How much does a Portuguese Water Dog puppy cost?

You’re paying for a lot more than just the puppy when you bring home a Portuguese Water Dog. These dogs are rare enough that responsible breeders can’t just crank out litters—they’re working with a limited gene pool, which means careful pairing to avoid passing on serious conditions like juvenile dilated cardiomyopathy or GM1 gangliosidosis. Every reputable breeder runs extensive health tests, including DNA screenings for PRA and hip dysplasia, plus cardiac clearances. That testing isn’t cheap, and it’s non-negotiable if you want to avoid puppies collapsing from heart failure at six months old. Add in the fact that many breeders limit litter sizes to preserve the mother’s health and maintain standards, and supply stays low. They’re not on the AKC’s top 10, but demand among active, allergy-sensitive families keeps prices steady around $3,500 on average. If you see one for under $2,000, walk away—odds are the breeder skipped health clearances, crammed in too many litters, or worse, it’s a scam. You’re not just buying a hypoallergenic, intelligent working dog. You’re paying for decades of careful breeding, vet bills before the puppy even leaves the litter, and someone who’s probably lost sleep over genetic risk scores. That’s why the price stings—and why it should.