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Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dog genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 42 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.36. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Portuguese Water Dog

In the atlas, the Portuguese Water Dog clusters consistently as Portuguese Water Dog (100% of the 42 dogs here). Genetic diversity is high (mean heterozygosity 0.3562), reflecting either a mixed-breed cluster or breeds with broad genetic backgrounds. At the trait loci, KRT71 runs lower than average (32% here vs 91%); FGF4_retrogene_CFA12 runs lower than average (40% here vs 80%).

Ranks 91 of 107 on the bottleneck severity scale, in the upper quartile of genetic diversity. Mean heterozygosity is 0.356, notably high, indicates broad genetic background. Low breed predictability score (0.26), individual dogs of this breed vary widely in genetics, suggesting active substructure or sub-population diversity.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: Pomeranian, Keeshond, village dog Portugal, Chihuahua, and Basset Hound.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Portuguese Water Dog

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
42Founders
23 from Cairns, 10 from Spatola, 9 from Hayward2016
Genetic diversity
0.36Diverse
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 91st most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 31.47 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. Pomeranian5.05
  2. Keeshond5.09
  3. Village Dog Portugal5.37
  4. Chihuahua5.50
  5. Basset Hound5.64
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF142%
HMGA271%
SMAD234%
LCORL88%
STC279%
ADAMTS1789%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA1860%
FGF4·CFA1240%
Coat
RSPO275%
FGF579%
KRT7132%
MC1R79%
Ear set
MSRB378%
Skull shape
BMP365%
SMOC266%
Add your Portuguese Water Dog to the Atlas

You can add your Portuguese Water Dog right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data