Water Work - Preserving the PWD Legacy

Throughout history Portuguese Water Dogs had been working crew members on Portuguese fishing vessels. Their tasks included retrieving overboard objects, carrying messages and equipment from boat to boat, guarding the boats, nets, and catch when in port, and more. In the modern age, water trials were created to replicate the tasks the dogs used to perform in order to preserve their unique working abilities and instincts.

Each summer, Nutmeg offers water play and water practice dates, and hosts Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (PWDCA) sanctioned Water Trials. (See the Nutmeg “Coming Events” page on our website for dates, locations, and more. The dates and info are posted in the spring of each year and updated as needed.)

Nutmeg’s Water Work program is designed to help you and your PWD get in the water and have fun! Whether you want to teach your PWD to swim (it’s true, not all PWDs take to swimming naturally), play water games, or practice and compete for Water titles at PWDCA sanctioned water trials, Nutmeg can help you achieve your goals. These activities offer rewarding opportunities to practice and bond with your PWD in a warm, welcoming, and encouraging environment regardless of you and your dog’s experience levels.

If active training and practice is not of immediate interest, you are invited to join us at our water trials and watch the wonderful water skills this amazing breed has to offer. You can even get involved by volunteering at one of our trials. You can help out by throwing bumpers, rowing the boat, holding a PWD for a restrained recall, or handling some of the admin duties.

For more information, please contact:

Patti Cox at: patticoxphd@gmail.com or 347-628-1049

Jane Freeman at: freestylepwd@gmail.com or 401-225-0570

If you’d like to learn more about the tasks and equipment used in water work competitions, the PWDCA Water Trial Manual contains lots of information. You can find it by clicking here