It all started with a search to find the right breed for our family.  I was watching Animal Planet’s “Breed All About It” which featured the Portuguese Water Dog.  Now, here was a breed that sparked my interest.  My research of the breed led me to my breeder.  She answered all of my questions and asked me a few of her own.  The conversation ended with me asking to be added to her puppy waiting list.  The next few months were spent reading any information I could get my hands on regarding this breed.

    Finally, in early 2001 this breeder called to tell me she had a puppy for me.  One month later I was on an airplane to pick up this much-anticipated puppy.  My breeder picked me up at the airport and took me to her home where I met “Louie,” my curly, black, bundle of energy.  Oops, I mean joy.  I spent a couple of hours with my breeder and her husband.  They made me feel comfortable, as if I had known them forever.  After a bite to eat, they took me back to the airport where I tucked my new baby boy under my seat and headed back to Memphis, Tennessee.  I thought that would be the last time I would see them.
   
    Wrong.  Four months later I found myself in my car with Louie headed back to my breeder’s house to attend their yearly weekend picnic for all of their owners and dogs.  This is where my story about the friendships I have made because of PWD really continues.  I met the owner of Louie’s littermate, “Lacey.”  Lacey’s owner and my breeder had both been e-mailing me to give me advice on how to handle difficult PWD puppy moments.  Louie had also made a good friend named “Kirby.”  It was because of these wonderful dogs that I became good friends with both of their Moms.  I met so many people that weekend who have become such good friends to me.  What a sight it was to behold:  15 to 20 PWDs playing together in the beautiful lake with people throwing dummies in for the dogs to retrieve.  I was hooked from that moment on.
   
    My PWD Louie, who was originally added to our family as a pet for my sons, Desmon and Cole, is now MY hobby.  With the support and understanding of Mark, my husband, we traveled to our breeder’s two to three times a year to visit and train in water work.  Additionally, we traveled several times a year to visit and water trial with some of the other new friends we have made through our PWD.  My proudest moment with Louie was earning his Apprentice Water Dog title at the 2003 National Specialty at home in Memphis.

    In the fall of 2002, we added another PWD to our family, “Livy.”  Then I learned about the confirmation ring.  And yes, I made yet more new friends.  This time they came from my neck of the woods.  (And I had thought I was the only one with a PWD in Memphis!)  When Livy finished her confirmation championship in just two weekends with three 5-point majors (under the expert grooming and handling of C. J. Favre), I was again bursting with pride.  Livy has earned her Junior Water Dog certificate and Canine Good Citizen award, and is the proudest mama you will ever meet.

   Our extended family caught the PWD bug this year when my brother and his wife, Bill and Shannon Pryor, welcomed the beautiful pick of Livy’s second litter into their home.  Shannon grew up showing and breeding top Quarter Horses, and they have agreed to join our kennel as co-breeders.  We fully expect their puppy (named Leah, after her dad) to continue the winning tradition of her mom and Uncle Louie. 

    These dogs have bound me to some of the most wonderful people I have ever known.  I am so thankful to my breeder for entrusting me with these two wonderful dogs.  They have added so much more to my life than just being a pet.  They have endeared and bound together friends and memories I will never forget.  You truly do get more than you bargain for when you get a PWD!