Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Guide (Everything You Should Know)

Hello, pet parents! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding Portuguese water dogs.

In this guide, I will cover how much to feed a Portuguese water dog, how often to feed a Portuguese water dog, when to feed your Portuguese water dog, what foods to feed your Portuguese water dog, what foods to avoid feeding your Portuguese water dog, and other questions you may have about your Portuguese water dog’s nutrition.

You can read the article to the end or go through the table of contents below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.

Portuguese water dogs were originally used by fishermen to herd fish into nets and retrieve broken nets. They are obedient and social dogs, and they make delightful companions.

Portuguese water dogs are active dogs; they possess a strong muscular frame. They are smart, independent dogs that need to be socialized to make excellent companions for their pet parents.

I have created this ultimate guide to feeding your Portuguese water dog for curious and new pet parents to solve your dog’s nutrition problem. I will go into detail on every feeding question you may have based on my experience working for a veterinarian.

Let’s jump into the article.

Portuguese Water Dog Nutritional Requirements

Portuguese water dogs are small dogs that require the proper nutrients in their specific amounts to grow healthy. Like other dog breeds, if some of these nutrients are present in excess amounts or less, it would end up endangering the overall health of your dog.

Your Portuguese water dog’s meal should primarily consist of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins to meet their nutritional requirements for a healthy lifestyle.

The small size of a Great Dane will require adequate and quality nutrients to maintain its body weight. Failure to do so can result in health issues and prevent your dog from reaching its peak size.

Your Portuguese water dog’s protein source must be animal protein like chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef. Their fat source can be fish oil or vegetables. Their source of fiber can come from wholesome, healthy vegetables like cabbage, carrots, sprouts, and broccoli.

Nutritional Requirements for a Portuguese Water Dog Puppy

The diet of a Portuguese water dog puppy and adolescent should consist of 22.5% protein, 8% fat, and 6% fiber. Portuguese water dog puppies are energetic and have a high metabolism. They grow fast and will require quality nutrients to keep up. They require protein for building healthy muscles and minerals for strong bones; carbohydrates for energy; and fats for maintaining a healthy coat.

Nutritional Requirement for Adult and Mature Portuguese Water Dog

The meal plan for mature and adult Portuguese water dogs should consist of 25% protein, 25% carbohydrates, 5% fat, and 3% fiber. At this stage, Portuguese water dogs are most active and will need protein and carbohydrates to keep their weight and energy level optimal. However, you should avoid overfeeding your pet at this stage, as they are prone to obesity and will develop health issues.

Nutritional Requirement For Senior Portuguese Water Dog

Your Portuguese water dog is less active at this stage than at previous stages. At this age, your pet’s food should ideally contain 18% protein, 5% fat, and fiber. Senior Portuguese water dogs will need minerals and vitamins added to their food to strengthen their bones and immune system.

The Factors Affecting The Feeding of Your Portuguese Water Dog

Some factors will affect the diet of your Portuguese water dogs, such as the size of the breed, its age, its activity level, and its underlying health conditions.

Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of a Portuguese water dog for males is 50–51 cm, and for females, it is 43–52 cm from the sole of their feet to their shoulders. The weight of a male Portuguese water dog is 19–27 kg, and that of a female is 16–23 kg.

Male Portuguese water dogs are generally bigger than female Portuguese water dogs, which means that the male will require a larger intake of calories than the female to stay healthy and strong.

Age consideration

Portuguese water Dog puppies will require more calories at their growing stage due to their high metabolic rate. They need to be fed a lot if you want them to grow into strong, healthy dogs.

Adult Portuguese water dogs should not be fed more often than their puppy counterparts. The adults have a slow metabolism that can lead to stomach bloating and indigestion if they’re fed excessively.

Your senior Great Dane will be less active and require fewer calories than when they were younger. Doing otherwise might lead to obesity and other serious health problems.

Activity Level

Athletes are required to maintain a strict diet compared to non-athletes, so you should also keep your Great Pyrenees away from certain foods if you want to maintain its athletic abilities.

You wouldn’t want to feed your Great Pyrenees a meal high in fat and sodium, like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.

These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.

Health Consideration

Portuguese water dogs are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.

Some health issues that affect your Portuguese water dog include hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, addison’s disease, alopecia, cardiomyopathy, retinal atrophy, and irritable bowel syndrome. 

These health problems could be avoided or mitigated by eating or avoiding certain foods from the start, rather than treating them as they arise.

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act in the long run could lead to pain, seeing your Great Dane sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.

Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Quantity

Your Portuguese water dogs, just like any other dog breed, will require different amounts of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need to meet their nutritional requirements.

On average, Portuguese water dog puppy 0.5 to 1.5 cups of food that has 140 to 940 Kcal per day; feed your adult Portuguese water dog 2.5 to 3.67 cups per day has 610 to 1174 Kcal per day; and feed your senior Portuguese water dog 2.5-2.67 cups per day, that has 610-880 Kcal per day.

I will provide you with charts below to help you plan your dog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much To Feed Your Portuguese Water Dog Puppy

For your Portuguese water dog puppy to grow into healthy adults, the meal should be high in protein and low in fat, which can be obtained from animal meat.

A Portuguese water dog puppy should be given 0.5 to 1.5 cups of food per day that contains 140–940 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirement of your puppy is given in detail in the charts below:

Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications.

How Much To Feed an Adult Portuguese Water Dog

Following the above guidelines will aid in bone development and muscle growth, as well as strengthen their immune system to combat common bacteria and viruses that can cause health complications. is done by reducing the feeding frequency to two times per day.

A mature and adult Portuguese water dog puppy should be given 2.5 to 3.67 cups of food per day that contains 610 to 1174 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult Portuguese water dogs to help you with their meal plan.

How Much To Feed a Senior Portuguese Water Dog

Senior Portuguese water dogs are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric Portuguese water dogs are often plagued with health issues. Some of these issues can be alleviated by supplementing your senior dog’s diet with vitamins and minerals to help revive his or her weakened immune system and fragile bones.

Senior and geriatric Portuguese water dogs should be given 2.5–2.67 cups of food per day that contains 610–880 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan of an older Portuguese water dog.

However, you must still ensure they get the essential nutrients.

You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you give your adult Great Dane, only in a smaller quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Frequency

Your Portuguese water dog’s meal frequency will vary the same as the feeding amounts, which are majorly dependent on its age. Below is a list of how often to feed your Portuguese water dog:

How Often Should You Feed Your Portuguese Water Dog Puppy?

•         During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         8 weeks to 3 months old: feed them four times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         4 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them three times a day with equally spaced time intervals.

How Often Should You Feed Your Adult Portuguese Water Dog?

You should feed your adult Portuguese water dog two times a day, with 12 hours of spacing between meals. One in the morning and one in the evening is ideal.

How Often Should You Feed Your Senior Portuguese Water Dog?

You should feed your senior Portuguese water dog two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

Portuguese Water Dog Feeding Schedule

•             Portuguese water dog puppies should be free-fed or fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues

•         Adolescent Portuguese water dogs should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.

•         Adult and Senior Portuguese water dogs should also be fed in the morning and the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your Portuguese water dog a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be primarily used as a reward when training your Portuguese water dog.

The Kind of Food To Feed a Portuguese Water Dog

The food you feed your Great Dane should specifically cater to large breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The kind of food to feed your Portuguese water dog includes dry dog food, wet dog food, home-cooked food, and Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) to ensure they eat a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to help you understand what to feed your dog:

Dry Dog Food: Dry dog food, or kibble, is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutritional additives, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein. Dry dog food is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.

Wet Dog Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by veterinarians due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.

Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare a meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal gives you control over its nutrition and can put your mind at ease knowing that you are always providing the best care for your dog.

BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a diet that includes raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

The Food To Avoid Feeding a Portuguese Water Dog

We should take caution before giving whatever food we’re eating to our Portuguese water dog. They have large appetites, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your Portuguese water dog because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your Portuguese water dog includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.

The fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your Portuguese water dog include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When To Transition Your Portuguese Water Dog From Puppy Food To Adult Food

You should transition your Portuguese water dog puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 10–12 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent Portuguese water dog from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

Transitioning needs to be gradual by introducing adult feed bit by bit until you get to 100% adult feed.

However, feeding your adult Portuguese water dog puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth. 

Why Your Portuguese Water Dog Is Not Eating

Your Portuguese water dog will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below:

Illness, dental problems, stomach sensitivity, changes in hormone levels, medication, constipation, time of day, spoiled food, anxiety, dehydration, and stress

Portuguese water dogs are not picky eaters, so when they are eating, it might be a sign of some underlying illness that needs to be treated by the vet. Sometimes it can be something as mild as stress, which can resolve itself after some time, but you can go see a vet if symptoms persist.

Why Your Portuguese Water Dog Is Always Hungry

Great Danes, like other dog breeds, are big eaters. Other reasons may be a deficiency in some nutrients, learned behaviors, too much stress, or a lack of food training.

Excessive exercise will make your dog’s body burn faster, thus making them hungry after such exercises. Worms could be another reason your dog is always hungry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Portuguese water dogs make great fishing companions and excellent family dogs. They require the best nutrition to keep their muscular structure and other organs in top shape.

Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. You can free-feed your Portuguese water dog puppies, but you have to draw up a strict plan as they go on. It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some are toxic.

However, if you desire more information on how to take care of your Portuguese water dog, you should contact the nearest vet for information on essential nutrients, and you can also see a pet nutritionist for a regimen schedule for your pet.