Dog breed · Brazil
The Dogue Brasileiro is a mastiff-type working dog breed originating in Brazil. It is neither recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) nor the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, it has the official Brazilian recognition by the Brazilian Confederation of Cynophilia (CBKC) where it belongs to the Group 11 – Breeds not recognized by the FCI.
Behavior: The Dogue Brasileiro is an active and balanced, yet alert, fearless, and watchful dog with a strong guarding instinct. Towards its family, it is obedient, gentle, and affectionate. However, it is serious towards strangers and will be ready to attack if provoked. It should not demonstrate aggressive behaviour without a clear reason – such as purposeful provocation – not even with other dogs. Instead of the more common working trial, a specific character trial is demanded for the breed to reach championship in Brazilian dog shows.
Appearance: The Dogue Brasileiro is a medium-sized, strong, agile and muscular dog, being massive without creating heavy or stocky impression. Males are 54 – 60 cm tall (ideal height 58 cm) and weigh 29 – [dose — ask your vet] (ideal weight [dose — ask your vet]); females 50 – 58 cm tall (ideal height 56 cm) and weigh 23 – [dose — ask your vet] (ideal weight [dose — ask your vet]). The breed is therefore lighter and athletic, which is equally tall but significantly heavier. There are two coat variants: short (less than 2.5 cm) and medium-length (from 2.5 to 4.7 cm). The texture of the shiny coat is harsh and dense. All colours and combinations are accepted.
History: The original developer of the breed was a Bull Terrier breeder named Pedro Pessoa Ribeiro Dantas from Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. In 1978, his neighbor asked him to mate one of his Bull Terrier males with the neighbor's female Boxer. Pedro took one of the female puppies from this mating, and named her Tigresa after the brindle markings on her coat. As Tigresa grew, she turned out to be a very pleasant and promising individual: she was extremely affectionate, obedient, quick-to-learn, physically balanced, strong, and vigorous. Moreover, she lacked the extreme characteristics typical to the modern Bull Terrier, being much more functional and agile. She was also physically stronger than both an average Bull Terrier and an average Boxer. At the same time she was an excellent guard and very tolerant towards Pedro's Bull Terriers: when they tried to provoke her, she rather eluded the attacks by her better physical agility and balance than by using aggression.
After noticing the great qualities of Tigresa, Pedro started to gather information from other people who had purchased a puppy from the same litter. The response was that the dogs had become physically vigorous and excellent guards, at the same time being gentle and affectionate towards their families. Therefore, another mating between a different Bull Terrier and a Boxer. Because the results turned out to be as positive as in the first litter, a new breeding line was decided to be established and was originally named Bull Boxer (which should not be confused with the English "designer breed" with the same name based on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier x Boxer cross).
After the first generation of Bull Terrier x Boxer crosses consisting of 80 individuals, Pedro continued by occasional matings between these crosses. The qualities and health of the new puppies were followed during their growth. It was noticed that a vast majority of them possessed the following characteristics:
