Do not buy a portuguese water dog unless you...

That's the gist of today's article in CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/17/wants.portuguese.water.dog/index.html

To summarize; they are violently active creatures who also thrive on constant attention. If you leave them alone in an apartment, goodbye furniture.

I wonder how many people have grabbed a puppy of this breed, gotta keep up with the Obamas. Unless you have an immense yard, probably a bad move. The Obamas have a very large yard, (for the next 4 years anyway) and if they do not feel like walking the dog, plenty other folk there to take care of it.

Just a word to the wise. Apartment dwellers, cats are nice and you don't need to take them outside.

Comments: 6

Kim J. Apr 17, 2009, 11:08pm EDT

My dogs were in an agility class with a beautiful PWD--maybe its the W in the name since I own GWP's--yes, both are very energetic and need lots and lots of love--and you will give it to them or they will tell you about it...but I'd never give up my dogs, even tho they are "high maintenance". I think they'll all do just fine if for no other reason, they researched the breed, something that most people don't do and is the reason so many dogs end up in rescue.

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EM JAY (Gather Director of Chaos & Uprisings) W. Apr 17, 2009, 11:30pm EDT

Thanks for pointing out people should get the type of dog (or pet) that suits their lifestyle and living arrangements!

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Cara D. Apr 18, 2009, 12:31am EDT

We have a few PWDs that come to the daycare where I work. I don't know if I would call them "violently active," many of the ones I have seen have been pretty calm. Some are crazy, some are calm, just like with any breed! But they are definitely very vocal!

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Terry White Apr 18, 2009, 12:41am EDT

You make a good point. People should not choose a pet because it is "in style" or to keep up with the Joneses. How many pets end up being abandoned or in the pound because folks do that? It's really not fair to the animals.

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Lloyd C. - Proud Democrat. c. Apr 18, 2009, 5:31am EDT

I'd like to thank you for posting this article to our group, Barack Obama's Presidential Appointments, Bills and Policies.

My computer crashed this week so I was unable to respond in a timely fashion.

Your article is now a FEATURED one. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Lloyd

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Chris W. Apr 18, 2009, 7:28am EDT

hi Lloyd, thanks!

Cara- that's interesting about the PWDs that you see. I may have overstated their tendency to be be very active- but you mention their tendency to be very vocal- that can be a big big problem for people who have neighbors who do not desire the music of loud barking.

I actually posted this article not so much as a dog owner- because I am not one. I posted it from the sensibility of a person who has often been kept up at night by the barking of the neighbor's neglected dogs at three in the morning. I am very happy to state that the particular neighbor who created that problem was a renter who was eventually ejected by the landlord.

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Do not buy a portuguese water dog unless you have what it takes.

Comments: 6

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