Mioritic Sheepdog vs Brazilian Terrier - Breed Comparison

This is a large dog coming from the Carpathian mountain area of Romania.

He has always been an excellent working dog, guarding and protecting sheep. Farmers always kept these dogs as working dogs, with no written records being kept about the development of the breed.

The breed is ancient, possibly dating back to ancient Roman times. It was in the 20th century that interest in the breed was ignited, and in 1981 the first official breed standard was recorded. The breed was also registered with the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 2005.

Though its exact origins are questioned it is known that the Brazillian Terrier was developed in Brazil and along with the Fila Brasileiro, are the only authentic Brazillian breeds. In the early 1800’s the Jack Russel Terrier, Fox Terrier, Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers were mixed to create the Brazillian Terrier. The Terrier breed was brought to Brazil by Europeans and there were probably both the Jack Russel and the Fox Terrier in the mix. Very popular within its own country the Brazillian Terrier is barely known outside Brazil. They were registered in 1973 even though they have been around in Brazil since the 1800’s. They are both single and pack hunting dogs. They chase and surround prey until the prey becomes too exhausted to run or fight. The Brazillian Terrier is larger than any European or North American Terrier. They are also less aggressive than other terrier types so that pack hunting became possible. They were built to work in the heat for long periods of time. Their stamina far surpassed other terriers as did their resistance to parasites and diseases.

Many farmers and plantation owners came to values them for their ability to hunt down and eliminate vermin on the land and thus help with increased production of livestock and crops. They were so loved by the farmers and plantation owners that they began known as the “dog of the common people”. Yet it was not only the rural folks who valued this breed, but the people of the cities did as well. Because they were good ratters, a reasonable size, affectionate and loyal, many urban households sported a Brazillian Terrier. The breed spread throughout the country.

The Brazillian Terrier was kept mostly pure bred throughout its history but due to lack of pedigrees and paperwork it was not recognized by any kennel club unit 1973 when Brazillian breeders formed the Clube de Fox Paulistinha or CPF. They had a standard developed and created a stud book. By 1991 they were still not officially recognized but the CFP and the CBKC (Confederacio Brasilera de Cinofilia) began the process of establishing acceptable pedigrees and recognition of the breed. The FCI recognized the breed in 2007.

The Mioritic Sheepdog looks very much like the Old English Sheepdog with his huge body covered with long hair.

His head is also large with a black nose and smallish to medium length floppy ears. The color of the double coat is usually white, cream or pale gray, and sometimes you will find patches of these colors.

The tail has always been traditionally docked, otherwise the tail is left long with a slight curl at the end. The height of the dog is 65 to 75cm and he weighs roughly 50–60kg. Below the thick coat is a muscular dog with strong, straight legs which can help him become quite agile and speedy when needed. Allowed to breed, they can produce anything from 3 to 9 of the most adorable looking puppies.

Temperament:

The Mioritic Sheepdog is a balanced dog, loving to be with his owners but being wary of strangers. He is a brave dog, willing to guard his human family with his life.

He is also a strong-willed and dominant so it will be to his benefit to be trained and socialized so that he becomes obedient and easy to have around.Training won’t be difficult as he is an intelligent breed and already naturally obedient.

He is an energetic dog too so he will need to have regular exercise and games. He therefore gets on well with children in the home, loving to join in with all their games. He will need to be supervised around small children just because of his cumbersome, large size.

The Brazillian Terrier is a small to medium sized dog with a white – tricolor (tan and black) coat. It has a narrow chest, a triangular rather flat skull, the tail is docked, folded, half pricked hears, and the body is well-balanced. Its legs are long and athletic, and the coat is very short and very fine. He has round eyes that can be green, blue, brown or gray. They are very much like the Jack Russel in temperament. His expression should reflect that temperament in its eagerness and alertness.

The Mioritic Shepherd has always been used to guard and protect livestock, but even though he has always taken this role seriously, he is calm and loving around his human family, making a splendid family pet.

He also plays the role of guardian and protector of his human family seriously. He is a big strong dog and training and socialization will become necessary as he can become aggressive with certain people who he doesn’t trust.

Inviting one of these dogs into your home will ensure having a constant and loving companion at your side.

The Brazillian Terrier is very much like his ancestor the Jack Russell. Like the JR Terrier he is friendly, intelligent, alert, playful, and loves to dig. They are courageous and fearless. They will obey but only if they know and believe you are really in charge. Otherwise they are intelligent enough to be very independent, determined and willful. At the same time, they are utterly loyal to their people. He needs a lot of toys but don’t let him live with other small animals. His hunting instincts may be the strongest of all terriers and he may harm small animals in the home. You have to teach him when to stop barking. Their love of play would consume your entire day if you let them. You should understand the terrier personality before you acquire a Brazillian Terrier.

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a truly hardy dog breed and with good care such as good food and exercise can reach 14 years of age.

There are always some common dog illnesses to look out for and because he is a large dog, hip dysplasia can be a problem.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a disease where there is abnormal growth of the hip joints. Smooth movement of the joint is hindered and this leads to inflammation and pain.

At first you may find your dog limping and then you may find that after lying down, he battles to get up again. The joint becomes thickened with less mobility and the dog is reluctant to play like he used to. He will certainly need to get to the vet for treatments to make him more comfortable.

The breed is mostly healthy except for hunting accidents and a few generic issues they are susceptible to. This includes things like Dental and eye issues, the usual ear issues, liver issues, allergies, epilepsy and patellar luxation. However, they are more likely to have issues related to hunting than another of these predisposed conditions

The Mioritic Sheepdog’s long hair is coarse and will need to be regularly brushed to keep it free of tangles. It will certainly need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week, while some owners of this dog will prefer to have the coat professionally clipped. Because of the long hair, while brushing him it is an excellent time to check for ticks and fleas.

Diet:

The food you give your pet plays such a critical role in his health and longevity. Always make sure that you’re giving your pet an uncomplicated diet to avoid stomach upsets.

Give him the best commercially manufactured kibble. To provide him with some variety, add in some boiled chicken, cooked vegetables such as potato, carrots and spinach to his kibble from time to time. He will also benefit greatly from having some raw meat added into the kibble occasionally.

Learn to know which human foods are totally toxic to him and avoid these. Make sure he is never without cool, fresh water.

Feeding

This is still a working dog and a terrier at that. They are high energy, athletic dogs. Feed a high-quality food at the rate of 1 to 2 cups per day, split into 2 meals. Treat are good for training but if your Brazillian Terrier is not hunting or working in some way, stay away from too much food and treats as he can easily become obese.

Health issues

As mentioned previously, the biggest concern with this breed is hunting accidents or injuries. Look out for ear and skin infections or allergies. For the most part this is a hardy, healthy breed.

Exercise and games

A very energetic dog, the Brazillian Terrier like its ancestors has a need to work off that energy. Yes, he is an urban dog and can live in an apartment, but you better have a dog park or a competition or some place to hunt because his need for exercise cannot be answered by daily walks and running around an apartment. IF your Brazillian Terrier is not stimulated physically and mentally on a daily basis he will become destructive, hyperactive and very, very unhappy. Don’t just stick him in a yard and leave him either as terriers are known to dig and escape and he will too.

They excel at agility, flyball, obedience and confirmation. They love to chase things and they love to explore. Barn Hunt would also be a good game for them. They are very smart, so their physical exercise should be paired with mental stimulation.