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Lakecrew PWDs is located in Central Texas about 30 miles west of downtown Austin and we occasionally have PWD puppies for sale.  We have been involved with Portuguese Water Dogs since 2004.

As PWD breeders, our mission is to produce high quality healthy PWDs and to make certain each puppy is placed in a loving home where it has the opportunity to excel - first and foremost as a companion, then perhaps as a performance or show dog.  We breed on a limited basis.

We are full members of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (national breed club) and participate in the PWDCA Breeder Referral Program.  This program requires members to breed only dogs that are age two or older and have permanent/current health certifications in place (e.g., OFA, OptiGen PRA, CERF, GM1, etc.) PRIOR to breeding. 

The Portuguese Water Dog is an old breed.  In the 1500's, this well-balanced web-footed working dog was prized by Portuguese fishermen as a helper, courier, guard dog, and companion.  Modern dogs in the breed retain the character of their ancestors: hard-working and easily bored, loyal to their family, and sometimes overly defensive toward outsiders.

This once-obscure breed gained sudden widespread notoriety in 2009 when "Bo" was selected as "First Dog".  This new fame was concerning to PWD lovers because we feared people would purchase a portie for the wrong reasons and later become disillusioned with their new dog's exuberant temperament and high-energy demands. 

PWDs are cute, playful, and loving.  They can also be stubborn, demanding, and rowdy, with a get-in-your-face behavioral trait that is sometimes not welcomed.  See a list of typical Water Dog characteristics. 

We firmly encourage those considering buying a Portuguese Water Dog to educate themselves enough about the breed to determine whether a PWD would be a good match for their family and lifestyle.

If the PWD is the right breed for you:
As with any breed, there will be considerable variation in the quality of PWD puppies available.  Before you commit to a puppy from a breeder you are considering, it is well worth your time and effort to get answers to the following -

1. Is the breeder a member of the national breed club (the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America)?
2. Does at least one of the breeding pair (sire or dam) have an AKC conformation championship?
3. Were the parents of the litter at least two years old when they were bred?
4. Does the breeding pair meet PWDCA health testing guidelines? 
   The sire and dam of the litter should have health test results as follows:
   • OFA Hip screening - both parents should have an OFA certified normal rating of fair, good or excellent.  If a tested dog does not have an assigned OFA number, that means s/he "failed OFA" and has borderline or dysplastic hips.
   • Storage Disease testing via GM1 - at least one parent should have a rating of Normal.
   • OptiGen PRA rating - at least one parent should have a rating of Normal.
   • JDCM test result - at least one parent should have a rating of Normal.
   • CERF number - both parents should have a current CERF (test date no older than one year)

Texas PWDs, TX PWDs

Texas Portuguese Water Dogs, TX Portuguese Water Dogs