Tradition, fashion or just good sense? 

That is the question!
'Rico' Eurico De Gifford in a typical lion clip.


In the beginning (1200 b.C.-500 AD) in Tiro, Athens and later in Rome long coated dogs, brought from Central Asia by the Canaan, tribes of semitic origin, were trimmed in such a fashion as to look like the main of a lion. Hence the name by which these dogs were known, Canis Leo, independently of their size.

Lions were a symbol of power, strength and courage. They were used in battles trained to attack the enemies.  When the Phoenitians, the Greeks and the Romans reached the Iberian Peninsula they brought along with them their Lion Dogs.

As the years went by in Portugal and specially in the Algarve, the lion trim became a tradition among the fishermen, as they had long realized how important and necessary it was to trim their dogs in such a way as to not only protect their lungs from the cold water, but also to make them lighter when they performed their daily tasks in the water.

The Portuguese Water Dog when trimmed has his hindquarters clipped out by the last rib and a plume is left on the end of the tail, as a working trim for retrieving from the water. The muzzle is also clipped out up to just above the line of the eyes allowing the dog to see where he is going and what he is retrieving (Vasco Bensaúde, Algarbiorum Dogs).

In more recent years as fashion takes over, it is sad to see the Portuguese Water Dogs with their hair covering their eyes and muzzle and behaving like blind bats. They are seen in the show ring often with the purpose of hiding faulty light eyes.