Home / Breeds / Cantabrian Water Dog / Similar breeds
For Cantabrian Water Dog, no pick aligns better than the Portuguese Water Dog. The pairing earns its place through a shared family, a shared Non-Sporting grouping and the same medium size, backed by near matching height, weight and lifespan figures. The Taiwan Dog offers a similar profile, and the Kintamani completes a tight leading trio.
The matches follow in score order, each with the traits that earned its place and the clearest difference from the Cantabrian Water Dog.
The Portuguese Water Dog tops the computed list for the Cantabrian Water Dog. They share the companion and toy breeds family shelf and the Non-Sporting group label. Both were shaped by water work, according to the records. Size nearly matches, both medium: 17 to 23 inches against 16 to 18 inches. In pounds the difference shows, 35 to 60 lb next to 27 to 38 lb.
Go deeper: the Portuguese Water Dog profile or breeds similar to the Portuguese Water Dog.
A strong second place belongs to the Taiwan Dog. Both sit in the companion and toy breeds grouping and carry the Non-Sporting group label. Same class, medium, and close in height, 17 to 21 inches versus 16 to 18 inches. The weight ranges sit side by side, 26 to 40 lb and 27 to 38 lb. The function lists part ways, gundog work and guarding on one side, water work on the other.
Go deeper: the Taiwan Dog profile or breeds similar to the Taiwan Dog.
The Kintamani earns its place in this set on the recorded numbers. Same class, medium, and close in height, 16 to 20 inches versus 16 to 18 inches. The differences are of degree rather than kind: a step in the figures here, a shade in the record there.
Go deeper: the Kintamani profile or breeds similar to the Kintamani.
The Norrbottenspets belongs in this company on the strength of its record. Height barely divides them, 16 to 18 inches against 16 to 18 inches; both are medium dogs. Role is a point of contrast, gundog work and a spitz background for the Norrbottenspets against water work for the Cantabrian Water Dog.
Go deeper: the Norrbottenspets profile or breeds similar to the Norrbottenspets.
Another near match in the records is the Peruvian Hairless Dog. Size nearly matches, both medium: 10 to 26 inches against 16 to 18 inches. What difference there is sits in the fine print of the ranges rather than in any single trait.
Go deeper: the Peruvian Hairless Dog profile or breeds similar to the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
The Mountain Cur belongs in this company on the strength of its record. The real gap is stature, 16 to 26 inches against 16 to 18 inches.
Go deeper: the Mountain Cur profile or breeds similar to the Mountain Cur.
Scoring keeps the Blue Lacy close to the Cantabrian Water Dog as well. Both are medium dogs: 18 to 21 inches at the shoulder against 16 to 18 inches. The contrast is gentle, mostly a matter of slightly wider or narrower ranges.
Go deeper: the Blue Lacy profile or breeds similar to the Blue Lacy.
The Thai Bangkaew Dog belongs in this company on the strength of its record. Both stand in the medium class, 16 to 22 inches next to 16 to 18 inches. The function lists part ways, a spitz background on one side, water work on the other.
Go deeper: the Thai Bangkaew Dog profile or breeds similar to the Thai Bangkaew Dog.
| Breed | Size | Height | Weight | Lifespan | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantabrian Water Dog | Medium | 16 to 18 in | 27 to 38 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | 17 to 23 in | 35 to 60 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Taiwan Dog | Medium | 17 to 21 in | 26 to 40 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Kintamani | Medium | 16 to 20 in | 29 to 37 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Norrbottenspets | Medium | 16 to 18 in | 26 to 33 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Peruvian Hairless Dog | Medium | 10 to 26 in | 9 to 55 lb | 12 to 13 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Mountain Cur | Medium | 16 to 26 in | 30 to 60 lb | 14 to 16 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Blue Lacy | Medium | 18 to 21 in | 25 to 50 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
| Thai Bangkaew Dog | Medium | 16 to 22 in | 35 to 43 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Companion and toy breeds |
All eight picks come from the same family as Cantabrian Water Dog, so the differences that matter here are smaller ones of height, weight, lifespan and working role rather than broad classification.
On the recorded traits the Portuguese Water Dog scores highest: a shared family, the same group, a matching size class, shared working roots and a close lifespan. The Taiwan Dog is next in line.
Close enough to call even on size, with 16 to 18 inches and 26 to 33 lb set against 16 to 18 inches and 27 to 38 lb.
On the recorded ranges the Mountain Cur lives longest of the matches, 14 to 16 years against the Cantabrian Water Dog at 11 to 14 years.