We are a family-owned business, and our dogs are family-owned dogs. In May 2014, our family purchased two Brazilian Terriers from Marcos Hernandez. Dinah and Pico joined us on our farm in Texas and almost immediately became a part of our family.
We are new to the dog breeding business, but are in close contact with reputable breeders, including Marcos, who have provided us invaluable support and information.
How did we get interested in Brazilian Terriers?
We have always been dog lovers. As a young boy, David roamed the woods with his dogs, and had close relationships with them. As a young girl, Nichola loved learning about how to train and care for her dogs, and found joy in seeing them learn new skills. After we married in 2001, we had a few dogs through the years and esp enjoyed our Anatolian/Great Pyrenees guard dog. As our family grew, however, we started looking for the perfect family dog to pal around with the kids, keep a watch for snakes and give our children the healthy love of caring for and having canine friends. Interested in a small dog, we began looking through the terrier breeds. During an Internet search, David came across a page describing Brazilian Terriers, and he was very attracted to the qualities of the breed. We did a search for a breeder and found only one in the US. David contacted Marcos Hernandez and visited with him about the breed and that led to our eventual purchase of Marcos' breeding stock and business.
Pico and Dinah are a joy to us and a blessing to our family and we are looking forward to playing a part in providing high quality Brazilian Terriers to others the world over.
The History Of Tropical Beauty Kennel
Tropical Beauty was started and brought to the United States by Marcos Hernandez, a native Brazilian. He began his kennel in 1998 and provided quality Brazilian Terriers to many happy owners. The following is part of his story, as told on his original website. Since Marcos Hernandez has been so instrumental in helping to raise awareness of this breed in the US, we felt it only right to share his story here and see it as an important part of the breed history. The pair Marcos talks about below, are the parents of our bitch, Dinah. They did indeed throw champions, Dinah's brother is a champion in Finland and Dinah and Pico have son that is a champion in Sweden.
"My name is Marcos Hernandez and I currently live in Madison, Wisconsin.
It is a dream come true for me to have my own kennel and I have to thank my very best friend, Marcos Hotz, a major breeder of Brazilian Terrier and the owner of "Rancho Grande Kennel," for helping me realize this dream.
My passion for Brazilian Terriers dates back to my childhood, when I was working as an office boy at age 15. I remember seeing these cute little black and white dogs with brown faces all over the city and was intrigued how my city could have so many of them. Years later I met Marcos Hotz and found out that he was responsible for spread of Brazilian Terriers ,not only in my city, but throughout Brazil. He has sent Brazilian Terriers to others breeders in many other states, like "Minas Gerais", "Goiania", "Parana", “Santa Catarina”, “Rio Grande do Sul” and has even exported some to Portugal.
Despite the fact that I lived in the city, most of my free time, especially during the weekends was spent at friends' farms, riding horses, and hunting deer and armadillo. During these activities, the Brazilian Terrier was there as well. They are excellent hunters and I was fascinated by their sturdiness.
In 1998, I was able to own my first Brazilian Terrier. "Branca do Rancho Grande" was a gift from Marcos Hotz and she is a wonderful bitch. She had 5 puppies on her first litter and her maternal ability was impressive as well.
Eventually I came to America to go to school and placed "Branca" at my sister house, where she is living with her daughter "Lili".
As soon I established myself in America, I went back to Brazil to visit and Marcos Hotz gave me "Cindy Lou do Rancho Grande", who is an amazing bitch. One and half years later I imported "Otis do Rancho Grande" who is also another impressive exemplar of a Brazilian Terrier from the "Rancho Grande Kennel".
The reason that I boast about the Brazilian Terriers from the "Rancho Grande Kennel" is because Marcos Hotz's family has being breeding Brazilian Terriers for about 100 years and Marcos Hotz’s work ethic and the selection system he adopted has allowed him to breed the very best of Brazilian Terriers. Marcos Hotz is a well known judge of Doberman Pinschers and Brazilian Terriers in Brazil and he used his skills to improve the quality of Brazilian Terrier in his kennel, which some times has had more than 100 dogs at once. The “Rancho Grande” also breeds Filas Brasileiro and English Foxhounds.
The Brazilian Terriers from "Rancho Grande Kennel" are raised at large, in the 6000 acres of a very well-maintained historic farm. The dogs are able to play all day long; hunting, watching, and protecting the farm just like the old days. In fact the dogs have kept their strongest characteristics from living naturally in the environment to which they are best adapted.
I'm proud of the fact that I have had the opportunity to breed this wonderful pair, Cindy and Otis, and I hope that soon I will be able to show some of my dogs because I know they have potential to be champions.