Maggie

Maggie

I couldn't help but introduce our newest addition, Maggie. She is a Portuguese Water Spaniel & moved in with us from Butte, MT in April. She & Moses are SLOWLY warming up to each other...& every once in a while a light scolding is necessary when Maggie wants to play a little too rough with Mo. However, she is full of personality...a delight...we couldn't help but fall in love with her.

Here is a little fun history on the Portuguese Water Spaniel for those inquiring minds...

The Portuguese Water Dog once existed all along Portugal's coast, where it was taught to herd fish into the nets, to retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and to act as a courier from ship to ship, or ship to shore. Portuguese Water Dogs rode in bobbing trawlers as they worked their way from the warm Atlantic waters of Portugal to the frigid fishing waters off the coast of Iceland where the fleets caught saltwater codfish to bring home.

In Portugal, the breed is called Cao de Agua(pronounced Kown-d'Ahgwa). Cao means dog, de Agua means of water. In his native land, the dog is also known as the Portuguese Fishing Dog. Cao de Agua de Pelo Ondulado is the name given the longhaired variety, and Cao de Ague de Pelo Encaradolado is the name for the curly-coat variety.

A calm, intelligent breed of fine temperament, rugged and robust, with a pro-fuse non-allergenic, non-shedding, waterproof coat and webbed feet, he is an ideal outdoor dog, capable of limitless work. He stands 20 to 23 inches (17 to 21 for females) and weighs between 42 and 60 pounds (35 and 50 for females) - a variation explained for by the fact that small dogs were more practical for small boats, and larger dogs for the larger boats.