COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Brazil is one of the largest countriesin Latin America: 8.5 million squarekilometres and about 160 million peo-ple. In contrast is the number of nativedog breeds: only six. Two breeds arerecognized by the F.C.I. – the FilaBrasileiro and the Terrier Brasileiro(Fox Paulistinha or Bazilian Terrier).The other four breeds are nationally rec-ognized by the Brazilian Kennel Club,

de Confereração Brasileira de Cinofilia(CBKC; www.cbkc.org). More informa-tion about the Brazilian dog scene canbe found on www.kennelclub.com.brand www.kcbrasilia.cjb.net

For more than 500 years, the histo-ry of Brazil was determined by con-querors, colonists and immigrants andtherefore strangers have always had abig influence on the development of dogbreeds in this country. The history ofmost breeds is recent, often very recent,

and in many cases their early history canbe found on the other side of the ocean,in Europe.

BULDOGUE CAMPEIRO (Bul-dogue Pampeano, Buldoghe Brazil,Brazilian Bulldog)

OLD ENGLISH BULLDOG

The Buldogue Campeiro is adescendant of the old English Bulldog,brought to Brazil by immigrants in the

18th and 19th century. These dogs main-ly arrived in the Rio Grande do Sul, afederal state in the south, not far fromthe borders with Uruguay andArgentina.

From old times, the people in thesouth were livestock breeders. The jobof the Buldogue Campeiro (campeiromeans ‘cattle-herder’) was keeping thebulls under control, and driving cattleand pigs from the pastures to the slaugh-terhouse. Usually five or more dogs

T H E B R A Z I L I A N B R E E D Stext and illustrations by RIA HÖRTER

Raças Brasí le iras

H I S T O R Y

198 - May, 2008

For more than 500 years, the history of Brazil was determined by con-

querors, colonists and immigrants and therefore strangers have always

had a big influence on the development of dog breeds in this country.

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