What are the Best Dog Foods for Portuguese Water Dogs?
The Portuguese Water Dog is a playful, smart, and loyal friend. Beloved by those who have raised them, Porties make great pets and companions. Although generally hearty dogs, these dogs do require proper nutrition, so we’ll help you select the right diet to fuel your Portie’s lifestyle.
Breed Info
Breed Group:
Working | AKC Portuguese Water Dog Profile
Ideal Weight:
Female Adult: 35 to 50 pounds
Male Adult: 42 to 60 pounds
Exercise Need:
60 to 120 minutes per day.
Breed Summary
Portuguese Water Dogs, affectionately known as “Porties,” have a storied history as fisherman’s helpers. Originating in the Algarve region of Portugal, these dogs became the preferred pet for fishermen since they are strong, obedient, and have webbed feet, making them excellent swimmers. Fishermen taught Porties to retrieve lost tackle, carry items between boats, and even to herd fish into nets. Although rarely used by fishermen today, Porties have become beloved family members that are intelligent, friendly, and purportedly hypoallergenic.
Although relatively rare, the Portuguese Water Dog saw a significant increase in fame when Bo became the “First Dog” after President Barack Obama and his family received the Portie as a gift. The Obamas went on to adopt another Portie, Sunny, in 2013.
Health Considerations for Portuguese Water Dogs
Dental
A Portuguese Water Dog's teeth and gums are always under plaque attack, which forms naturally from food particles and other bacteria. Dogs aren’t too concerned about having pretty white teeth, but dental care is critical for oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can even affect internal organs, like the heart, liver and kidneys, so there are certain things below we like to see in food or supplements to combat these threats to Portuguese Water Dogs. Learn more about how to take care of your dog's teeth.
- Puffy/crunch kibbles (bigger)
- Sodium hexametaphosphate
- Treats based on solubility, not hardness
Gut
Think of your Portuguese Water Dog's gut like a diverse community of bacteria and other microbes that work together to keep the body healthy. Keeping all these balanced is very important for overall health, including digestive, mental, and immune well-being. For these reasons, we prefer Portuguese Water Dog food that support the GI system and supplements that contain attributes below. Learn more about gut and digestive health in dogs and how to keep a dog's gut healthy.
- Prebiotics
- Probiotics
- Fermented foods
Bone & Joint
It’s very common for breeds like the Portuguese Water Dog to develop discomfort or pain in their joints and bones, especially as they age. Some of these issues are hereditary, and some come from wear and tear over time. We can’t usually prevent these problems, but proper nutrition and weight management will do wonders in minimizing pain in our beloved pets. We always make sure diets include the ingredients below. Learn more about joint health in dogs.
- Glucosamine
- Methylsulfonymethane
- Chondroitin
- Omega-3 from Fish Oil
- Green Mussel
- Taurine
- Turmeric
- Vitamin E
- Antioxidants
Cognitive
Puppy and senior Portuguese Water Dogs need a little extra brain power in their nutrition plans. In the early years, puppy brains are developing quickly and need a healthy flow of vitamins to help them grow strong. Once they hit senior years, brain function can deteriorate and we like to supplement their diets with nutrients that will keep them sharp. Learn more about cognitive nutrition for dogs.
- Omega-3 essential fatty acids
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- L-carnitine
Eye
The only thing better than looking into your Portuguese Water Dog’s eyes is looking into your Portuguese Water Dog’s healthy eyes. All dogs are susceptible to degenerative vision and eye function, but supplementing their diets with things like beta carotene, lutein, EPA, DHA, and other nutrients can help maintain quality vision. Learn more about eye nutrition for dogs.
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Anthocyanins
- Astaxanthin
- Beta-carotene
- Carotenoids
- Glutathione
- Lutein
- Lycopene
- Omega-3 essential fatty acids
- Phytonutrients
Skin & Coat
Skin is a Portuguese Water Dog’s largest organ, and it plays a huge role in protecting from the outside world. Just think — weather, allergies, stress, parasites — all these things are trying to get under your dog’s skin. A healthy outer layer is key to avoiding irritants that may irritate or infect. And pay close attention to their coat. Unhealthy looking (or smelling) fur can mean bigger problems. To keep Portuguese Water Dog skin & coats healthy, we recommend that diets contain ingredients below. Learn more about skin nutrition for dogs and the dog foods focused on a healthy coat..
- GLA
- ALA
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Vitamin E
- Vitamins and choline
- Flaxseed/fish oil
- Antioxidants
- Probiotics
Heart
Chances are, if you’re doing what’s right for your Portuguese Water Dog’s heart, you’re doing what’s right for his or her health overall. Proper exercise, weight management, and nutrition are all key to a healthy ticker. Most heart issues in dogs are a result of normal wear and tear with age, so heart-focused diets with taurine and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could be the gift of a lifetime for your Portuguese Water Dog. Learn more about heart nutrition for dogs.
- Taurine
- Carnitine
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Antioxidants
- Complete protein
- Low sodium
Immune
There is a powerful little army inside your Portuguese Water Dog (the immune system) that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and countless other microscopic predators. As pet parents, our job is to keep this army strong, conditioned, and well-supplied. Most of the battle is won in the gut, so a balanced diet plus probiotics and antioxidants are key for victory. Learn more about immune system nutrition for dogs.
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Fish oil
- Coconut oil
Weight Management & Obesity
There is nothing more important than keeping your Portuguese Water Dog at a healthy weight. Even a little excess poundage can cause a wide variety of health problems, including the pain of extra burden on their joints. Unfortunately, almost half of dogs in the US are overweight. Let’s fight dog obesity together by giving our dogs appropriate exercise and managing their caloric intake. If your Portuguese Water Dog needs to shed a little weight, look for diets with these labels below. Learn more about weight management and obesity for dogs and how to tell if your dog is overweight.
- Low calorie
- Low fat
- Large bites (to slow chewing)
- L-carnitine
Are Fresh Food Diets Good for Portuguese Water Dogs?
Only if they’re properly balanced.
Many well-intentioned Portuguese Water Dog parents spend a lot of time preparing meals at home, but health benefits are lost if meals aren’t properly portioned and balanced with all the nutrients dogs need. Recently, a few companies have done an excellent job ensuring accurate portions and nutrient balance by delivering pre-prepped fresh meals customized to the size and needs of your dog. Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and Nom Nom have each been approved by our nutrition team as delivering truly quality and well-balanced meals. They can be a little expensive (usually 3-4x more per day than kibble), but many find the added health benefits worth the cost. They do offer discounts to new customers, though, if you’d like to try one out.
Pros and Cons of Fresh Food Diets
- ✓ Diets balanced by Nutritionists
- ✓ Customized portions for weight control
- ✓ Superior digestive and immune health
- ✕ More expensive than standard dog food
Complete a nutritional assessment to view individualized diet recommendations specifically for your pet.
Foods We Recommend for Portuguese Water Dog Puppies
How long do Portuguese Water Dogs need puppy food?
Until they're 12 to 16 months old
Portuguese Water Dogs are very focused on growing, and how we feed them should help them do just that. Since they have so much growing to do, they need higher amounts of nutrients than adult dogs, especially proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and — don’t forget — water. It’s still important to not overfeed puppies, so make sure to portion food and keep treats to no more than 10% of their caloric intake. Since balance is so important, we recommend that your young Portuguese Water Dog is eating food that is made just for puppies from a reputable brand.
Foods We Recommend for Portuguese Water Dog Adults
When should Portuguese Water Dogs start transitioning to adult food?
When they're 12 to 16 months old
From a nutrition standpoint, Portuguese Water Dog become adults once they reach about 90% of their expected weight. Once adults, our two key nutrition goals are balance and maintenance. We want balance because a dog’s body is responsible for a lot of things, like digestion, fighting infection, keeping muscles strong, and chasing squirrels. These are all important tasks, so we want to make sure each body function gets its share of nutrients. We also need to maintain a healthy weight. Underfed dogs are at risk for malnourishment, and overfed dogs can become obese — both of which lead to even worse problems for a Portuguese Water Dog.
Foods We Recommend for Portuguese Water Dog Seniors
When should Portuguese Water Dogs start transitioning to senior food?
All dogs can age differently, but Medium dogs like the Portuguese Water Dog can start to benefit from senior food around 7 to 8 years old
Ever watch kids running around the playground and wish you had that energy again? Yeah. Dogs get there, too. The metabolic processes in senior Portuguese Water Dogs slow down as they age, which often means they aren’t needing quite as many calories as they did in their prime. Smart dog food companies have formulated senior diets to ease up on calories but still help them feel full and give them adequate maintenance protein. Still, like humans, everybody is different. Sometimes older dogs need just as many calories, or more, depending on how their bodies progress. So keep a close eye on their body condition, and look for dog foods made for seniors.
Affiliate Disclosure
We do not accept money to recommend pet foods. However, we do receive referral fees from online retailers (such as Chewy or Amazon) on qualifying purchases. Our recommendations are neutral, and diet recommendations are made without considering whether we will receive a referral fee.