Rastreador Brasileiro
Encyclopedia
The Rastreador Brasileiro (in English, Brazilian Tracker) is a large breed
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
from Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, first recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...
in 1967, but an outbreak of disease, compounded by an overdose of insecticide, wiped out the breed's entire breeding stock. The FCI and the Brazilian Kennel Club (Confederação Brasileira de Cinofilia) then declared the breed extinct in 1973 and delisted it. Since then, efforts have been made to re-create the breed. The Rastreador Brasileiro is a hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
of the scenthound type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
. The breed is also known by the names Urrador (for its hunting cry) or Urrador Americano, in reference to the American (U.S.) coonhounds in its background.
Appearance
A breed standard from 1970 shows the size as being 62 to 67 cm (24.4 to 26.4 ins) at the withersWithers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
, and the general appearance as being generally similar to an American coonhound.
Re-creation
There have been ongoing attempts to recreate the breed from a mix of American FoxhoundAmerican Foxhound
The American Foxhound is a breed of dog that is cousin to the English Foxhound. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt foxes by scent.-History:...
, Black And Tan Coonhound
Black and Tan Coonhound
The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It's a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent...
, Petit Bleu de Gascogne
Petit Bleu de Gascogne
The Petit Bleu de Gascogne Is a breed of dog of the scenthound type, originating in France and used for hunting in packs. Today's breed is the descendant of a very old type of large hunting dog...
, English Foxhound
English Foxhound
The English Foxhound is one of the four foxhound breeds of dog. They are scent hounds, bred to hunt foxes by scent.-Appearance:The English Foxhound is about 21-25 inches tall to the withers, and weighs anywhere between 65-75 pounds, although some English Foxhounds bred for the show ring can be...
, and American Bluetick Coonhound
Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound is a breed of dog. It is a type of coonhound and typically bred in the southern United States.- Appearance :The overall body style of the Bluetick Coonhound is muscular and speedy, not chunky or clumsily built. The head is carried well up and the tail carried over the back,...
. The Grupo De Apoio Ao Resgate Do Rastreador Brasileiro in Brazil, a club dedicated to the Brazilian restoration of the breed, lists as an objective the finding of forty breeding animals of the correct type that can be certified as members of the breed, so as to eventually be once again recognised by the Brazilian Kennel Club.
Restoration of the breed is difficult due to the existence of very few dogs of the correct type
Breed type
Breed type is the whole of the characteristics that are typical of a breed of domesticated animals. Breed type may include details of form or color that are not directly related to the economic value of the animal, and are usually defined in breed standards....
and the lack of people interested in recovering the true Brazilian cultural and genetic heritage of the breed. Nonetheless, the breed is listed by various minor kennel clubs and dog organisations in North America, for promotion as a rare breed
Rare breed (dog)
Rare breed is any breed of dog that is small in number. Since dogs have greater genetic variability than other domesticated animals the number of possible breeds is vast...
for those looking for an unusual pet.
Health and temperament
As this is a breed in the process of being reconstructed, there is no data on specific diseases or claims of extraordinary health. The Rastreador Brasileiro is a hunting dogHunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
, not a type of dog traditionally kept as a pet. Not recommended for homes with small children or frail elderly, and the very similar coonhounds "are famous for chewing through drywall, ripping the stuffing out of sofas, and turning your yard into a moonscape of giant craters" and with strong instincts to "chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures."