Brazilian Terrier - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
We are not completely sure about the breeds ancestry and origin and there are two main theories about it. The first one say, that the Brazilian Terrier evolved on Brazilian farms from Smooth Fox Terriers and Jack Russel Terriers, who got into Brazil on English merchant ships in 1800s. The second theory suggest, that the Brazilian Terrier is a direct ancestor of Spanish breeds like Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluzbrought to Brazil in vessels during the period of the Iberian Union.

2) Purpose
The Brazilian Terrier was and still is used for the same purpose as majority of terriers, which is hunting vermin. But the Brazilian Terrier is pretty versatile breed and some of them were also succefully used as all purpose farm dogs, which means they were used to alert the owners when they see or hear something suspicious and some of them were even trained to herd the cattle.

3) Nanny dog
Of course, the Brazilian Terrier is not only a great worker but also amazing companion. And they have especially good reputation with kids and sometimes they are nicknamed as nanny dogs. They are pretty patient and playful with the children, but the kids should be old enough to know how to treat dogs with respect, gently and kindly. No dog will tolerate rough handling.

4) Temperament
The Brazilian Terrier has a temperament and personality which is similar to the Jack Russel Terriers. The official FCI breed standard describes them as restless, alert, active and keen; friendly and gentle to friends, suspicious of strangers. They are also not that extremely hyperactive as JRTs, although the Brazilian Terrier is still a very active and energetic dog.

5) Name
The Brazilian Terrier is also commonly called Terrier Brasileiro or Fox Paulistinha, which can be translated as a little fox terrier from Sao Paulo.

6) Training
Brazilian Terriers are definitely very intelligent and highly trainable dogs. They are known for being little bit independent, which can be sometimes challenging for obedience training, but with patient and consistent leadership they are capable of learning a lot of tricks and commands. And they do well in different dog sports, for example in agility or obedience trials.

7) Hunters
The Brazilian Terrier is hunter at heart and they do have a very strong prey drive. They typically hunt mice, rats and other vermin and when they are on the hunt they are totally fearless, courageous and determined to get whatever they go after. Because of this, this is not the best choice for families with other smaller household pets like hamsters, but the Brazilian Terrier can live with other dogs, especially if they are socialized together from the puppyhood.

8) Size
As you can see the Brazilian Terrier has a lets say big dog temperament, but they actually are pretty small. The average height is between 13-16 inches which is 35-41 cm and weight is typically between 15-22 pounds which is 7-10 kg.

9) Appearance

Overall, the Brazilian Terrier is looking great, starting with their bright and alert expression, to their athletic body, long slender legs and smooth short hair. They have typical triangular ears, bright round eyes, long tail, small nose and beautiful color. This breed is always in tri color.

10) Health
If you want to keep this dog healthy and happy, enough daily exercise, including walks, jogs and vigorous playtime is needed. The average lifespan of the Brazilian Terrier is 12-14 years and they are usually pretty healthy. Of course, sometimes they can suffer from some healht issues. Those include thyroid disease, allergies, skin allergies and MPS disease.