The Portuguese Water Dog is an exhilarating breed. They are wonderful companions, enthusiastic at play and work. They are very intelligent and have an earnest need to please. Of course, a "PWD" doesn't just happen to develop these qualities by accident. You do have to raise them with consistent rules and boundaries and cultivate their natural talents and abilities. Some take a little more work than others, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Their non-shedding hair, in many cases, is tolerated by people with allergies.