1. BRIAN WILKINSON ( New York) - owner of MENINA
  My wife and I have had Menina (means little girl in Portuguese) for a couple days now. She is an absolute blessing. Jose Franceschi, our breeder, made the process of adopting our new puppy a pleasure. We were somewhat concerned about Jose’s location but he made himself accessible through email and by telephone. We contacted Sandy Overton, the president of the PWDCA, who knew Jose and said he was a fine breeder. She had suggested that we may want to meet the parents of the puppy and look at local breeders but Jose had sent us all the information about her parents that we could have wanted through email including medical reports, photos and grooming standards. Jose leash and crate trained Menina. She walks obsessively on our left side and in perfect gate with our strides looking up at us from time to time with a big smile. We have never seen a puppy that likes walks so much and took to training on a leash so well. Jose did an amazing job.

Menina and the Wilkinson's

2. Jennifer -(  Massachussetts ) - owner of Raelin - The Portie with a Job .
I was looking for a dog to become my service dog to help mitigate my disabilities. I researched the different breeds and narrowed my list down until I only had the Portuguese Water Dog left. Since I wanted to start the dog's training and usefulness immediately, I went looking for a young adult dog instead of a puppy. I was blessed to come across Grand-Lares Kennel, who had a dog that fit every ideal I was looking for and wanting - even the non-deal breaking preferences like coat type (wavy) and color (black with Irish markings)! I not only got the most wonderful dog, my Grand Lares Raelin Gavriella, but a great breeder, Jose Franceschi.

Raelin is the sweetest, most loving creature. She is very happy-go-lucky with the fastest wagging tail, though she takes her service dog work seriously and becomes a great, hard worker when she's on duty. She is a good learner, very smart, and did great through all the training and testing it took for her to become my certified service dog. She is gorgeous - the number one comment we get when we're out somewhere is how cute she is ("She's so cute!" "That's the cutest service dog ever!" "I love her markings!").

As my service dog, she travels with me in airplane cabins, on cruise ships, in cars, and other modes of transportation to different states, different countries, and two of our favorite places: Walt Disney World and Red Sox baseball games. She's been to parties, church services, funerals, and a wedding. She's attended a multi-day conference and at least one fundraising dinner. She has gone with me to visit a couple ill family members in hospitals. She takes it all in stride and thoroughly enjoys her job accompanying me in daily life so she can perform tasks that mitigate my multiple disabilities. Her success shows off not only her good training, but her good, solid breeding.

Even though I don't want to think about it, I know someday in the distant future she will have to retire and let a younger dog take over her duties. I hope to get her successor from Grand-Lares just like I got her. I highly recommend y'all get a Grand-Lares dog, too!