Brazilian Terrier in the US: Why Importing a Fox Paulistinha Is Hard and What It Costs

The Brazilian Terrier is a cheap dog to keep and a hard dog to get. In PetBudget's model it costs $1,681 a year, which is lower than most terriers. The difficulty is that Brazil is on the CDC's high-risk list for dog rabies, so bringing a puppy from its home country takes months of paperwork and a stay at a CDC-registered facility.

This guide covers what the breed is, whether US-born dogs exist, how a Brazilian import works and what the dog costs to keep. The breed numbers sit on the Brazilian Terrier page.

Photo: Rubenstein Rebello / Pexels. A terrier shown as a similar type; the source does not name the breed.

What is a Brazilian Terrier?

A Brazilian Terrier is a lean, fast, tri-colored terrier developed in Brazil, where it is called the Fox Paulistinha. Wikipedia's Brazilian Terrier entry calls it one of the two worldwide recognized native breeds of Brazil. It gives two origin theories. One says Jack Russell, Parson Russell and Fox Terriers came from Europe in the 1800s and are its closest ancestors. The other says the Spanish Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz and Valencian Terrier arrived by ship during the Iberian Union.

The dog has a short, smooth, fine coat that is always tri-color. White with tan markings is the base, and black, brown, blue or isabela is the main color. It has a docked tail in the standard, a narrow chest, a flat triangular skull and half-pricked ears with folded tips.

Brazilian listings use the names Fox Paulistinha and Terrier Brasileiro, so search with all three. Wikipedia lists the Brazilian and FCI standards but gives no US registry dates.

How big is a Brazilian Terrier?

The Brazilian Terrier stands 13 to 16 inches and weighs 15 to 22 pounds, similar to a small Parson Russell Terrier. Wikipedia gives 14 to 16 inches for males and 13 to 15 inches for females, and 7 to 10 kilograms for weight.

Trait	Brazilian Terrier
Weight	15 to 22 pounds
Height	13 to 16 inches
Coat	Short, smooth, fine, tri-color
Grooming rating (1 to 5)	1
Shedding rating (1 to 5)	3
Exercise in the model	60 minutes a day
Typical lifespan in the model	13 years

PetBudget describes the temperament as alert, lively, intelligent, loyal and curious. The model's exercise figure is 60 minutes a day, so a bored terrier of this energy digs, barks and escapes.

Can you buy a Brazilian Terrier in the US?

You can, but the supply is thin. The AKC added the breed to its Foundation Stock Service on May 5, 2023, alongside the Pont-Audemer Spaniel. The service records breeds that are not yet fully recognized, so the dog has an AKC record but is not a show-ring breed.

I found no confirmation of UKC recognition and no US breeder directory in my research, so treat any claim of a long US pedigree with caution. The breed's home registries are the Brazilian Kennel Confederation and the FCI. If you are searching for "brazilian terrier puppies," expect listings from Brazil, a few US breeders and a lot of look-alike mixes.

Three checks help you avoid a mix sold under the breed's name:

1. Ask for the registration papers and the pedigree, and read the registry's name on them.
2. Ask for photos of both parents, and compare their color to the standard.
3. Ask when the parents were last examined for knee problems.

What are the CDC rules for importing a dog from Brazil?

Brazil is on the CDC's high-risk country list for dog rabies, a list dated April 15, 2026. A dog that has been in Brazil in the previous 6 months follows the CDC's stricter high-risk rules, which also apply to dogs that spent time in any other listed country.

The CDC's page on foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries sets the main requirements:

• The dog must be at least 6 months old at entry.
• It needs a microchip a universal scanner can read, implanted before the rabies vaccine, or the vaccine is invalid.
• A first rabies vaccine must be given when the dog is at least 12 weeks (84 days) old.
• A veterinarian completes the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, and an official government veterinarian endorses it. It must be completed no more than 30 days before travel.
• The dog needs a rabies serology titer from a CDC-approved lab, drawn at least 30 days after its first valid vaccination and at least 28 days before entry. Without a valid titer, the dog must be quarantined for 28 days at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
• The dog must arrive by air at the airport of a CDC-registered animal care facility, where it gets an exam and a revaccination with a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine. The importer pays all facility costs.

The CDC Dog Import Form is free. Each dog needs its own form, and the receipt covers a single entry.

How long does the Brazilian import take?

The age rule sets the earliest date. A puppy cannot be vaccinated until it is 12 weeks old, and cannot enter until it is 6 months old, so the process takes at least about 6 months from birth.

Step	Earliest timing
Microchip implanted	Before the first rabies vaccine
First rabies vaccine	At 12 weeks (84 days) of age
Titer blood draw	At least 30 days after the first valid vaccine
Entry to the US	At least 28 days after the blood draw, and not before the dog is 6 months old
Foreign vaccination form	Completed within 30 days before travel

If the dog is vaccinated at 12 weeks, the titer clock allows entry around week 20, so the 6-month age requirement is the limit. A titer that fails, or a lab delay, pushes the date later, and a quarantine booking adds 28 days.

The CDC rules change, so check the Dog Importation Navigator before you book. Airline policy and facility availability are separate from the CDC and can also limit your dates.

What does the import cost?

I could not find published prices for the facility exam, the quarantine, the titer or the flight, and the CDC's page says only that the importer pays all facility costs. PetBudget does not model them, so get quotes. A realistic plan lists these lines:

• The puppy price and the breeder's costs.
• Vaccination, microchip and endorsed paperwork in Brazil.
• A titer test at a CDC-approved lab.
• A flight to an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility.
• The facility's exam, revaccination and any 28-day quarantine.
• A crate, and onward travel to your home after release.

Ask each provider for a written estimate. The import lines may add more than the dog's modeled $900 puppy price, and the quarantine option is the biggest unknown.

What does a Brazilian Terrier cost to keep?

A Brazilian Terrier costs about $1,681 a year in PetBudget's model, and the first year costs $3,756 before import fees. The model's puppy price of $900 is an estimate and not a quote.

Annual line	Brazilian Terrier
Food	$277
Vet care	$577
Grooming	$78
Insurance	$620
Supplies and toys	$129
Total per year	$1,681

At $620, insurance is the biggest line, scaled down for a small dog from the $836 average dog plan in NAPHIA's State of the Industry highlights.

What does the first year look like before import fees?

The first year costs $3,756, and about 41% of it is recurring care. Food, vet care, grooming and insurance come to $1,552, and the one-time lines come to $2,204.

First-year line	Amount
Purchase or adoption (modeled)	$900
Initial vet visit and vaccinations	$607
Starter supplies	$437
Training classes	$260
Food, vet care, grooming and insurance	$1,552
Total before import costs	$3,756

An imported dog arrives at 6 months or older, so part of the puppy vaccine budget is already spent. Ask the breeder for the vaccination record and a translation, and ask your US vet which shots still apply. Also ask your vet how soon after arrival to book a first exam, because a dog released from an animal care facility has just had a long trip, a new vaccine and a change of home. A calm first week costs less than a stress-related stomach upset, and it gives you time to check the knees and teeth before the dog settles in.

What health costs should you plan for?

Kneecap slippage and dental disease are the two lines in PetBudget's data. Wikipedia's entry has no health section, so these come from breed data and general small-dog guidance, not breed-specific studies.

Patellar luxation. The kneecap pops out of its groove on a back leg. MetLife Pet Insurance says surgery runs $1,000 to $5,000 per leg and is often recommended from grade II up. Ask the breeder for knee exam results on the parents.

Dental disease. Tartar builds fast in a small jaw. Banfield's data reported by Veterinary Practice News found that 78 percent of dogs aged 3 and older had oral disease, with small size as a risk factor. Plan for brushing and periodic cleanings under anesthesia.

Keep $2,000 aside, which is PetBudget's reserve for a small dog. A MetLife survey of 1,000 pet owners found 15% had paid $3,000 or more for an unexpected vet bill. Our pet insurance versus emergency fund guide compares insurance with a reserve.

How does it compare with other small terriers?

The Brazilian Terrier costs about the same per year as a Rat Terrier and less than a Parson Russell. The Toy Fox Terrier is the cheapest of the four.

Breed	Annual cost	Lifetime cost	Weight	Typical lifespan in the model
Toy Fox Terrier	$1,483	$21,585	4 to 9 pounds	13 years
Brazilian Terrier	$1,681	$23,928	15 to 22 pounds	13 years
Rat Terrier	$1,670	$28,795	10 to 25 pounds	16 years
Parson Russell Terrier	$1,868	$28,227	13 to 17 pounds	14 years

The Rat Terrier's higher lifetime figure comes from a 16-year modeled life. Our Toy Fox Terrier versus Rat Terrier guide compares those two in detail. The Toy Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier and Parson Russell Terrier pages have their own breakdowns.

Is a Brazilian Terrier right for you?

It suits a patient owner who wants a short-coated, high-energy terrier and can wait for a US litter or fund an import. It does not suit a buyer who needs a puppy soon or has a small budget for travel and paperwork. The dog is cheap to keep, but the purchase can be expensive.

If you cannot find one, the Rat Terrier and Toy Fox Terrier offer a similar short coat, similar yearly costs and much wider availability. A Parson Russell Terrier is the closest in size, though it costs about $187 more per year in the model.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Brazilian Terrier the same as the Fox Paulistinha?

Yes. Fox Paulistinha is the name used in Brazil, and Terrier Brasileiro is the Portuguese breed name. PetBudget lists both as alternate names.

Does a Brazilian Terrier shed?

PetBudget rates shedding at 3 out of 5. The short, fine coat sheds small hairs, and a weekly rubdown with a rubber brush keeps them under control.

Is a Brazilian Terrier hypoallergenic?

PetBudget's data does not flag it as hypoallergenic. If someone in your home has allergies, spend time with the specific dog.

Does a Brazilian Terrier have a docked tail?

Wikipedia lists a docked tail in the description of the breed's appearance. If you want an undocked dog, ask the breeder before the litter is born.