Pablo the Portuguese water dog
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Jan Agrafojo-Levy and Mira Brand
Pablo is a mountain dog by heart. Pictured with the Levy family, left to right: Brian, Jan, Adam, Aaron and Ari at Upper Straight Creek Trail.
Pablo, Pablocito, Pablo Picasso or even Pablo Escobar depending on the day, may look like he has doodle (a cross between a poodle and another dog breed) in him, but he is 100% a Portuguese water dog (PWD).
PWDs were bred to be an all-around fisherman’s helper. They once lived along Portugal’s coast herding fish into nets, retrieving lost tackle and acting as messengers between ship and shore. These strong and hardworking dogs were built for water work. Over the years, the rise and growth of technology took away many of the PWD’s tasks. These eager companions still get out on the water today, but they are used mostly for water rescue.
Pablo is the Levys’ love muffin and their Pablocito.
Pablo, who prefers being on the water in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard versus in the water, is a very relaxed and sweet companion to the Levy family. At 3 months old, Pablo made his way to the Levy home 11 years ago from a breeder in Wellington, CO. Pablo’s father was a show dog, but Pablo did not follow in his footsteps due to lack of proper forehead measurement. Instead, Pablo’s path led him to the Levy family where he warms both their hearts and their home.
PWDs are tireless, fun-loving dogs with a great sense of humor. Some are strong-willed, some laid back and most fall somewhere in between. According to Jan Levy, Pablo is “chill” and has been known to play the clown to get attention. She also mentioned that he holds the gold medal for kitchen counter surfing. When he is not surfing, Pablo can be found snuggled next to one of the Levys’– three kids, Aaron (17) and twins Ari and Adam (16), offering them his love and more.
