Five Dog Breeds Who Love the Water

Most dogs will grow to love water during their lifetime after their first experience swimming, but it’s hard to deny that some dogs love it a lot more than others. But which breeds tend to love water more than others?

Here are five dog breeds who love the water!

1. Newfoundland

Widely admired for their disposition as a gentle giant, the Newfoundland is a Canadian breed used for search and rescue missions that involve bodies of water. Their natural strength due to their size also helps them to be more adept swimmers than smaller breeds. For those Newfoundlands who prefer to live a life of leisure, taking a swim is a great way to regulate their body temperature and cool off under all of that fur. They can also fetch toys out of the water to simulate search and rescue while still having fun!

2. Portuguese Water Dogs

It’s all in the name! The Portuguese Water Dog is also a working dog which has helped fishermen for many generations. Their primary tasks include herding fish into nets and retrieving broken nets and tackle for their owners. Portuguese Water Dogs have short curly fur that helps them take to water without fear, though they do require regular grooming in order to keep the fur well-maintained.

3. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers have maintained their spot as one of the most popular dog breeds in America for many years due to their lively personality and suitable disposition to grow up around young children and families. Like with other retrievers, they have a long heritage of serving as a hunting dog that used their instincts to retrieve game from small bodies of water. These days, most Labrador Retrievers still love to swim and retrieve toys from water even though they won’t be hunting for much more than treats.

4. Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a dog breed native to Italy and remains rare in the United States. Similar to Portuguese Water dogs, their curly fur allows them to take to water and adapt quickly to their surroundings. Lagotto Romagnolos love to play in the water just as much as they love working in it; the adventures of one Lagotto family was showcased on Animal Planet’s television show Too Cute! in 2014.

5. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is another Canadian breed, though it differs from the Newfoundland in that it is primarily used for retrieving ducks on hunting expeditions. It is also a smaller breed of retriever than the more widely popular retrievers, but they are certainly no less active. They require regular exercise to match their active spirit, and are best paired with an owner who has a very active lifestyle when not kept as a hunting dog.

What’s your favorite dog breed that loves water? Let us know in the comments down below!