Overview
The Rastreador Brasileiro is a scenthound developed to track jaguar and other big game through dense country. The original line was wiped out in the 1970s by disease, and the breed was recreated from related hounds, so individuals vary more than in a long established breed. Expect a rangy, drop-eared hound with a deep voice.
You are unlikely to be offered one in the UK, but if you are, treat it as you would any big American style hound. It will be friendly, nose-led and almost impossible to call off a fresh trail.
Exercise and walking needs
Ninety minutes a day is a reasonable baseline, and a dog from working stock will take more. The most useful exercise is scent work: a long line through woodland or along field margins lets the hound do what it was bred for and burns far more energy than road walking.
Keep young hounds on shorter, varied outings until the owner confirms the growth plates have closed. The adult stamina is real, but it arrives later than the puppy enthusiasm suggests.
On the walk
- Scent: Once the nose goes down the ears go off. A fifteen metre line on a harness is the only reliable way to give the dog freedom without losing it to a badger trail.
- Voice: Hounds bay when they are excited or on a trail. Pick routes away from housing if the dog is vocal, and warn the owner's neighbours are not your problem but yours are.
- Pulling: Strong and constant when tracking. A back-clip harness and a padded lead handle save your hands on a long outing.
- Other dogs: Bred to work in a pack, so most are easy and tolerant with other dogs. They may try to lead the group off after a scent, so keep the hound at the back.
- Weather: Short coat and lean build mean cold rain gets through quickly. Keep moving and dry the dog properly at the end.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a long line rather than a flexi lead. The line can be dropped and stepped on if the dog bolts.
- Carry smelly treats and reward every voluntary glance back; it is the foundation of whatever recall you can build.
- Check ears after wet walks and after running through long grass; long hound ears trap debris.
- Plan the route so the sniffing section is in the middle, with lead walking either side to settle the dog.
- Note the dog's bay on the first walk so you know the difference between excitement and distress.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog track game, and has it ever gone missing after a scent?
- How vocal is it on a walk, and are there places you should avoid because of the noise?
- What equipment does the owner use for off-lead time, and has the dog worked on a long line before?
- Any hip, elbow or ear problems that would change how far or where you walk?