Barbado da Terceira puppies

About the Barbado da Terceira

The Barbado da Terceira comes from Terceira in the Azores, where they were used to herd and drive cattle on smallholdings and to guard the farm. They stand 48 to 56 centimetres, with a long shaggy double coat, a beard and a fall of hair over the eyes. This is a lively, cheerful and very intelligent dog that sticks close to their owner by instinct, and they play 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 they invent their own entertainment. Herding, agility, hiking and running all suit them. Brush weekly or fortnightly to prevent matting, bathe roughly every two months, and avoid shaving, which can damage the outer coat permanently. They train readily, five out of five. Fencing has to be tall and unclimbable. Behind the shaggy, family look is a dog with real needs, so do not expect 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 them 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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

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.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 27.2 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Barbado da Terceira

Previous: Azawakh · Next: Barbet

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from Barbado da Terceira breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/barbado-da-terceira/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Drealmere, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.