As time went on technology replaced the dogs jobs and by the 1930s the breeds numbers dropped considerably. The dogs were so popular even non-commercial fishermen could rent one for their fishing trips. The dogs worked herding and catching fish, retrieving broken nets or anything that fell into the water, carrying messages from one ship to the other or from ship to shore and even guarded the boats in foreign ports. Long hair was left to help keep vital organs warmer and protect the dog from injury on the main body neck and head. The fishermen would shave the rear and muzzle to aid in swimming and working in the water. They were so valuable they were considered part of the crew. Excellent swimmers, the dogs worked alongside Portuguese fisherman for hundreds of years doing numerous jobs. They were developed from working dogs in the Iberian Peninsula. In its native land it is called the Cao de Agua, which means "dog of water". The Portuguese Water Dog, as the name suggests, is native to Portugal.
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