Learn how this country has become hugely significant in the world of purebred dogs
Based on information submitted courtesy of Sergio Gebram, by the FCI, and from previous articles in Dogs in Review.
Although reportedly occasional dog shows were held in the country’s major cities early in the 1900s, the sport of purebred dogs in Brazil officially started in 1922 with the foundation of the Brasil Kennel Club in Rio de Janeiro, followed shortly afterwards by the Kenel Clube Paulista in São Paulo.
The first official dog show in the country was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 14, 1923, and according to reports at the time included representatives of the following breeds: Saint Bernard, Toy Manchester Terrier, German Shepherd Dog, Doberman Pinscher, Collie, Groenendael [Belgian Sheepdog — Ed.], Borzoi, Greyhound, Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, Dachshund, Fox Terrier, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier and Brussels Griffon.
In the beginning only one or two shows were held annually, attended by huge gates. Interest gradually increased after World War II and new clubs were formed, continuing in the 1950s. The purebred dog fancy has become really widespread during the last three decades, and now encompasses almost the entire national territory.
Brazil became an associate member of the FCI early, during the congress held in Monaco in 1934. There had already been a number of international shows by the time the country hosted the FCI World Show for the first time in 1972. One of the leading Brazilian dog fanciers at the time, Antonio Barone Forzano, was for many years the president of the “old” Brasil Kennel Club. He was also president of the FCI in 1971 and 1972 and judged at several World Shows in different countries.
In October 1991 the fancy was once again divided into two rival kennel clubs, Confederação Brasileira de Cinofila on the one hand and on the other the Associacão Cinológica Do Brasil. The former used to be known as the Confederação do Brasil Kennel Club and is still known by the acronym CBKC. It is the larger of the two clubs, now registers more than 90,000 puppies per year, and is recognized by the FCI and AKC as the current governing body. It was CBKC that hosted the FCI World Show the second time it was held in Brazil, in 2004, attracting an all-time record entry for Brazil of 2,043 dogs. Best in Show was judged by the CBKC president, Sérgio Meira Lopes de Castro, and won by the Pug, Ch. Double D’s Cinoblu’s Masterpiece.
The smaller club, Associacão Cinológica Do Brasil, is still active, however. It is located in São Paulo and has on occasion registered as many as 15,000 to 20,000 puppies per year. (The situation is in some ways similar to the AKC and UKC coexisting in the U.S.)
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