How long does a Portuguese Water Dog live?

The listed lifespan for a Portuguese Water Dog is 11–13 years.

How tall is a Portuguese Water Dog?

The listed height for a Portuguese Water Dog is 20–23 in (male), 17–21 in (female).

Is a Portuguese Water Dog good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Portuguese Water Dog is 5 out of 5.

When is a Portuguese Water Dog full grown?

The growth size band for a Portuguese Water Dog is up to 24 months.

Working Group

Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dog is a large dog in the Working Group. Adult weight is 42–60 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female), height is 20–23 in (male), 17–21 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 11–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Affectionate, Adventurous, Athletic.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Portuguese Water Dog dog — Photo: Flickr user SheltieBoy (Ron Armstrong) · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan11–13 years

Weight42–60 lb (male), 35–50 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupWorking Group

Height

20–23 in (male), 17–21 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12 years is about 0.6 years shorter than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 47.5 lb is about 11.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Portugal. The coat is described as wavy, curly, long. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 1.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Working Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 4 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 43 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, GM1 Gangliosidosis (Portuguese Water Dog) - DNA Test, Microphthalmia Syndrome (MO) - DNA Test, Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM) - DNA Test, Early Onset Progressive Retinal Atrophy (EOPRA) - DNA Test, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, PRCD (PRA-prcd, PRCD) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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