No Portuguese Water Dogs listed on LocalPetFinder right now
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Portuguese Water Dogs in Montreal, right now
We aren't tracking any adoptable Portuguese Water Dogs in or near Montreal at the moment. Listings update regularly as Quebec rescues take in new dogs, and a Portuguese Water Dog in Montreal typically gets adopted within days of being posted. Browse the full Quebec dogs list to see Portuguese Water Dogs in other Quebec cities, or save this page and check back soon.
Adopting a Portuguese Water Dog in Quebec
Portuguese Water Dogs are rare in Quebec rescue. They are athletic working water dogs bred to herd fish into nets and retrieve gear from the sea, and the grooming commitment is the thing most people underestimate.
A working water dog, not a low-shedding accessory
The breed became popular largely for its low-shedding coat, which is the wrong reason to choose one. This is a strong, energetic dog that needs an hour or more of daily exercise plus real mental work, and it was bred to work in cold water all day. The St. Lawrence and Quebec’s lakes suit them well in summer.
They are intelligent and trainable and genuinely enjoy having a job. Under-exercised they become mouthy and destructive, and they are known chewers well into adulthood.
The coat is a permanent cost
The curly or wavy coat grows continuously and does not shed out, so it mats without brushing several times a week and needs a professional groom every six to eight weeks for life. Swimming makes that harder rather than easier, so rinsing and drying after a swim is part of the routine.
For health, ask about hips, about eyes, and about two inherited conditions the breed is known for: GM1 gangliosidosis and juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy, both of which can be tested for. Ask what testing the dog or its line has had.
What adopting a dog in Quebec actually involves
Quebec dog rescue runs through a handful of regional shelters rather than a dense network of breed-specific groups. The Montreal SPCA is the largest, and the SPA de la Mauricie in Trois-Rivières and the SPA de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke carry most of the rest. Expect the process to run primarily in French, including listings and application forms, even where staff are bilingual. Say at first contact if you would rather work in English, and ask for the adoption contract in a language you can read before signing.
Housing is the step rescues care most about. Most Quebec households rent, often in a plex or a walk-up, and the shortage of rentals that accept animals is one of the reasons shelters cite most often for surrender. Get your landlord’s permission in writing before you apply. One piece of local context worth knowing: since 2015, animals in Quebec are not property. Article 898.1 of the Code civil du Québec describes them as sentient beings with biological needs, which is the backdrop to how rescues here write their contracts.
Looking more broadly? Browse every adoptable dog across the province on Dog Adoption Quebec.
The rescues that most often list Portuguese Water Dogs across Quebec are Montreal SPCA, SPA de la Mauricie, and SPA de l'Estrie. For breed-specific background, the Canadian Kennel Club is a useful reference.
Portuguese Water Dog Adoption FAQ — Montreal
How many Portuguese Water Dogs are available for adoption in Montreal?
As of August 2026, there are no Portuguese Water Dogs listed in Montreal rescue on LocalPetFinder right now — Portuguese Water Dogs are among the rarer dogs in local rescue. Inventory turns over quickly, so setting an alert is the most reliable way to catch one, or consider an adoptable Portuguese Water Dog mix.
Where can I adopt a Portuguese Water Dog near me in Quebec?
LocalPetFinder gathers adoptable Portuguese Water Dogs from the Quebec organizations we track, including the Montreal SPCA, the SPA de la Mauricie in Trois-Rivières and the SPA de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke, into one list. Quebec dog inventory is small compared with its cat inventory, so this list moves and it is worth checking back or setting an alert rather than assuming nothing is available.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs hypoallergenic?
No dog truly is, but the coat sheds very little, which is why the breed is often recommended for allergy households. The trade-off is a professional groom every six to eight weeks for life plus brushing several times a week. Anyone choosing the breed only for the coat is usually unprepared for the energy that comes with it.
Do Portuguese Water Dogs need to swim?
They do not need to, but they love it and it suits them better than almost any other exercise. They were bred to work in cold water all day and have webbed feet and a water-resistant coat. Rinse and dry the coat afterward, since a wet curly coat that is left to dry on the dog mats quickly.
How much does it cost to adopt a Portuguese Water Dog in Montreal?
Adopting a Portuguese Water Dog in Montreal typically costs $300 to $700, and puppies usually carry a premium at $500 to $900. The exact fee varies by rescue, and older dogs are often reduced. That fee is not a purchase price. It covers work already done on the dog: spay or neuter, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, and a basic vet workup, which would cost several hundred dollars more if you arranged it yourself after buying. Buying the same breed from a registered breeder generally runs well over $1,000, usually with a waitlist. Ask the rescue what is included before you apply, since a few include extras like a starter bag of food or a first-month insurance trial.
Are these Portuguese Water Dogs for sale in Montreal?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Portuguese Water Dog here comes from a Montreal-area rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet store, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically a few hundred dollars and already include spay or neuter, vaccinations, and a microchip, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000+ to buy a Portuguese Water Dog from a breeder. If you searched "portuguese water dog for sale Montreal," adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Portuguese Water Dog in Montreal, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Portuguese Water Dog breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000+ and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Portuguese Water Dog costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap "for sale" ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-mill resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on meeting the parents, seeing where the litter was raised, and getting vet records. For most Montreal families, adopting a rescue Portuguese Water Dog is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.