One of the goals of the Working Water Dog Association is to help people who are interested in adding a water dog to their family find the right match. Over time we will add more and more content on this site that will help you make this decision on your own, but in the meantime feel free to email us at info@workingwaterdogs.org. The members of the WWDA steering committee have owned and trained dozens of water dogs and have decades of experience with them, and we are happy to share one of the dog world's best kept secrets with others.
Many people would like to have a dog, but they prefer to adopt or foster an adult dog. If you're interested in rescuing a water dog, contact one or more of the water dog breed clubs. If you're looking to rescue a hunting dog, check out Second Chance Bird Dogs. Keep in mind that most water dog breeds are still pretty rare, so they don't come up for adoption very often.
If you're ready to make a long-term commitment and you are up for the challenge of raising a puppy, we recommend bringing a dog into your family as a young puppy. This approach tends to lead to the best outcomes, both for your family and for the dog. This is especially true of many of the water dog breeds, which have a tendency to "imprint" on their owners and become extremely loyal to their family members. It's also easier to train dogs if you start when they are young. Basic obedience training is a pre-requisite for all of the working roles for water dogs, and you'll have the greatest success if you start the socialization and training process before the puppy reaches 12 weeks of age.
We will add a list of specific breeders that recommend, but in the meantime reach out to us at info@workingwaterdogs.org. We'll either email you back or set up a time to chat by phone.