The breed developed many centuries ago as seafaring working dogs and predates the Poodle. The Portuguese fishermen kept these dogs as a working part of their crews and paid them wages just as their human crewmates were paid. The Water Dogs would act as couriers, carrying messages between ships and from ship to shore, and would dive into the sea to retrieve broken fishing nets and equipment that had gone overboard. Often they would have to dive under water to retrieve submerged articles. The Portuguese Water Dog was a loyal fisherman's companion and alert guard. Modern technology and the radio caused the near extinction of this breed.