Which is Better between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog? A Very Detailed Review.

Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog

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Dalmatian Versus Portuguese Water Dog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Dalmatian and for the Portuguese Water Dog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dalmatian or the Portuguese Water Dog

Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog

Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog: Overview

Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are similar in size. The Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Dalmatian belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Portuguese Water Dog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dalmatian to the Portuguese Water Dog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Dalmatian Portuguese Water Dog
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 13 to 16 years 10 to 14 years
Height 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Weight 48 to 55 pounds 35 to 60 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 14.5 years 12.0 years
Average Price $1410 $2860
Price Range $1000 – $1800 $2500 – $3300
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 77.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annual exams until age 10
  • GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Univ of Pennsylvania –
  • NYU
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 60 50

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Dalmatian in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Portuguese Water Dog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Dalmatian is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Portuguese Water Dog is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Portuguese Water Dog is a better pet than the Dalmatian. So, you should get the Portuguese Water Dog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog

    Below is a list of where the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are most different:

  • Dalmatians are not prone to nip and chew at things. However, Portuguese Water Dogs are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Dalmatians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Dalmatians are very easy to groom. However, Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog

    The Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are most similar:

  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are very playful.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog.

    Dalmatians weigh 48 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Dalmatians are 19 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Portuguese Water Dogs weigh 35 to 60 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Water Dogs are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 11 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Portuguese Water Dog Versus the Dalmatian

    The Dalmatian has a better temperament than the Portuguese Water Dog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dalmatian is 83.3 percent while the temperament score for the Portuguese Water Dog is 77.9 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 83.3 percent, the Dalmatian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 77.9 percent, the Portuguese Water Dog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog by measuring the temperaments of 359 Dalmatians and 163 Portuguese Water Dogs.

    Price of Dalmatian versus Price of Portuguese Water Dog

    The average price of the Dalmatian puppy is $1410. The price of the Dalmatian typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Dalmatian can be as low as $250 and as high as $2600. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 233 Dalmatian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Portuguese Water Dog puppy is $2860. The price of the Portuguese Water Dog typically ranges from $2500 – $3300. However, the price of a Portuguese Water Dog can be as low as $900 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 140 Portuguese Water Dog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Portuguese Water Dog is more expensive than the Dalmatian.

    Dalmatian Portuguese Water Dog
    Average Price $1410 $2860
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $2500 to $3300

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dalmatian and Portuguese Water Dog. For different price points, the charts show how many Dalmatian puppies or how many Portuguese Water Dog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dalmatians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dalmatians. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Portuguese Water Dogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Portuguese Water Dogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dalmatian puppy or the Portuguese Water Dog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Dalmatian versus Adopting the Portuguese Water Dog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dalmatians and many Portuguese Water Dogs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Dalmatian named Eddie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dalmatians like Eddie on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dalmatians, Portuguese Water Dogs are also available for adoption. For example, Jasper is a Male Portuguese Water Dog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Portuguese Water Dogs like Jasper that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Flint is the name of another Dalmatian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Dalmatians and Portuguese Water Dogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Dalmatian versus Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Portuguese Water Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Dalmatian. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Portuguese Water Dog is 50 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Dalmatian is 60 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dalmatian

    Popularity of Dalmatian

    Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog

    Popularity of Portuguese Water Dog

    Year Dalmatian Popularity Rank Portuguese Water Dog Popularity Rank
    2013 64 49
    2014 66 52
    2015 62 52
    2016 62 51
    2017 63 54
    2018 56 50
    2019 59 49
    2020 51 49

    Health Problems of Dalmatian versus Health Problems of Portuguese Water Dog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Portuguese Water Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Dalmatian.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Portuguese Water Dog than for the Dalmatian.

    2 health tests are recommended for Dalmatian while 11 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Water Dog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Dalmatians and in Portuguese Water Dogs.

    Dalmatian Health Problems

    Dalmatians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Dalmatian puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Dalmatian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dalmatian breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Dalmatians for:

  • Congenital Deafness
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dalmatians here.

    Portuguese Water Dog Health Problems

    Portuguese Water Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Portuguese Water Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Portuguese Water Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Portuguese Water Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Portuguese Water Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annual exams until age 10
  • GM1 GANGLIOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Univ of Pennsylvania –
  • NYU
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Sebaceous Adenitis
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Water Dogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Dalmatians and Portuguese Water Dogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Dalmatian Breed is Baer Hearing Test problems.

    This is because the Dalmatian ranks 1 out of 21 dog breeds for Baer Hearing Test problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 8730 Dalmatians, 1003 of them had Baer Hearing Test problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Dalmatians, and how common these diseases are in Dalmatians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 1 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Hyperuricosuria problems: Rank 1 out of 11 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 6 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 9 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 10 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 11 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 51 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 132 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 161 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 170 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Portuguese Water Dog Breed is Early Onset Pra problems.

    This is because the Portuguese Water Dog ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Early Onset Pra problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 788 Portuguese Water Dogs, 0 of them had Early Onset Pra problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Portuguese Water Dogs, and how common these diseases are in Portuguese Water Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Early Onset Pra problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 15 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 59 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 94 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 111 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 140 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Dalmatian and in Portuguese Water Dog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog:

    Disease Dalmatian Rank Portuguese Water Dog Rank
    Baer Hearing Test problems 1 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Hyperuricosuria problems 1 out of 11 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 6 out of 115 dog breeds 59 out of 115 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 9 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 10 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 11 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 51 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 132 out of 144 dog breeds 111 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 161 out of 182 dog breeds 140 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 170 out of 198 dog breeds 94 out of 198 dog breeds
    Early Onset Pra problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 15 out of 32 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Which one drools more, the Dalmatian or the Portuguese Water Dog

    Dalmatians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dalmatian Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Water Dogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Does the Dalmatian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Portuguese Water Dogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Dalmatians Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Dalmatians are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Portuguese Water Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dalmatian or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians are OK for new dog owners.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog

    Dalmatians can be left alone only for a short time.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dalmatians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dalmatians can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Portuguese Water Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dalmatians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Water Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dalmatians can tolerate hot weather.

    Portuguese Water Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    How Kid-friendly are Dalmatians and Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Dalmatians get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dalmatian or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians get along very well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Water Dogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Dalmatian Easier to Train than the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dalmatian vs. Portuguese Water Dog

    Dalmatians have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Portuguese Water Dogs have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Dalmatians good family dogs? What about Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Dalmatians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Portuguese Water Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do Dalmatians shed more than Portuguese Water Dogs?

    Dalmatians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Portuguese Water Dogs do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dalmatian or the Portuguese Water Dog?

    Dalmatians are very easy to groom.

    Portuguese Water Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dalmatian

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dalmatian that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Dalmatian:

  • Berger Picard (78 percent match with Dalmatian). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Water Dog vs Berger Picard.
  • Golden Cocker Retriever (80 percent match with Dalmatian). Here is our comparison of the Portuguese Water Dog vs Golden Cocker Retriever.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Portuguese Water Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Portuguese Water Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Portuguese Water Dog:

  • Bernedoodle (83 percent match with Portuguese Water Dog). Here is our comparison of the Dalmatian vs Bernedoodle.
  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (79 percent match with Portuguese Water Dog). Here is our comparison of the Dalmatian vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dalmatian and how the Portuguese Water Dog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dalmatian and of the Portuguese Water Dog to other breeds:

    Dalmatian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dalmatian versus Gordon Setter     Dalmatian versus Pharaoh Hound     Dalmatian versus English Toy Spaniel     Dalmatian versus Whippet     Dalmatian versus Japanese Spitz     Dalmatian versus Pomsky     Dalmatian versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Dalmatian versus West Highland White Terrier     Dalmatian versus Irish Setter     Dalmatian versus Norwegian Lundehund     

    Portuguese Water Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Water Dog versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Portuguese Water Dog versus Afghan Hound     Portuguese Water Dog versus Norwegian Lundehund     Portuguese Water Dog versus Peek A Poo     Portuguese Water Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     Portuguese Water Dog versus Chihuahua     Portuguese Water Dog versus Pharaoh Hound     Portuguese Water Dog versus Shichon     Portuguese Water Dog versus Cesky Terrier     Portuguese Water Dog versus Norwegian Lundehund     

    Conclusion: Dalmatian versus Portuguese Water Dog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Dalmatian and the Portuguese Water Dog better suits you and your family.