Beyond Herding: How The Barbado Da Terceira Excels

Click here to read the complete article
190 – October, 2025

By Dana Simel, President, Barbado da Terceira Club – USA

A Heritage Beyond the Fields

The Barbado da Terceira (BDT), a cute, shaggy, medium-sized herding dog, originates from Terceira, one of Portugal’s Azore Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. For over 500 years, this hardy breed has worked alongside farmers, facing the island’s most formidable bulls and livestock. While clearly thriving on the farm, the Barbado da Terceira’s story extends far beyond herding.

In 2020, there were only three Barbado da Terceiras in the U.S. and Canada. Today, the number has grown to 138, and the breed is excelling in agility, obedience, rally, scent detection, and conformation. Through careful breeding, the Barbado da Terceira Club – USA, along with its Canadian counterpart, is ensuring that the breed retains its working ability, health, and genetic diversity while making its mark in the performance and conformation worlds.

Built for Performance

The Barbado da Terceira’s rustic coat, fluid gait, and well-muscled frame make it an ideal athlete. With agility, intelligence, and loyalty to their humans, these dogs thrive in a variety of sports.

“One doesn’t own a Barbado da Terceira; instead, one has a relationship with him,” says owner Wendy Dreese. This bond, combined with the breed’s work ethic, makes them extraordinary partners across multiple arenas.

Agility: A Natural Fit

Click here to read the complete article
190 – October, 2025

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=340709

Posted by AnthonyA on Oct 20 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.