How much exercise does a Portuguese Water Dog need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Portuguese Water Dog enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Plan on 60 to 90 minutes of activity a day, including something that lets the dog use its brain. Swimming is the obvious favorite for many, along with retrieving from water, dock diving and water trials run by breed clubs. On land, Porties enjoy agility, rally, tracking and long hikes. Rinse the coat with fresh water after the sea or a pool, as salt and chlorine dry it out.
Not every Portie is born knowing how to swim well, so introduce water gradually in calm shallows. A dog without enough exercise tends to show it through chewing, stealing items, barking or wild evening sprints. A well-exercised Portie is usually a relaxed, happy housemate.
Portuguese Water Dog exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
90 to 120 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
medium
16 to 27 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold