The arrival of a dog at home is always a turning point. From that moment, he becomes one more member of the family nucleus, needing all the care and affection he deserves. You must also learn a series of rules of coexistence, but all this will be your responsibility and the rest of the people with whom you live. It will quickly become a fundamental element of your life, although for him from the first moment you will be his great reference. All the teachings will be obtained from you and will bring you unparalleled fidelity and love.
Keep in mind that you need to know the physical characteristics and their natural behavior, regardless of the race. For example, in terms of some character traits and, above all, physical aspects related to their health, a water dog is not the same as a Chihuahua or a German Bulldog. In fact, Spanish and Portuguese water dogs have recently gained a lot of popularity in much of the world. If you have one or are you going to have it and you wonder how to know if a water dog is pure, in this oneHOWTO article we explain it to you.
Is it important for a water dog to be purebred?
Before deciding on the adoption of a dog at home, it is essential that you know all its needs. In addition, knowing the main physical characteristics of the canine and its habitual behavior will be essential to choose the breed that best suits your lifestyle. Remember that it is not just another complement or an object: it is a living being and a member of the family.
So that, It is NOT important that a water dog is pure. This factor should not influence the decision to host him at home because the care and affection he deserves will be the same. Even so, it is necessary that you inform yourself in depth about the breed so that you can know all the details that characterize it and, in this way, be able to cover all its needs satisfactorily and be able to take into account the most relevant aspects of its health. For his part, he will have the same loyalty and admiration for you regardless of whether he is purebred or mixed race.
Water dog breed standard – physical characteristics
If you have or are going to have a dog of this type, you may have wondered at some point how to know if a water dog is pure. At OneHOWTO we recommend that you carefully observe the physical characteristics what’s wrong with it. The main characteristics indicated by the International Cynological Federation (Fédération cynologique internationale)[1] are as follows:
- It is a dog of medium height with physical aptitudes highlighted by its strong muscles.
- In adulthood, males measure between 44 and 50 centimeters with an approximate weight of 18 to 22 kilos. For their part, females reach 40-46 centimeters and weigh between 14 and 18 kilos.
- One of the aspects that most characterize him compared to other races is his curly hair. If it is long, you can create cords or dreadlocks.
- The color of the coat can be brown, black and white. Some have them combined: white and brown or black and white, for example.
- The eyes are brown, ranging from dark brown to hazel.
If your water dog meets all these physical characteristics, you will know that it has a large percentage of the breed in its genetics. In addition, as there are several breeds of water dogs, here we leave you more information about the two main ones, so that you can differentiate them and get to know them better: Difference between Spanish and Portuguese water dogs.
Water dog character and behavior – standard
These are the general characteristics of the water dog character and behavior:
- This breed generally has a demeanor and character very noble.
- By nature, it is obedient, loyal and transmits joy to the rest of the family. Still, it is true that it tends to establish a strong bond with the person who pays the most attention, who is usually in charge of educating him, giving him food, taking him out for a walk …
- The water dog is an ideal breed to protect the home as it tends to bark at the slightest danger it detects to warn its owners.
- Another aspect that sets you apart is the constant need to be active. His physique allows him to participate in many games or sports activities that you practice. It also has the ability to care for flocks of sheep, making it a great partner for field work and herding.
- If they are educated positively from a young age, they are easily balanced dogs.
- They have a great capacity for learning and understanding, so they can be educated to get used to a variety of situations, relationships with other animals, with children, and so on.
Despite all these general traits of the breed, the individual character of the canine will also depend on all the learning it absorbs from you. To make it easier for you, here we offer you a guide on How to educate a Spanish water dog. Also, below you can watch a video about this breed to learn more details.
How to tell if a water dog puppy is pure
Although it may seem complicated, as we have explained there are ways to find out if your water dog is pure, even if it is a puppy.
- Appearance: having a medium height and a robust weight, the coat will solve the rest of your doubts. Being very curly and black, white or brown (or combined), you can deduce that it is a pure breed.
- Behaviour: this is the other important aspect to analyze. From a young age you will see that he is very active, savvy and that he learns very quickly if you teach him in a positive way. You will also see that he generally loves to play in the water. Perhaps at the beginning of meeting other dogs or animals you see him somewhat reserved or shy, but with some positive reinforcement you will notice that he immediately opens up and enjoys being with others.
Finally, if you want to genetically check the purity of your pet, go to a veterinarian for a test. You can also request the Pedigree certificate if it comes from an official breeder. In any case, the document will not change anything in your relationship, since you will immediately have an indestructible emotional bond. Remember that the fact that it is purebred is only strictly necessary in the field of breeding and some dog shows, for the rest it does not matter the purity of the breed or if it is a great mix of several. In addition, we also remember that not everyone can breed dogs. To breed you must have official permits, so if you want to dedicate yourself to it, you must have the permits or, otherwise, you will incur illegality.
Finally, if you are still not very clear about it, do not hesitate to consult this other article in which we explain how to know the breed of my dog.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to know if a water dog is pure, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.
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