TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction 1
- Chapter One: All About the ‘Portie’ 6
- Facts and Quirks 8
- Temperament and Personality 10
- Training and Socialization 11
- Porties with Childrens and Pets 13
- Pros and Cons 16
- Pros 18
- Cons 19
- Chapter Two: Selecting a Portie Breeder and Portie Puppy 20
- Breeder Finder 101 21
- Purchasing a Portie Pup 22
- What to Expect from a Portie Pup 23
- Picking the Pup 26
- What to Expect from an Adult Portie 29
- Picking the Right Adult Portie 31
- Champion Porties 32
- The Legal Side of Acquiring a Portie 32
- Chapter Three: Shelter and Supplies for Your Porties 35
- All About Crates for Your Portie 36
- Crate Types and Standard Size 38
- Pros and Cons of Using Different Types of Crates 38
- Wire Crate vs. Plastic Crate 42
- Puppy – Proofing 45
- Supplies for Your Portie 47
- Chapter Four: Food for Your Portie 52
- The Truth About Commercial Dog Foods 53
- Harmful Ingredients in Commercial Dog Foods 57
- How dog food affects your dog’s health 62
- Homemade Meals for Your Portie 63
- Chapter Five: Crate Training and Grooming 66
- Brushing Your Portie 68
- Basic Training for Your Pup 69
- Chapter Six: Purebred Standards and Showing Your Portie 72
- Pros of Owning Purebred Dogs 73
- Cons of Owning Purebred Dogs 76
- Portuguese Water Dog Official Breed Standard 81
- Chapter Seven: Health Information for Porties 92
- Pet Insurance for Dogs 97
- What is Pet Insurance and how does it work? 97
- Glossary of Dog Terms 105
- Photo Credits 111
- References 112
