The Barbado da Terceira is a rare herding breed, just barely accepted into AKC’s FSS program. “Barbado” means bearded and Terceira is one of the islands of Azores, Portugal – their place of origin. This sprightly and active breed can make an excellent watchdog, guard dog and family dog; they are usually good with kids, and tend to be fairly trustworthy off-leash (although obviously some training is needed for reliability). They are medium in size which makes their exuberance a little easier to handle. These dogs are natural herders and will try to herd small moving people/animals/things, but this is just part of their inborn talents.
The coat of the Barbado is long and profuse and does require plenty of regular care. This is a low-shedding breed which in turn makes it easier for allergic people to tolerate them as well (however many people are actually allergic to dog saliva as well as dander, so no dog is completely hypoallergenic). Because the coat doesn’t shed much, it will continue to grow throughout the dog’s life. This means that it will require lots of brushing!
Terceiras are intelligent and easy to train however they can have assertive temperaments. They also can tend toward being strong-willed and prone to being “too smart for their own good” without clear direction. This means that obedience training and setting down firm rules is important. They are recommended only for experienced dog owners. That said, this dog does enjoy making his owner happy so he is quite capable of doing well under the guided teachings of a skilled owner. Stay firm yet fair – this breed may care more about a harsh voice than a harsh hand but that doesn’t mean you should over-correct!
The Barbado da Terceira is an active breed which does need regular exercise to be happy. A minimum of one long walk a day is essential to his well-being. A life of backyard romping as his sole source of exercise is not adequate – either for his physical needs or his mental needs. This social dog needs to live indoors with his owner! In fact, a large yard is not necessary for this breed and he can even live in an apartment as long as he is given exercise. His main desire is to be close to “his person”.
When living with multiple people in a home, Barbados tend to bond most closely to one person in particular. He will follow that person around whenever possible and keep an eye on them throughout the day. With other dogs in the family, he can get along with them as long as he had been introduced early. He may be a bit bossy and even rough in play, so keep an eye on interactions. Overall he is a loving and loyal dog and makes a fantastic pet in the right circumstances.
