Breeds / Medium
Barbado da Terceira puppies
Lively, affectionate and highly trainable, the Barbado da Terceira is a shaggy coated Azorean cattle dog that stays glued to its owner. It has very high energy and a loud, boisterous play style that other breeds can find intimidating.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Portugal
- Adult weight 20.9 to 27.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 46 to 60 lb
- Adult height 48 to 56 cm
- Energy level Very high
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
About the Barbado da Terceira
The Barbado da Terceira comes from Terceira in the Azores, where it was used to herd and drive cattle on smallholdings and to guard the farm. It stands 48 to 56 centimetres, with a long shaggy double coat, a beard and a fall of hair over the eyes. It is a lively, cheerful and very intelligent dog that sticks close to its owner by instinct, and it plays with a herder's noise and enthusiasm that quieter breeds can find overwhelming.
Energy is very high, and the dog needs physical and mental work daily or it invents its own entertainment. Herding, agility, hiking and running all suit it. Brush weekly or fortnightly to prevent matting, bathe roughly every two months, and avoid shaving, which can damage the outer coat permanently. It trains readily, five out of five. Fencing has to be tall and unclimbable. The usual mistake is treating a shaggy, family looking dog as a low demand pet.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Barbado da Terceira puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, uncommon in the breed but screened by PennHIP evaluation of breeding stock
- MDR1 drug sensitivity, detectable by DNA test, which changes the safe dose of several common medicines
- Chondrodystrophy (CDDY), a DNA testable variant linked to disc disease, carried in some lines
From Barbado da Terceira breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/barbado-da-terceira/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Barbado da Terceira puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Barbado da Terceira.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.9 to 27.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other medium breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.