How often does a Portuguese Water Dog need grooming?

Most owners brush the coat several times a week to stop loose hair matting within the curls, plus a professional trim or clip roughly every six to eight weeks to keep it a manageable length.

Are Portuguese Water Dogs hypoallergenic?

They are often considered a good option for people with mild allergies because they shed very little, but no dog is truly hypoallergenic, since allergy triggers come from saliva and skin as well as hair. Spending time with an adult dog before committing is the more reliable test.

Do Portuguese Water Dogs need to be clipped?

Most owners do have the coat clipped or trimmed periodically, since it keeps growing rather than reaching a natural stopping length. Left unclipped for a long time, the coat can become heavy and prone to matting.

Is a curly-coated breed like this harder to groom than a short-haired dog?

It generally takes more regular effort, since loose hair has to be brushed out rather than falling away on its own. In exchange, you get a breed that leaves far less hair around the house than most shedding dogs of a similar size.

Do Portuguese Water Dogs shed?

Portuguese Water Dogs shed very little compared with most breeds, thanks to a single, curly or wavy coat that behaves more like hair than fur. That low shedding comes at a cost, though — the coat needs proper regular grooming to stay in good condition, and low-shedding is not the same thing as low-maintenance.

Why the coat sheds so little

Portuguese Water Dogs have a single coat, either tightly curled or looser and wavy, rather than the double coat with a soft undercoat that many breeds carry. Double-coated dogs typically shed that undercoat heavily at least twice a year, which is where most of the visible hair around the house comes from — a single coat like this simply does not have that layer to lose in the same way.

Instead of shedding out in clumps, loose hair from a Portuguese Water Dog's coat tends to get caught up in the curls rather than falling free, which is part of why owners notice so little hair on furniture and floors compared with a shedding breed of a similar size.

What low shedding actually costs you in grooming

Because loose hair stays trapped in the curl rather than falling out, it needs to be removed by brushing rather than by the coat doing the work itself. Left too long between grooming sessions, a Portuguese Water Dog's coat can mat, particularly behind the ears, under the legs and around the collar, and matting can become uncomfortable and require clipping out entirely if it is left long enough.

Most owners find a proper brush through several times a week, plus a trim or clip every couple of months, keeps the coat manageable. That is a genuinely different time commitment from a short-haired, moderately shedding breed, even though the mess left around the house is far less.

Is it a good breed for allergy sufferers?

Portuguese Water Dogs are often mentioned alongside other low-shedding breeds as a possible option for people with mild dog allergies, since less loose hair and dander circulating around the home can mean fewer triggers for some people. No dog breed is genuinely hypoallergenic, though, because the proteins that cause most allergic reactions come from saliva and skin as well as hair.

If allergies are a serious consideration for your household, spend real time around an adult Portuguese Water Dog before committing, ideally over more than one visit, rather than relying on the breed's reputation alone.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles

A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.

£18.99

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Common questions

How often does a Portuguese Water Dog need grooming?: Most owners brush the coat several times a week to stop loose hair matting within the curls, plus a professional trim or clip roughly every six to eight weeks to keep it a manageable length.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs hypoallergenic?: They are often considered a good option for people with mild allergies because they shed very little, but no dog is truly hypoallergenic, since allergy triggers come from saliva and skin as well as hair. Spending time with an adult dog before committing is the more reliable test.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs need to be clipped?: Most owners do have the coat clipped or trimmed periodically, since it keeps growing rather than reaching a natural stopping length. Left unclipped for a long time, the coat can become heavy and prone to matting.
Is a curly-coated breed like this harder to groom than a short-haired dog?: It generally takes more regular effort, since loose hair has to be brushed out rather than falling away on its own. In exchange, you get a breed that leaves far less hair around the house than most shedding dogs of a similar size.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.