FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, WITH RESPONSES FROM THE BREEDER

What is the difference between a pet quality and a show quality puppy?

A show quality puppy is one that a breeder feels conforms closely to the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) standard for its breed.  A breeder will decide that a puppy is pet quality if it exhibits deviations from the AKC’s standard.  

I try always to be particular when deciding if a puppy of mine is of show or pet quality and err on the side of naming as pet quality puppies that deviate even an acceptable amount from the AKC’s standard.  Buying a pet quality puppy from me does not necessarily eliminate you from the show ring if you’d like to give conformation a try, and many puppies that I sold as pets went on to become Champions.  The New Complete Portuguese Water Dog by Kathryn Braund is an excellent resource for information on obedience and conformation showing as well as agility and water work training.

What is selective breeding?

Selective breeding seeks to pair together as parents dogs that have correct conformation for their breed and a good health history in order to produce offspring with particular and desired traits.

In a breeding program, pairs used as parents are most often those that have close, common ancestors, e.g. an aunt to nephew or half-brother to half-sister breeding.  Occasionally in-breeding, where the breeding pair are directly related—mother to son or sister to brother, for example—is done.  This type of breeding is used to protect the integrity of the kennel line.  A breeder sometimes performs an out-crossing breeding.  The breeding pair used in this type of breeding has no common ancestors.  An out-crossing breeding is done to improve a specific fault in a breeder’s line.

What are the health problems in Portuguese Water Dogs?

No breed of dog is free from genetic health disorders, and the Portuguese Water Dog is certainly no exception.  The health issues of greatest concern within this breed include Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD), Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Storage disease (GM-1), and Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDC).  For detailed information on these diseases, please see the HEALTH ISSUES page of this web site. CHD, PRA, Storage disease, and JDC are only four of the countless genetic diseases found in purebred dogs.  Because there are as many genetic diseases in dogs as there are found in humans, no breeder can guarantee an owner that his or her puppy will be completely free of genetic disease.  However, a breeder can reduce the chances of producing genetic disease in the kennel line by being familiar with their stock’s ancestors and subsequent potential disease risk.

As a prospective owner, you can protect yourself by talking with your breeder about the frequency of occurrence of genetic disease in the breeder’s kennel line.  I have never produced a puppy affected by PRA, nor have I ever produced a puppy affected by or a carrier of Storage disease.  Because of the recent invention of DNA-based tests for PRA and Storage disease, the chances of my producing a puppy affected by either of these two disorders are now zero.  Approximately 20% of the puppies I have bred have developed CHD.  The national average is 27%.  I have never produced a puppy affected by JDC.

Will my puppy be potty trained?

No.  Unless the puppy you purchase is older, it will almost certainly not be potty trained, as a very young puppy does not have the physical capability of bowel or bladder control.  However, your puppy will be given the opportunity to try eliminating on paper, concrete, and grass before it leaves here.

Will my puppy be socialized? 

Your puppy will be socialized, in part, before it leaves here.  My puppies are born in the house and kept indoors with the family until they are six weeks old.  At that time, the puppies are allowed to go outside during the day when the weather is good.  From their outdoor pen, the puppies can see and hear the other dogs living at De Leao Kennel, the two barn cats that roam the property, and any family friends that happen to stop by.  Each puppy in a litter is picked up and held every day and given much in the way of individual attention.

I do not recommend you take your puppy out into public until it has had its first set of inoculations, and I don’t suggest that you start obedience classes with your puppy until it has had its final round of inoculations (at approximately four months of age).  When you do start training your puppy, Psychological Dog Training by C. W. Meisterfield is an excellent information resource.

Why isn’t my deposit refundable?

When you pay your deposit, you are guaranteed a puppy from my current litter.  When all of my prospective owners have paid their deposits, I begin to turn away other prospective owners.  Should someone back out of their agreement to purchase a puppy from me, I must start the process of placing the puppy in a home over again, which often takes much time and consideration on my part.

Is the price negotiable?

No, the price is not negotiable.  I feel that it would not be fair to my other prospective owners for me to allow special pricing deals for only certain individuals.  Also, I feel that my prices are fair.  I paid $1,300 for my first Portuguese Water Dog (the best deal I ever made) approximately twenty years ago, and I have worked over the years to make sure my prices have not increased much over that price.