Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in MA, CA, TX, IL, NJ, NY, PA and CT: How to Find a Good One

How do I find good Portuguese Water Dog breeders near me? Start with the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (PWDCA) breeder directory, its breeder referral contact and regional PWD clubs. Choose a breeder who shows hip, eye and DNA test results for GM1, PRA, JDCM and microphthalmia. Expect about $1,500 to $4,000 per puppy.

Searching for Portuguese Water Dog breeders in Massachusetts, California, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania or Connecticut? Lists of “top breeders” go out of date fast, and many cannot be verified. This guide shows you where reputable Portuguese Water Dog breeders are listed, which local clubs and laws apply in each state, which health tests to ask for and what healthy Portuguese Water Dog puppies cost.

How to Find Portuguese Water Dog Breeders You Can Trust

The American Kennel Club calls a responsible breeder “the best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog.” It does not endorse individual breeders, but it advises buyers to start with the breed’s parent club. For this breed, that is the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, which keeps a breeder directory and a volunteer breeder referral contact.

Breed club listings are a starting point, not a guarantee. Always check health results yourself, visit or video call the breeder, and meet at least the mother. The AKC notes that referral contacts are volunteers, so allow a few days for a reply.

Sources: AKC breeder referral contacts page and AKC club search. The PWDCA website is pwdca.org.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders by State

We do not list individual kennels, because breeding programs change and we cannot verify each one. Instead, here are the best starting points in each state, along with whether the state has a pet purchase protection law (often called a “puppy lemon law”). Coverage varies, and some laws focus on pet dealers, so check how your state’s law applies to private breeders.

Sources: AKC club search (AKC-listed clubs); IRS nonprofit records via Cause IQ (Mayflower and Keystone clubs); ConsumerAffairs pet purchase protection laws. Confirm current details with each club and your state attorney general.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in Massachusetts and Connecticut

New England buyers can start with the PWDCA directory. IRS records list a Mayflower Portuguese Water Dog Club based in Charlton, Massachusetts. Both states have pet purchase protection laws, according to ConsumerAffairs. Some breeders prefer buyers to visit in person, so be ready to drive across state lines.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in New York and New Jersey

If you live near the New York and New Jersey border, search both states. Use the PWDCA directory and breeder referral contact, and ask breeders in neighboring states too. ConsumerAffairs lists pet purchase protection laws in both states. Keep every receipt, health record and contract.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in Pennsylvania

IRS records list a Keystone Portuguese Water Dog Club in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania; confirm it is still active before relying on it. Combine that with the PWDCA directory. Pennsylvania has a pet purchase protection law, per ConsumerAffairs. Ask to see the parents’ OFA and DNA results before you pay a deposit.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in California

The AKC lists the Portuguese Water Dog Club of Northern California as a regional club. Southern California buyers can use the PWDCA directory. California has a pet purchase protection law. If you are new to the state’s pet rules, see our guide to cool pets to have in California.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in Illinois

The AKC lists the Portuguese Water Dog Club of Greater Chicagoland. Regional club events can be a good place to meet breeders and adult dogs. ConsumerAffairs uses Illinois as an example, noting that its law covers illness found within 21 days of purchase.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders in Texas

We did not find an AKC-listed regional PWD club in Texas, so start with the PWDCA directory and referral contact. Texas does not appear on ConsumerAffairs’ list of states with pet purchase protection laws, so a clear written contract with a health guarantee matters even more.

Health Tests to Ask Portuguese Water Dog Breeders For

Good Portuguese Water Dog breeders test before they breed. The AKC lists the tests the PWDCA recommends: a hip evaluation, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist, and DNA tests for GM1 gangliosidosis, microphthalmia (MO), juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy (JDCM), early-onset PRA (EOPRA) and prcd-PRA.

Source: AKC Working Group health testing page (PWDCA-recommended tests) and Purina Pro Club.

The breed’s small founding gene pool helps explain why this testing matters. Purina Pro Club reports that fewer than 20 Portuguese Water Dogs existed worldwide in 1970. It describes GM1 as a progressive, fatal disease that usually kills affected puppies by about 1 year of age, and says the breed was the first to have a commercial prcd-PRA test.

JDCM is recessive. A 2002 study in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine examined 124 puppies and found 10 affected, with results consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. For recessive conditions such as GM1, JDCM and prcd-PRA, a puppy will not be affected if at least one parent tests clear, so ask to see both parents’ results.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders Price Guide

Chewy says a puppy from a breeder typically costs $1,500 to $2,500. A 2026 iHeartDogs guide gives higher regional ranges, though it does not explain its method: $2,500 to $3,500 in the Northeast (such as NY and MA), $2,000 to $3,000 in the Midwest (such as IL), $2,000 to $2,800 in the South (such as TX) and $2,500 to $4,000 in the West (such as CA).

Ongoing costs add up. iHeartDogs estimates $500 to $1,000 a year for food and the same again for professional grooming every 4 to 6 weeks, plus $300 to $600 for routine vet care. Factor in insurance, training and supplies before you commit.

Is a Portuguese Water Dog Right for You?

Before you contact Portuguese Water Dog breeders, make sure the breed fits your life. It comes from Portugal, where it worked alongside fishermen, and is a classic example of the water dog breeds. Chewy describes it as active, fun-loving and intelligent, and notes the AKC recognized it in 1983. It also became famous as the breed of the Obama family’s dogs, Bo and Sunny.

Source: Chewy breed profile, medically reviewed by Barri Morrison, DVM.

Chewy calls the breed hypoallergenic but notes no dog is 100% allergy-free, so spend time with one if anyone in your home has allergies. Grooming is a real commitment: weekly brushing, monthly baths and regular clips. Swimming, hiking and dog sports suit this breed well.

Prefer an adult dog? The PWDCA runs a rescue program, linked from its website. Not sure about a mixed-breed “doodle” sold as a PWD? Our guide to dog DNA test kits explains how to confirm a dog’s breed.

Watch for scams. The Federal Trade Commission warns that pet scams are common online. Be wary of sellers who refuse video calls, demand payment by wire transfer, gift cards or payment apps, or keep adding shipping fees.

Portuguese Water Dog Breeders FAQs

How do I find Portuguese Water Dog breeders near me?

Start with the PWDCA breeder directory and breeder referral contact, then check regional PWD clubs and local dog shows.

How much does a Portuguese Water Dog puppy cost?

Chewy says $1,500 to $2,500 from a breeder. iHeartDogs estimates $2,000 to $4,000 depending on region.

What health tests should a breeder do?

Hip and eye exams plus DNA tests for GM1, JDCM, microphthalmia, EOPRA and prcd-PRA, as recommended by the PWDCA.

Are there Portuguese Water Dog breeders in Texas?

Use the PWDCA directory to find current Texas breeders. We did not find an AKC-listed regional PWD club there.

Do Portuguese Water Dogs shed?

Very little, according to Chewy, but their coat needs weekly brushing and regular clipping.

How long do Portuguese Water Dogs live?

Chewy lists a life expectancy of about 11 to 13 years.

Can I adopt a Portuguese Water Dog instead?

Yes. The PWDCA runs a rescue program for adult dogs needing new homes.

Final Verdict: Finding the Best Portuguese Water Dog Breeders

Whether you live in Massachusetts, California, Texas or anywhere in between, the best path is the same: start with the PWDCA, check regional clubs, verify every health test and get a written contract. Expect to pay about $1,500 to $4,000 and to wait for a well-bred puppy.