The two countries are at loggerheads over the Bula dog. Brazil says it’s mine; Mexico says it’s mine. Now the question is, whose Bula dog is it? So the name of the dog in dispute is Caramelo. The breed is very popular in Brazil. For them, Caramelo is as special as football and samba music. In Brazil, they are memes; T-shirts are printed, viral songs are made, and carnival parades are held in their honor. There was even a proposal to put them on the Brazilian currency.
Mexico declared Caramelo an indigenous breed last April. This is when the dispute began. Mexico’s decision has angered Brazil. Brazilians say their cultural identity is being taken away from them. However, from a scientific point of view, Caramelo is not a purebred dog. According to a study by the Brazilian genetics company DNA Pets, it is the result of a crossbreeding of more than 300 foreign dog breeds. It was created through natural crossbreeding of hundreds of breeds over many generations. Its name, Caramelo, is due to its light gray or toffee-like color.
The story of the Caramelo begins with the European invaders in Latin America. The French and Irish who came from Europe brought dogs with them. Gradually, they also brought dogs from Asia, Africa, and Australia. Over the years, uncontrolled breeding between these dogs led to the creation of the Caramelo breed. After the Europeans left, people started keeping this dog in their homes. Brazilians call it a symbol of their history and struggle and change. Similarly, Mexico calls it its national dog.
