The Portuguese Water Dog is a robust dog of medium build, slightly longer than they are tall. They are often strong and well-muscled. They have a profuse single coat, either wavy or curly. Two styles of grooming clips may be seen on this breed: the lion clip, in which the muzzle and middle part, up to the tail tip, are clipped, and secondly the retriever clip, in which the entire coat is scissored to about 1 inch in length, with tail tip left at full length. The Portuguese Water Dog’s expression is often steady, penetrating, and attentive, reflecting their spirited disposition.
