Although still quite popular around the turn of the century, the PWD's became noticeably rarer in the first decades of the twentieth century. The modernization of the fishing industry left the PWD unemployed.

In the 1930's, however, the owner of a large fleet of sailing ships - Vasco Besaude - who bred Clumber Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels and Irish Wolfhounds, began to concern himself with preserving the PWD's. Around 1933 he set the standard for Portuguese Water Dogs. In his "Algarborium" kennel, the first litter registered with the LOP was born to Leão and Dina 1937. Leão was the prototype for the standard. He was one of the few dogs still seen working with fishermen, who did not want to sell him at first. Later they did, though.

In 1938 Professor Fernandes Marques published the first complete report on the "Water Dog" breed and its standard was published in the CCP = Clube dos Caçadores Portugueses, dog breeding section, under the name "Cão de Água Português". President of the CCP: Daniel da Silva Lane; Secretary General: Vasco Bensaude.

By 1955 there were already 100 Portuguese Water Dogs registered in the LOP under "Algarborium". They all had Leão's genes. Now there was a second fan of Water Dogs - Dr. Cabral, a veterinary physician who had set himself the goal of breeding Portuguese Water Dogs without using the "Algarborium genes". He based his breeding work on "Silves", a foundling, and thus started his "Alvalade line".

While the Algarborium dogs were already being exported to America and, after the demise of Vasco Bensaudes in 1967, were only able to endure in Portugal in the "Al-Gharb Kennels" of Conchita Cintron, the heir of the Algarborium Kennel, the Alvalade dogs have remained true to the Portuguese until the present time. When Conchita Cintron and her six children were driven from their home in 1974, during the revolution, the last Algarborium dogs disappeared with her from the map of Portugal. In the U.S.A., however, their descendants are still being bred in growing numbers and are held in high esteem. Portugal is still smarting at its loss, however, for the Alvalade dogs were not as productive with regard to quantity and quality as their competitors from the Algarborium.

Alvalade was inherited by Carla Molinari, for a long time the president of the CPC (Portuguese Dog Breeding Club). At the time, she was breeding Afghans and was indirectly coerced into taking on the Portuguese Water Dog when Cabral, whose livelihood was under threat (revolutionary period), used her "Vale Negro" kennel for his own dogs. As "compensation" he promised her his Portuguese Water Dogs. He did not keep his word, however, but gave her only a single pair, shipping all the other PWD's to America. This led to the well-known crisis in which the Portuguese Water Dog nearly became extinct. And there were no more reinforcements from the Algarve, for the fisher folk had been plunged into poverty and were unable to afford to keep dogs.

Ms. Carla Molinari and a handful of Portuguese breeders were only able to keep breeding the Portuguese Water Dogs by making a large number of compromises. Today a promising package of Portuguese Water Dog genes is available and the Portuguese Water Dog is a stunningly beautiful dog which stands out at dog shows.

The Portuguese Water Dog is an undemanding member of the family who is always friendly and absolutely trustworthy, but not a fussy eater. The PWD takes care of all young creatures and barks when strangers approach. Its aggression is directed only toward members of its own species. This is why he should be kept alone - but exceptions prove the rule. After all, I also live together with a pack of umpteen Water Dogs.

Historically, the Portuguese Water Dog has helped fisherman by bringing back anything that may have falling into the water. The PWD has very good retrieving qualities, is an untiring swimmer and diver, and can quickly climb over the railing of a boat. Owing to the events described above, it would be mistaken to expect to find all its historical qualities intact today. Nowadays it is often more successful at tracking, aquatic life?saving, in the war on drugs and as therapy-dog

I have taken the information for this text from the book "The Portuguese Water Dog" by Carla Molinari, as well as from magazines and contacts with breeders of Portuguese Water Dogs. Bettina Otto-Matthes registered at the FCI member of CPC and ERV © 2000-2002