The Portuguese Water Dog is a beautiful pooch anyone would love to have. If you are wondering how much a Portuguese Water Dog costs or if you’ll go broke while maintaining them, this guide is for you!
Owning a Portuguese Water Dog can be quite expensive. But despite the initial price, there are actually clever ways to save money as a Portuguese Water Dog owner.
This article should provide you with tips on keeping this doggo happy without spending too much. Let’s begin!
The Average Cost of a Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
When purchased from a reputable breeder, a Portuguese Water Dog puppy can cost you around $3,000 to $3,700. Prices for show-quality puppies could even go from $4,000 to $6,000. Fortunately, you also have the choice to adopt, which will save you money.
Because of its rarity, the Portuguese Water Dog is more expensive compared to other purebred dogs. At times, the price may even go higher than these estimates mentioned.
Reputable breeders often charge a premium for Portuguese Water Dog puppies. But more often than not, the value you get for its price tag is fair.
The succeeding sections of this guide will explain why owning a Portuguese Water Dog is expensive. After reading everything, you’ll probably think that the price isn’t all that bad!
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Portuguese Water Dog Puppy
Purchasing a Portuguese Water Dog puppy will cost you a few thousand dollars — so you need to be fully committed to raising it. But have you ever thought about why it’s so pricey to own a Portie?
Before buying a Portuguese Water Dog, you need to know a couple of things that affect the price of this pooch. Knowing these things can help you determine if you’re getting a reasonable price for a dog.
Here are different factors that affect the Portuguese Water Dog’s price:
Age: As there is usually a higher demand for puppies, they are often priced higher than adult dogs. Portuguese Water Dog puppies are no exception. So unless you seek the joys of raising a puppy (which most people do), getting an adult or senior Portie is the cheaper way to go.
Location: How far you live from the breeder will impact the puppy’s price. Breeders often charge a delivery fee apart from the original cost. Additionally, some places prefer certain dog breeds. If there’s a high demand for Portuguese Water Dogs in an area, they tend to be more expensive.
Appearance: Portuguese Water Dogs in more common colors (black and brown) will usually cost you less. Meanwhile, breeders can charge significantly more for a white Portie due to its rarity.
Bloodline: The Portuguese Water Dog’s lineage is another factor affecting its market value. Because of their top-notch genetic makeup, puppies with champion parents sell for a much higher price.
Health Guarantees: If the breeder offers health guarantees, then you’re most likely getting a healthy Portie puppy. This is considering that Portuguese Water Dogs are prone to genetic defects. Reputable breeders usually offer money-back guarantees to their customers.
Breeder’s Reputation: Expect to pay a premium when buying a Portuguese Water Dog from a reputable breeder. It’s because they possess a certain level of expertise that typical puppy mills and backyard breeders do not.
Registration Papers: A puppy registration form contains specific information about the Portie puppy, such as its birth date, breed, parents, and owner. Registration papers ensure that all of these are well-documented.
Aside from the ones listed above, other factors that may affect the Portuguese Water Dog’s prices include their gender, size, vaccination status, accessories, and additional service fees.
Watch the video below to see some cute Portie puppies in action:
What Makes The Portuguese Water Dog Such a Great Breed?<a href="https://youtu.be/Psgru9soioU" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FPsgru9soioU%2F0.jpg" alt="What Makes The Portuguese Water Dog Such a Great Breed?" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Portuguese Water Dog From a Rescue?
The adoption fee for Portuguese Water Dogs costs between $200 and $700. Though pretty steep, it’s still around ten times less than getting one from a breeder. Thus, you can find many great deals in rescues and shelters.
Age is a huge factor that dictates the cost of adopting a Portuguese Water Dog.
The adoption fee for an adult Portie is cheaper because most of them have already been dewormed and spayed/neutered before entering a rescue or shelter.
Furthermore, most of the dogs these organizations help are older ones with health issues. So even though dogs in rescues or shelters are cheaper to have, it is really not for everyone.
Initial Cost of Portuguese Water Dog Ownership
By now, you should already know how much a Portuguese Water Dog costs. The next step would be learning how to raise your new Portie puppy properly. With this, you need an estimate of how much to spend initially.
First, you must consider the puppy’s necessities. These basic needs include food, feeding bowls, toys, vet checkups, and anything to keep them healthy, safe, and happy.
To make life easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of items needed for your new Portie puppy. You’ll also find a table that you can use as a cheat sheet at the end of this section.
Food and Treats: An active dog like the Portie needs high-quality kibble and treats. You may need to test different brands to see which one best suits your pup. Dog food and treats are usually inexpensive when bought in bulk. In total, it should cost you around $80 to $100.
Food and Water Bowls: When it comes to bowls, choose stainless steel ones. They last a lot longer than plastic and are much easier to clean. Stainless steel bowls don’t come cheap, however, and they can cost you between $10 and $30.
Bed: Since Portuguese Water Dogs are prone to hip dysplasia, providing them with a comfy bed is necessary. Getting a high-quality bed should help keep their bones and muscles healthy for a long time. Buying one will cost you about $40 to $180.
Crate: Even if you don’t cage your pets, a crate is still essential. It provides your Portie with a safe place whenever you’re not around. It is also a means of transporting your pup during trips. The price tag for your Portie’s crate should range from $50 to $370.
Leashes and Collar: Even before bringing your Portie home, you should have a leash and a collar ready. Make sure you get one that’s washable and adjustable. Additionally, you should pick a corrosion-resistant collar if you’re getting one with a metal nameplate. Both should cost roughly $15 to $50.
Toys: Puppies generally like chewing on and playing with anything when they’re bored. Getting your Portie some chew toys, balls, squeaky toys, and Kongs should help. Durable puppy toys will cost you around $30 to $40.
Grooming Essentials: Although Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed their coat, regular grooming is necessary to keep them from growing too long. Luckily, a set of good-quality grooming supplies won’t cost you a fortune. It should set you back around $40 to $160.
Deworming, Flea, and Tick Medications: Portie puppies need to be dewormed and treated for ticks and fleas. Breeders, rescues, and shelters usually cover these treatments. If they don’t, expect to spend an additional $50 to $200 for these.
Initial Vet Visits: Apart from the medical procedures performed on your Portie, you also need to pay vet fees. The initial vet visits will cost you approximately $100 to $300. However, vet rates may vary depending on where you live. Vet visits are the key to assessing your pup’s overall health.
Initial Vaccine Shots: Once you get a Portie puppy, it should most likely be vaccinated. These typically include shots for distemper, rabies, parainfluenza, hepatitis, and parvovirus. The total cost for initial vaccine shots is between $75 and $200.
Neutering and Spaying: If you don’t have any plans to breed your pooch, it’s best to have it neutered or spayed. This procedure should help make your pup well-mannered and decrease the risk for certain cancers. Neutering or spaying should set you back by $50 to $500.
Dog License: Getting a dog license is a must, as this serves as written proof of its identity. A dog license should also come in handy if it gets lost or accidentally bites a stranger. Expect to shell out an additional $10 to $20 for this.
Microchip: A microchip is a small electronic device implanted in your Portie’s skin. Scanning the microchip will show all your contact details — making it easier for strangers to identify your pup. This device should cost you around $40 to $60.
Miscellaneous: Aside from the ones mentioned, your Portuguese Water Dog needs a few more things. Things like carpet cleaners, poop bags, potty pads, urine cleaners, and vitamins should be readily available. Depending on what else you need, expect to spend an additional $15 to $30 on these miscellaneous items.
Below is a breakdown of initial expenses for your Portie puppy:
As you can see, the table above shows that it would cost you between $650 and $2,240 to get all the essentials for your new Portie.
Keep in mind that this approximate amount does not include the price of buying the puppy itself and other possible expenses.
Before buying any of the items mentioned, check if you already have any of them lying around the house. Double-checking helps prevent you from overspending.
Also, keep in mind that the prices above are only estimates. The actual amount you’ll spend may still vary depending on other factors not listed.
Annual Cost of Owning a Portuguese Water Dog
Before getting a Portuguese Water Dog, you must be fully aware of how much you’ll spend on it every year. Owning a Portie, like all other dogs, is a serious financial commitment for any fur parent.
Aside from providing for the bare essentials, knowing what keeps your pooch happy must also be a priority.
Below is a summary of annual expenses for a Portuguese Water Dog:
At first glance, the annual cost of owning a Portuguese Water Dog can be way too high. However, that amount isn’t too bad since it’s the same amount you’ll be spending on other medium-sized dogs.
Aside from food and recurring supplies, you’ll notice that a big chunk of the expenses goes to pet insurance.
Though expensive, this is necessary as it should cover emergency treatments for injuries and other conditions. Pet insurance will cost you around $500 to $900 annually.
You must also be ready to spend on regular vet visits for your pup. This helps ensure that your Portie is in peak physical condition. Routine checkups should cost you between $200 and $400 annually.
Take note that the figures above are just rough estimates. You may need to spend a bit more as there could be other expenses you won’t see coming. It is best to prepare for what lies ahead.
Other Potential Expenses
The expenses mentioned so far are just the basics. Somewhere along the way, you’ll need to go above your budget when taking care of a Portuguese Water Dog. But what are these potential expenses? There’s quite a bit.
Here’s a list of potential expenses for a Portuguese Water Dog:
Pet Day Care: If you’re someone who regularly goes on trips, a pet daycare facility would be happy to look after your Portie while you’re gone. Services like this won’t be hard to find, and there should be quite a few of them in your area. They usually charge about $20 to $30 per day.
Pet Sitter Fee: Pet sitters are a slightly cheaper alternative to pet daycare facilities. Their services should set you back around $10 to $20 per day. However, rates may vary depending on where you live.
Grooming Services: Portuguese Water Dogs have fast-growing fur, so it’s important to groom them frequently. Though doing the grooming yourself would be a lot cheaper, a groomer would come in handy whenever you’re busy. Grooming services will cost you around $100 to $150 per session.
Kennel Club Registration: You can register your Portuguese Water Dog to the American Kennel Club (AKC) for roughly $40 to $80. Kennel club registration is required if you want your dog to join shows hosted by the AKC.
Emergency Medical Costs: You never know if and when health conditions will affect your Portuguese Water Dog, so you should prepare for this. According to a CNBC news report, emergency treatments for pets cost between $1,000 and $5,000 on average.
Except for emergency medical costs, the items mentioned above are optional. A good way to save more money is to avoid spending on these if you can. Nonetheless, it would be wise to set some cash aside just in case.
Places to Find Portuguese Water Dog Puppies for Sale and Adoption
Getting a Portie puppy from backyard breeders, puppy mills, or local pet shops might seem like a good deal until the vet bills start piling up due to the dog’s health problems. That’s why buying a puppy from a reputable source is a must.
Fortunately, Portuguese Water Dogs have become more common nowadays. To better assist you, below is a list of trustworthy breeders where you’ll find Portie puppies for sale:
Salty Dawg PWDs – Salty Dawg PWDs’ goal is to improve the Portuguese Water Dog breed’s integrity by keeping focusing on their dog’s diet. They breed puppies with sound temperaments that make them ideal companions, champions, or therapy dogs.
TagAlong PWD – Recognized by the AKC as a Breeder of Merit in August 2011, TagAlong PWD strives to produce healthy Portuguese Water Dogs consistently. They also encourage new owners to participate in member activities like PWD water work and AKC companion.
Cove’s End Portuguese Water Dogs – A consistent recipient of the Portuguese Water Dog Outstanding Breeder Achievement Award, their goal is to breed dogs known for their temperament, structure, and drive. They make sure puppies are placed only in families that will treat them as well as they do.
Are you working on a tight budget? Adopting a Portie should be your option. However, it’s rare to find Portie puppies in a rescue or shelter. So you might have to settle for an adult Portie if you decide to adopt.
Here is a list of reputable Portuguese Water Dog rescues if you prefer adopting one:
PWDCA Rescue, Inc. – Since 2016, they have been responsible for rehoming over 50 Portuguese Water Dogs and providing assistance to more than 40 breeders. PWDCA Rescue, Inc. is financed by donations given by its members, adopting families, and various fund-raising events.
Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California (PWDCNC) – The purpose of PWDCNC’s Rescue & Relocation Program is to help all Portuguese Water Dogs find a new home. They make every effort to know who the breeders are and take full responsibility for the dogs with no identified breeders.
Southern California Portuguese Water Dog Club (SCPWDC) – They have successfully rescued and rehomed several PWDs over the past few years. The SCPWDC also has a great network of supporters who scour the web for photos of possible Porties living in shelters.
To better prepare you for the process of adopting or buying a Portuguese Water Dog, read our ultimate dog adoption guide or puppy buying guide.
You will find tips on how to ace your application and what to do before meeting your new furbaby!
Money-Saving Tips for Portuguese Water Dog Owners
Getting a new puppy is like having a baby; it comes with financial responsibility. With that said, your furbaby’s needs could take a toll on your finances if you’re not careful.
Luckily, there are several ways to minimize your spending without being too cheap. It’s not wrong to cut corners as long as you know which corners to cut.
Below are a few money-saving tips for Portuguese Water Dog owners:
Invest in high-quality essentials. Instead of buying cheap ones that don’t last long, spending a few extra dollars on good-quality accessories will end up costing you less since you won’t have to keep replacing them.
Prepare homemade meals. Store-bought goodies are alright, but what makes homemade dog food better is that you know what goes into your puppy’s food. It’s also healthier and a lot less expensive.
Groom your Portie at home. The Portuguese Water Dog’s coat grows fast, so trimming it every two weeks is recommended. Rather than paying someone to groom your dog routinely, doing it yourself will save you more money. Watch the tutorial below and learn how to cut your Portie’s hair like an expert:
Grooming Tips for Portuguese Water Dog - muzzle<a href="https://youtu.be/qpoG1zxyZq8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FqpoG1zxyZq8%2F0.jpg" alt="Grooming Tips for Portuguese Water Dog - muzzle" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Visit the vet regularly. Vet fees may be expensive. But compared to emergency procedures, it costs a lot less. Taking your dog routinely to the vet helps with the early detection of medical conditions before they worsen.
When raising a Portie puppy, you need to find the balance between keeping the costs down and giving the best care possible. It won’t be easy at first, especially if you’re a newbie dog owner. But you should figure it out eventually!
Final Thoughts
Getting a Portuguese Water Dog is expensive. With its price tag also comes the responsibility of meeting all its needs. Hopefully, this article has made you realize how fully committed you need to be before deciding to become a dog owner.
Regardless of what dog breed you decide to get, you must be financially prepared. If you want to know more about the Portuguese Water Dog price, feel free to leave a comment below.
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