Thanks to their intelligence and the fact these dogs love to please in the right hands the Portuguese Water Dog is easy to train. However, as previously mentioned their training has to start early, it has to be consistent and always fair so dogs know what is expected of them. In the right environment and with the correct amount of socialisation and training, the PWD excels when it comes to learning new things which they do very quickly bearing in mind that this means they quickly learn both the good and the bad.
Portuguese Water Dogs have proved themselves to excel in many canine sports, but they are also often used as therapy dogs working in hospitals, hospices and schools. They are also frequently used as hearing dogs, assistance dog and mobility dogs that help people with household tasks they are unable to do themselves.
