PWD Characteristics
Positive characteristics common to the breed:
- PWDs are fluffy and cute. They have soft coats that feel good to caress, and they actively enjoy being petted.
- PWDs have single coats that do not shed, producing less dander, and are therefore considered hypoallergenic.
Other single-coated, non-shedding breeds include the Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Irish Water Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Poodle, Schnauzer, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. - PWDs are very playful. They retain that puppy-like behavior as adults and love to fetch.
- PWDs are loving and love being with people. They have been referred to as "velcro dogs" because they stick tight to their owners.
- This is a smart breed, and many PWDs also have a sense of humor.
- Once introduced to strangers, they are generally friendly.
Negative characteristics common to the breed:
- Those soft long coats require lots of grooming. Weekly brushing and combing is required. If you do not stay on top of the grooming, your PWD's coat will become a knotted nightmare.
- PWD puppies will nip and bite (which can result in injuries caused by their razor sharp milk teeth) and must be trained to not bite people. Great care should be taken to always supervise PWD puppies when they are around young children.
- PWDs are "mouthy" - carrying and chewing objects, which may include the hundred dollar bills they fished out of your wallet while you were busy elsewhere (true story). They are powerful chewers and should be supervised with their toys, as they can quickly destroy and dismember many a plush dog toy.
- PWDs tend to be rowdy and are exuberant jumpers - knocking people and objects over. They are also very get-in-your-face dogs. Other dogs may find this behavior threatening and react negatively to it, while people may label it as aggression.
- PWDs are often NOT that interested in pleasing their owners.
- PWDs are easily aroused and their high-intensity, reactive behavior is often uninhibited. PWDs require owners who are committed to being the boss. Lacking such, PWDs will become the boss themselves (this may seem cute at first, but there's nothing cute about an uncontrollable dog.)