Portuguese Water Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison

Portuguese Water Dog vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed ComparisonFinnish Lapphund is originated from Finland but Portuguese Water Dog is originated from Portugal. Both Finnish Lapphund and Portuguese Water Dog are having almost same height. Both Finnish Lapphund and Portuguese Water Dog are having almost same weight. Both Finnish Lapphund and Portuguese Water Dog has almost same life span. Both Finnish Lapphund and Portuguese Water Dog has almost same litter size. Finnish Lapphund requires Moderate Maintenance. But Portuguese Water Dog requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Working dog
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Finland
Portugal
Height Male:
40 - 52 cm
15 - 21 inches
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
Height Female:
40 - 52 cm
15 - 21 inches
43 - 57 cm
16 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
16 - 27 kg
35 - 60 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
5 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Lapponian Shepherd Dog, Lapinkoira, Finish Lapland Dog
PWD, Water Dog, Portie
Colors Available:
Tan, black, brown, yellowish
black and white, or silver-tipped, Black, brown
Coat:
Long and dense
single coated - curly and wavy
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

finnish lapphundKnown also as the Lapinkoira, Lapponian Shepherd Dog or Finish Lapland Dog, it is believed that the Finnish Lapphund is an ancient dog breed, dating back way back to 7000 B.C.

The breed had its origins as a reindeer herder with the Sami people, being both herder and protector. In Finland, the first breed standards for the dog were set in 1945 by the Finnish Kennel Club. They called the dog the Lappish Herder.

The first American litter was born in 1988 and it was in 1994 that the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club, becoming a recognized breed in the Herding Group in 2011.

portuguese water dogThe Portuguese Water Dog is a working dog hailing from the Portuguese region of the Algarve. The dog has always been a friend of the sea, working around fishing boats, loving his life around water.

He descends from dogs that have always been used by Portuguese fishermen, and its believed he has Poodle in him. Known also as the Cao de Agua, which means Dog of the Water, the Portie as he is also known, almost disappeared.

Their numbers dropped in the early 20th century, but a certain Vasco Bensuade saved the breed, forming a breed club, writing a breed standard.

They then also made their way to England and the United States. It was in 1972 that the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America formed. In 1983, the AKC recognized the dog as a distinct breed.

Description

finnish lapphund puppy - descriptionLooking quite a bit like the Samoyed, Siberian Husky or Australian Shepherd, the Finnish Lapphund stands at between 40 and 52cm and weighing 15 to 24kg.

The Finnish Lapphund is a medium sized dog with a friendly, sweet face.He has a beautiful soft cuddly kind of coat that is medium to long in length and essentially straight. The dense undercoat provides insulation and shouldn’t be trimmed.The dog comes in different colors such as tan brown, yellowish and black. The ears are erect and the tail is bushy, curling over the back.

Temperament:

One characteristic of this dog which can irritate some people is that he has a tendency to bark. This characteristic of his makes him a good watch dog though. He is a friendly dog who wants to do the right thing, and training and socialization can ensure that he is always obedient and amicable.

Intelligent and alert, your pet is an intelligent dog and training him won’t prove to be difficult.It is a dog which craves companionship from his human family and he wants to be included in all his family’s activities. He wants to accompany you on all your running- and cycling activities. He gets on well with children in the home with his gentle nature, being a particularly friendly breed.

portuguese water dog puppy - descriptionStanding at between 43 and 57cm in height and weighing in the region of 16 to 27kg, the Portuguese Water Dog is a medium-sized, curly-coated dog.

It is believed that the dog is hypoallergenic. He does however shed, though not a lot. He just loves the water and is always ready to plunge in. One of the distinctive characteristics of this dog is its webbed feet.

Temparament:

The Portuguese Water Dog is an intelligent dog that will do well with training and socialization.

It won’t be troublesome training this dog as he is intelligent. They're also calm dogs. Referred to fondly as the Portie, this is a fun-loving dog, friendly and social, getting on well with all members of his human family.

These dogs get on well with children and other family pets. They can be reserved toward strangers, but this makes them good watchdogs.

Characteristics

finnish lapphund dog - characteristicsThe Finnish Lapphund is an active and alert dog who just loves to fuss around his human family. He has many good qualities that make him the perfect family pet. It is why he is often referred to as an all-rounder.

He is a calm, friendly non-aggressive dog who wants to be co-operative with his owners. He has the tendency to bark. With a friendly, happy face, he is essentially just a big teddy bear and if you treat him well he is going to make sure that he showers you with his special love and loyalty.

portuguese water dog dog - characteristicsWith training, your Portie can make a splendid pet. He is also adaptable to different living situations, and is capable of living in the city or in the countryside, just so long as his exercise needs are met.

He is such an affectionate and loyal, fun-loving dog while also being hard working, and all these wonderful characteristics mean that he can be a treasured pet and companion.

Health Problems

finnish lapphund puppies - health problemsRegarded as generally healthy, the Finnish Lapphund can reach anything between 12 and 14 years of age. There are however one or two common dog illnesses that your Finnish Lapphund might be more prone to and these are hip and elbow dysplasia as well as progressive retinal atrophy.

While the occurrences of these illnesses is rare, they can happen with your Finnish Lapphund. Whenever you notice something untoward with your pet, get him to the vet immediately.

portuguese water dog puppies - health problemsPortuguese Water Dogs are generally healthy, but like most other dogs they are more prone to certain heath conditions, though your pet is unlikely to get any of them. Still it pays to know of some of the more complicated- and disabling ones.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is where the thighbone doesn't fit properly into the hip joint. Hip dysplasia spells pain for your dog and he may show lameness with one or both rear legs. Arthritis can develop too.

Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but it can be worsened by allowing your dog to become obese and from injuries from leaping off your bed for instance.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):

This is a degenerative eye disorder that can lead to blindness, but fortunately it is detectable long before the dog shows signs of blindness.

Reputable breeders have the eyes of their dog certified each year by a veterinary ophthalmologist and they don’t allow the dogs to produce puppies.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

finnish lapphund dogs - caringWith his beautiful, thick coat the Finnish Lapphund sheds quite heavily during certain seasons. The double coat will certainly require a good brushing at least twice a week to remove dirt, burrs and grass.

Diet:

All dogs deserve a high quality dog food which is appropriate to the breed, the age of the dog, his size and his activity levels.

You want to ensure that your pet gets all the right vitamins and minerals he requires for good health. If you aren’t sure what to feed your pet on, speak to your vet. Home-made food is always a good idea too as it provides some variety to your pet’s diet. Cooked rice, vegetables and chicken becomes a tasty, nutritious treat when added into his kibble. Also try to add in some raw meat when you can as well to ensure his skin and coat remain healthy. Cool, fresh water is to be supplied night and day non-stop.

Exercise:

Your Finnish Lapphund isn’t the kind of dog who is going to be bounding around you demanding exercise. He is a calm dog with moderate exercise requirements. He will love to join you on a walk every day and some ball games will satisfy him.

portuguese water dog dogs - caringYour Portie is a dog that loves outdoor life and lots of exercise. Take him with you on your walks and give him a run off his leash. When he gets home, if you have a pool h’ll be the first to plunge right in. He makes a great pet to have at the sea too.

Provide him with plenty of nice chewy toys, balls and ropes so he doesn’t get bored.

Provide him with a nice, dry, warm sleeping area and don’t allow him to be disturbed when he retreats there.

Keep his vaccines up to date to prevent some life threatening illnesses.

Provide him with high quality food that has lots of vitamins and minerals instead of fillers, preservatives, colorants and toxins.

There are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods which can be convenient and good for your pet. Try and provide him with some tasty homemade food occasionally. Nothing spicy and exotic. Dogs thrive on simplicity and consistency.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes chopped up and added twice week to the dry kibble is all your dog requires to keep him energetic happy, thankful, healthy and happy.

A little bit of raw meat added in from time to time will be superb. See that he always has access to clean, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  29. Portuguese Water Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Portuguese Water Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Portuguese Water Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Portuguese Water Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Portuguese Water Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Portuguese Water Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Portuguese Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Portuguese Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Portuguese Water Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Portuguese Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Portuguese Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Portuguese Water Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Portuguese Water Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Portuguese Water Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Portuguese Water Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Portuguese Water Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Portuguese Water Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Portuguese Water Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Portuguese Water Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Portuguese Water Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Portuguese Water Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Portuguese Water Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison