Breed

Portuguese Water Dog

AKC Grouping
Working Group
Temperament
  • affectionate
  • adventurous
  • athletic
Demeanor
alert and responsive

Choosing the Best Dog Food for a Senior Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog is often an affectionate, adventurous and athletic breed. Their demeanor is often times described as alert and responsive. But as the dog ages and reaches its senior years, their temperament can become less predictable. While a Portuguese Water Dog typically is energetic, as they get older their energy levels tend to gradually fade which can lead to obesity. A dutiful owner of a Portuguese Water Dog should take time to find the right dog food for a senior Portuguese Water Dog to help keep energy levels up and their weight controlled.

How Breed History Plays a Role in Senior Portuguese Water Dog Health Issues

The breed was well-known along the coast of Portugal with the first written account of the breed made from a monk in 1297. It was said to have originated from Central Asian around 700BC. The breed was used to lead fish into fishing nets and to retrieve fishing equipment in the water. They were also used to carry messages from one ship to another. Their waterproof coats and webbed feet make the breed more suitable than other breeds for underwater tasks. The dog is built as a solid muscular breed with great swimming capabilities. It is likely that the breeds were fed fish as they were often living on ships. A meat based diet is good for dogs, but a lack of variety in their diet, such as the exclusion of vegetables may not be healthy for them over time.

Get Your Portuguese Water Dog the Right Food
Energy
Energy
energetic
Grooming
Grooming
daily brushing
Training
Training
obedient
Shedding
Shedding
seasonally

Help Your Senior Portuguese Water Dog Live a Full & Long Life

Dog food became more sophisticated at the start of the 20th century, and it's possible that Portuguese Water Dogs were fed a diet of horse meat kibble. The Portuguese Water Dog may not have lived as long in years past, but it's important to note that your Portuguese Water Dog can live as long as 13 years or more today. How? The key to helping a senior Portuguese Water Dog live a full and long life all lies in selecting the best dog food for a senior Portuguese Water Dog and making sure it gets proper exercise. The average weight of an Portuguese Water Dog is 42-60 pounds (male), 35-50 pounds (female). If your senior Portuguese Water Dog is falling outside of that range, you should first consider a dog food that’s better for a senior Portuguese Water Dog (like the dog food Spot & Tango offers). Then, make sure your dog is getting appropriate exercise.

Portuguese Water Dog

The Best Dog Food for a Senior Portuguese Water Dog

As your Portuguese Water Dog ages and lifestyle changes so should the food that they eat. Starting off their life, the Portuguese Water Dog needs special nutrients to grow, as it gets older these needs may change depending upon how active or inactive its lifestyle is. Your Portuguese Water Dog will need special nutrients to grow, however, as it gets older the nutrients will likely change as your dog goes from active to less active. Mature Portuguese Water Dog dogs need more oil such as fish oil in their diet to lubricate their bones versus protein as they slow down. Portuguese Water Dogs are prone to getting cold so care must be taken in colder climates. You might want to wrap your Portuguese Water Dog in a blanket or dress it in a sweater in order to keep it warm. Like most other dogs as they age they can develop hip problems as well as knee and joint issues. Their diet should take into consideration their senior age along with their activity levels. Well-balanced nutrient-based dog food can help relieve your aging dog's health issues such as arthritis.

Get Your Portuguese Water Dog the Right Food

Choose Spot & Tango for Senior Portuguese Water Dog Dog Food

Spot & Tango formulates its recipes with the help of pet nutritionists and veterinarians. Spot & Tango invites you to take the online quiz. You can create a meal plan specifically for your Portuguese Water Dog, based on its age, activity level and weight. All of Spot & Tango's meals are cooked in small batches, using human-grade ingredients, in a USDA-approved kitchen. Meals are portioned, packed and shipped to your door, within a few short days. Just thaw and serve. Get your dog food made by Spot & Tango to give your Portuguese Water Dog the best-tasting food that is also good for their health.