"They can search for the dog."

Translation: Eles podem procurar o cachorro.

[luzdelaluna]

May one say "Eles podem pesquisar o cachorro"?

[Paulenrique]

Nop. It has a different meaning. Procurar = look for. Pesquisar = search, examine. If you that it seems like they will do some researches on the dog, like through a sirgury and then use its organs, or to study about its species

[gpriddy]

Paulenrique, can I say: Eles podem procurar para o cao.

[Paulenrique]

procurar por = look for. procurar para = look for something TO someone. (I'm looking for the dog = estou procurando pelo (por+o) cachorro. Estou procurando uma coleira (leash) para meu cachorro). Got it?

[gpriddy]

Obrigado.

[MichaelPay459804]

Eles podem procurar o cão. Is also accepted.

[rosnerjeanne]

can you say buscar?

[Paulenrique]

I think it would have a different meaning here, buscar = pick up. To keep the same meaning, use "ir em busca".

[Ross2121]

Buscar is also to look for as well. I should know I speak spanish as my 1st language

[dalemorse1]

Spanish and Portuguese are different. The same word might have somewhat different meanings in the two languages.