BIO – Alexandre C. de Carvalho: A Pioneer of Brazilian Cynophilia
Alexandre C. de Carvalho is a pivotal figure in the development of cynophilia in Brazil. At a very young age, only 12 years old, he entered the world of Collie breeding.
In 1959, together with distinguished breeders of the time, he founded the Clube dos Criadores de Collie, which became the first breed club in the country. Under the auspices of this club, the first Specialized Collie Show in Brazil was successfully held in the city of Rio de Janeiro, featuring 55 dogs in competition — an important milestone in the history of the breed in Brazil.
Two years later, in 1961, Alexandre was one of the organizers, alongside Dr. Rubens Vieira Pinto, of the Collie Clube Paulista, which would later change its name to Collie Clube do Brasil before eventually returning to its original title.
In 1970, responding to requests from regional dog fanciers, he also helped found the Collie Clube do Rio, further expanding the presence of the breed in Brazil.
At the request of the Brazilian Confederation of Cynophilia, Alexandre translated and adapted into Portuguese the first edition of the Rough Collie Breed Standard and revised the Smooth Collie Breed Standard, originally adapted by Dr. Rubens Vieira Pinto.
In 1989, Alexandre participated in the founding of the International Collie Society in England, one of the most influential Collie organizations in Europe and worldwide. In an era prior to the internet, this organization provided an extraordinary and innovative platform for breeders around the world to connect and share their work and legacies. For more than three decades, Alexandre served as the representative and agent of the International Collie Society Handbook in Latin America.
Beyond his contributions to clubs and associations, Alexandre Carvalho was a regular contributor to Collie Revue, a renowned German magazine, and had numerous articles translated and published throughout Scandinavia, as well as in several specialized publications in the United States and England. His work earned him the title of Life Member of the Collie Club of America (CCA), highlighting his long-standing involvement in the American Collie community and Brazil’s presence in this field for over 50 years.
In addition to dedicating his life to the Collie breed, Alexandre also played a significant role in introducing the Shetland Sheepdog to Brazil, importing several American dogs to establish the Brazilian breeding stock.
Currently, he is an FCI judge for Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs / Herding), as well as a breed-specialist and fully licensed judge for Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs.
Today, Alexandre Carvalho serves as the Coordinator of the Brazilian Collie Breed Council (CBRC), the official CBKC body responsible for the Collie breed in Brazil, and is one of the main columnists of Collieconnection Magazine.
His Lakefields Collies achieved such a high level of quality and recognition that many were exported and are now found in the pedigrees of some of the finest Collie kennels in Europe and the United States.
His lifelong dedication to cynophilia and to the promotion of the Collie breed not only inspires breeders and enthusiasts, but also firmly establishes his enduring and remarkable legacy in the history of the breed.
Source: Collieconnection Magazine (Brazil).
