Dogs are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 36 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 65.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | English Springer Spaniel | 67.1 % |
| 34 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 66.5 % |
| 35 | Belgian Sheepdog | 65.5 % |
| 36 | Portuguese Water Dog | 65.1 % |
| 37 | Chinese Crested | 64.7 % |
| 38 | Pomeranian | 64.4 % |
| 39 | Jack Russell Terrier | 64.4 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 115 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a separation anxiety score of 15.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Golden Retriever | 16.0 % |
| 113 | Schipperke | 15.8 % |
| 114 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 15.6 % |
| 115 | Portuguese Water Dog | 15.5 % |
| 116 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 15.0 % |
| 117 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 13.6 % |
| 118 | Scottish Terrier | 10.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Portuguese Water Dogs are not touch-sensitive.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very low for touch sensitivity.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 120 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has a touch-sensitivity score of 11.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 117 | Saint Bernard | 12.8 % |
| 118 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.7 % |
| 119 | Irish Water Spaniel | 12.0 % |
| 120 | Portuguese Water Dog | 11.8 % |
| 121 | Gordon Setter | 11.6 % |
| 122 | Pointer | 9.7 % |
| 123 | Borzoi | 9.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Portuguese Water Dogs are a little bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks low for excitability.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has an excitability score of 38.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit excitable just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 83 | Tibetan Terrier | 38.7 % |
| 84 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 38.7 % |
| 85 | Dalmatian | 38.5 % |
| 86 | Portuguese Water Dog | 38.2 % |
| 87 | Scottish Terrier | 37.6 % |
| 88 | Border Terrier | 37.4 % |
| 89 | Bulldog | 37.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Playful? What is the Energy Level of Portuguese Water Dogs
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Portuguese Water Dogs are very much energetic.
This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks very high for energy level.
The Portuguese Water Dog ranks number 14 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 100 Portuguese Water Dog owners reported on the temperament of their Portuguese Water Dog in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog has an energy-level score of 78.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much energetic just like the Portuguese Water Dog are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Jack Russell Terrier | 79.1 % |
| 12 | Fox Terrier (Smooth) | 79.0 % |
| 13 | Dingo | 78.5 % |
| 14 | Portuguese Water Dog | 78.3 % |
| 15 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 77.0 % |
| 16 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 76.7 % |
| 17 | Australian Silky Terrier | 76.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Portuguese Water Dog Temperament
The temperament of your Portuguese Water Dog comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Portuguese Water Dog is exposed to.
You cannot change your Portuguese Water Dog`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Portuguese Water Dog to.
Exposing your Portuguese Water Dog to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Portuguese Water Dog to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Portuguese Water Dog`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Portuguese Water Dog.
If you think the Portuguese Water Dog is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Portuguese Water Dogs cost and Portuguese Water Dog puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Portuguese Water Dog breeders in the United States and the prices of their Portuguese Water Dog puppies.