The Portuguese Water Dog is a breed of dog. It is classified as a working dog by the American Kennel Club. The Portuguese Water Dog is a breed of dog. It is classified as a working dog by the American Kennel Club. Sometimes owners will clip the hair of their dogs very short, especially in the summer months, in modified retriever cut. The PWD's biddability, high intelligence, and tendency to vocalise and then seek out its human master when specific alarms occur make it an ideal hearing-ear or deaf-assistance dog. PWDs can be readily trained to bark loudly when a telephone rings, and then to find and alert a hard-of-hearing or deaf master. The PWD's biddability, high intelligence, and tendency to vocalise and then seek out its human master when specific alarms occur make it an ideal hearing-ear or deaf-assistance dog. PWDs can be readily trained to bark loudly when a telephone rings, and then to find and alert a hard-of-hearing or deaf master.