The Brazilian Terrier is a

breed of dog A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slight ...

developed in

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. It is one of several

terrier Terrier (from Latin ''terra'', 'earth') is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. Terrier breeds vary ...

s and one of the two worldwide recognized native breeds of

Description

Origin

One theory about the origin of the breed is that

Jack Russell Terrier The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting in England. It is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated and can be any colour. Small tan and white terriers that technically belong to ot ...

Parson Russell Terrier The Parson Russell Terrier is a breed of small white terrier that was the original Fox Terrier of the 18th century. The breed is named after the Reverend Jack Russell, credited with the creation of this type of dog. It is the recognised conforma ...

s and

Fox Terrier Fox Terriers are two different breeds of the terrier dog type: the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier. Both of these breeds originated in the 19th century from a handful of dogs who are descended from earlier varieties of British terr ...

s were brought to Brazil from Europe in the 1800s and served as the nearest ancestor of the Brazilian Terrier. Another theory is that the breed is derived from Spanish breeds such as the

Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz The Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz (''Andalusian wine-cellar rat-hunting dog'') is a Spanish breed of dog of the terrier type. Its name reflects its main occupation: hunting rats and mice hidden between barrels in the wineries of Andalusia in Sp ...

and Ratonero Valenciano brought to Brazil in vessels during the period of the

Iberian Union pt, União Ibérica , conventional_long_name =Iberian Union , common_name = , year_start = 1580 , date_start = 25 August , life_span = 1580–1640 , event_start = War of the Portuguese Succession , event_end = Portuguese Restoration War , ...

Appearance

This terrier stands between 13–16 in (35.5-40.5 cm) at the withers. The breed generally weighs between 15-22 lbs (7–10 kg). Its coat is short, sleek, and fine. The coloring is always tri-color (white, tan and black or white, tan and blue or white, tan and brown). A docked tail, narrow chest, flat triangular skull and a well balanced body are the most common characteristics. The ears are half-pricked and folded, with the tip falling down.

Temperament

The temperament of this breed is very similar to a Jack Russell Terrier, very alert, perky and intelligent. Very friendly, loves to play and dig holes. Spirited and obedient but fearless, as watchdogs they will only bark to get your attention and then leave the rest up to you. This breed needs fair and consistent training, otherwise, they can become destructive. Their hunting instinct is the strongest among average terriers and should not be trusted with other small animals.

Living conditions and exercise

Small apartments or spaces are not good for this breed of dog, because they are very active; an average-size yard is highly recommended. It also needs both physical and mental activities to be happy. A common tendency is for it to become destructive and restless if kept indoors; therefore, long daily walks are the best option.

References

External links

FCI - Brazilian Terrier breed standard
{{Terriers FCI breeds Terriers Dog breeds originating in Brazil Rare dog breeds