Portuguese Water Dogs (PWD) once existed all along Portugal's
coast, where they were taught to herd fish into fishermen's
nets, to retrieve lost tackle or broken nets, and to act as
couriers from ship to ship, or ship to shore. Portuguese Water
Dogs rode in bobbing fishing 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 Cão d'Água (pronounced "Kown-d'Ahgwa"). Cão means dog, de
Água means of water. In its native land, the dog is also known
as the Portuguese Fishing Dog (Cão Pescador Português). Cão de
Água de Pelo Ondulado is the name given the wavy-haired variety,
and Cão de Água de Pelo Encaracolado is the name for the curly-
coated variety. The Portuguese Water Dog is a fairly rare breed;
only 15 entrants for Portuguese Water Dogs were made to
England's Crufts competition in 2002, although their personality
and non-shedding qualities have