I am writing in response to your 2023 article, “A rare breed in Morgan Hill,” which featured a Barbado da Terceira named Mac and included commentary from Dana Simel, President of the Barbado da Terceira Club USA.
While the article is engaging and clearly written with positive intent, it presents an incomplete and potentially misleading picture of the breed—particularly given the authority granted to club leadership quoted in the piece. The behaviors described—relentless barking at visitors, intense staring, guarding instincts at six months of age, herding family members and “wanting to be the boss”—are framed as endearing or humorous.
In working and guarding breeds, these behaviors can also be early indicators of serious management challenges if not properly understood and handled by experienced owners. Presenting them without professional context risks minimizing behaviors that can escalate in family and suburban environments.
Additionally, statements attributed to breed leadership emphasize rarity, rapid growth and breeding efforts, while omitting discussion of critical safeguards such as temperament screening, placement suitability or outcomes when dogs prove unsuitable for typical homes.
These omissions matter, particularly when the breed is described as capable of herding bulls and “protecting their people”—a trait that, without proper experience and boundaries, can pose real risks.
This letter is not intended as criticism of the family featured, nor as an attack on the Barbado da Terceira breed itself. However, when articles rely heavily on statements from breed leadership, it is especially important to balance those perspectives with transparency and real-world context so readers can make informed decisions.
Responsible reporting benefits both the community and the dogs themselves by ensuring enthusiasm is matched with honesty about the responsibilities and risks involved.
Ella Grokhovskaya
