The Portuguese Water Dogs that Bind Us: A Story of Friendship
Jill with some PWD friends visiting Graceland during the 2003 National Specialty.
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 was featuring 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 home. 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 the PWD really begins. 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 and my breeder. 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 a 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, was now MY hobby. Louie and I traveled to our breeder’s one to two times a year to visit and train in water work. Additionally, Louie and I traveled to visit and water trial with some of the other new friends we have made through this awesome breed. My proudest moment with Louie was earning his Apprentice Water Dog title during the 2003 National Specialty in my home town.
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 my area back in those days!) When Livy finished her confirmation championship in just two weekends with three 5-point majors, I was again bursting with pride. Livy earned her Junior Water Dog certificate and Canine Good Citizen award, and was the proudest mama you have ever met.
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 two of these wonderful dogs. They have added so much more to my life than just being a pet. They have endeared and bound together friendships and memories I will never forget. You truly do get more than you bargain for when you get a PWD!
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 the PWD really begins. 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 and my breeder. 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 a 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, was now MY hobby. Louie and I traveled to our breeder’s one to two times a year to visit and train in water work. Additionally, Louie and I traveled to visit and water trial with some of the other new friends we have made through this awesome breed. My proudest moment with Louie was earning his Apprentice Water Dog title during the 2003 National Specialty in my home town.
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 my area back in those days!) When Livy finished her confirmation championship in just two weekends with three 5-point majors, I was again bursting with pride. Livy earned her Junior Water Dog certificate and Canine Good Citizen award, and was the proudest mama you have ever met.
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 two of these wonderful dogs. They have added so much more to my life than just being a pet. They have endeared and bound together friendships and memories I will never forget. You truly do get more than you bargain for when you get a PWD!
