Breed comparison
Portuguese Water Dog vs Vizsla
How the two breeds compare on the American Kennel Club's 1 to 5 trait ratings, and which one suits which home.
Portuguese Water Dog
5Affection with family5
5Good with young children5
4Good with other dogs4
4Openness to strangers4
5Playfulness5
5Energy level5
5Trainability5
5Mental stimulation needs5
5Adaptability5
4Watchdog / protective3
3Barking3
2Shedding3
4Coat grooming2
2Drooling2
The biggest differences
- Coat grooming: the Portuguese Water Dog scores 4 out of 5, the Vizsla 2.
They score the same on affection with family, good with young children, good with other dogs, openness to strangers, playfulness, energy level.
Which one should you choose?
Pick the Portuguese Water Dog if you want less dog hair, you want a more protective watchdog. Pick the Vizsla if its looks and size suit you better, since the ratings are close.
Ratings are general breed tendencies from the AKC. Every dog is an individual, so meet the dog, and its parents if you can, before you decide. Not sure? Try the breed selector.
Source: American Kennel Club breed ratings (compiled February 2022). How we check.