Brazilian Terrier: Origins And Characteristics
As the name suggests, the Brazilian Terrier is a breed originally from Brazil. Small in size and with many physical characteristics typical of the Terrier, this dog breed is very playful and adapts easily to living in confined spaces.
History of the Brazilian Terrier
To know the origins of this breed, it is necessary to go back to the 19th century and go thousands of kilometers from Brazil. During that time, many young South Americans traveled to Europe, particularly France and England, to complete their studies.
Many of them found love and got married. When they returned to their homeland, in addition to their wives, they brought with them the pets of their wives, mainly Terrier dogs.
The owners crossed the terriers with native dogs and the new puppies adapted to country life. Later, with the migration to the cities, these dogs mated with other breeds such as the Pinscher and the Chihuahua. Due to its temperament, the Brazilian Terrier is believed to be related to the Jack Russel.
Characteristics of the Brazilian Terrier
The Brazilian Terrier, commonly called Fox Paulistinha, is a medium-sized dog that can reach 45 centimeters in height and weigh up to ten pounds. It is a dog with a sturdy build and an almost “square” shape, even there are some more slender specimens.
The head of the Brazilian Terrier is triangular, as are its ears which are well separated from each other and which fall to the sides of the face. It has a large, dark muzzle and black eyes are large and round.
As for the coat, the white color predominates and the hair is short, fine and soft to the touch. It may have black and brown spots distributed randomly on the body. The head is completely dark with different shades of black and brown.
Although the Brazilian Terrier’s tail is medium-sized and low-set, most specimens undergo tail amputation, especially if they have to participate in beauty pageants.
Temperament
Along with the Fila brasileiro, the Terrier brasileiro is the most famous breed in Brazil. The Fila have a calm character, the Fox Paulistinha, on the other hand, have a lively, curious and cheerful personality. They are very attentive dogs who love to play even when they are no longer puppies.
Although kind and affectionate to owners, the Brazilian Terrier is very wary of strangers. It is important for him to socialize from an early age with people he does not know so that he does not become dangerous. Since his hunting instincts are very strong, he can be aggressive towards other pets, especially if they are smaller than him.
The care it needs
One of the main care that the Brazilian Terrier needs has to do with physical activity. It is essential that this dog walks every day, preferably if he has the opportunity to run freely for several minutes.
If you want to have a dog of this breed, you must be an active person who likes to run, train in a park or do physical exercises with your dog (for example, canicross).
This does not mean that it is not an apartment dog and that it cannot live in small houses. In fact, the Brazilian Terrier adapts well even to small spaces. Obviously, you have to keep in mind that he needs to expend energy outside the home or he will let off steam with your children’s furniture or toys, especially if he stays in the house alone for many hours.
We advise you to train him from an early age so that when he grows up he does not bark excessively (one of the problems of this dog breed) and does not start digging every time he sees dirt.
As for its health, it is a fairly healthy animal that does not have any particular hereditary diseases. However, it is a good idea to take him to the vet at least once a year for a follow-up visit. As for hygiene, we advise you to brush it weekly to remove dirt and hair and to wash it only if it is very dirty (no more than once a month).
The Brazilian Terrier makes a great pet in a home where there are children. Together they will become allies and companions in adventures and pranks.
