The hair doesn’t molt, and needs brushing and combing frequently. Portuguese Water Dogs are traditionally clipped on the face, hindquarters and on part of the tail, leaving a profuse plume at the end. The front end of the dog’s coat is left to grow naturally.The coat is described as profuse. There are two distinct types, born without undercoats:<\/p>\n

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• (a) Hair quite long and loosely waved with a slight sheen; hair on head erect, ears well feathered.<\/li>\n
• (b) Hair short, fairly harsh and dense, compact curls, lacking luster, head hair similar to body, hair on ears somewhat wavy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Equipment needed:<\/strong> <\/em>Slicker\/pin brush, wide-toothed comb, clippers.<\/p>\n

  The pet dog can be clipped to about 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) all over – this is called the”Retriever” trim and is used for showing in the U.S.<\/p>\n

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  • Brush through the coat, removing tangles.<\/li>\n
  • Using an Oster No. 10 or 15 blade, clip the face from the corner of the eye to the corner of the ear in straight line.<\/li>\n
  • Clip down the muzzle from the eye.<\/li>\n
  • Clip the neck to the point of the throat.<\/li>\n
  • Clip the abdomen area.<\/li>\n
  • Clip the complete back leg from the last rib, including the back toes, with an Oster No. 10 or 15. Clip the tail two-thirds from the base to leave plumage on the remaining third.<\/li>\n
  • Clip the hair from between the pads underneath the feet.<\/li>\n
  • Bathe the Portuguese Water dog in a suitable shampoo and apply a conditioner.<\/li>\n
  • Blow the hair dry using a pin brush, then comb with a wide-toothed comb.<\/li>\n
  • Remember to check the dog’s nails, ears and teeth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n