shop

The Furry Critter Network

Brazilian Molosser Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu



thm-img


Breed Organization

United Kennel Club (UKC)

Native Country
Brazil

Other Names
Fila Brasileiro, Brazilian Mastiff, Cao de Fila

Life Expectancy
Approximately 9-12 Years

Litter Size
No Information Available

Breed Group
FCI - Mastiff

General Description

He is a large working breed of dog developed in Brazil. It is known for its superb tracking ability, aggressiveness and an unforgiving impetuous temperament. When a Fila Brasileiro finds its quarry, it does not attack it, but rather holds it at bay until the hunter arrives. Owing to these qualities, the Fila Brasileiro is used as a guard dog, as a shepard dog for herding livestock and as a hunting dog for tracking and controlling large prey. When slavery was legal in Brazil, the Fila Brasileiro was used to return fugitives unharmed to their slave masters.

Owing to its size, temperament and potential for aggression, the Fila Brasileiro has been banned in many countries.

Breed Standard

Head: Large, square, capacious. Broad skull. Stop not pronounced. Strong, broad, deep muzzle. Broad nose.
Ears: Large, thick, v-shaped, drop.
Eyes: Medium size, almond. Deep chestnut to yellow color. Lids are often drooping.
Body: Strong, longer than tall. Very strong neck with dewlap. Chest broad and well let down. Thick, loose skin.
Tail: Thick at the base and tapering to a point reaching the hock joint.
Hair: Short, thick, soft, lying close to the skin.Short, thick, soft, lying close to the skin.
Coat: Any solid color (except white, mouse-gray, black and tan, or blue), brindle with moderately dark streaking. With or without a black mask. White markings on the feet, chest, and tip of the tail are permissible provided they cover no more than a quarter of the body.
Size: Dog: 65 to 75 cm Bitch: 60 to 70 cm.
Weight: Dog: at least 50 kg Bitch: at least 40 kg.


History

Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors brought mastiffs, scenthounds, and Bloodhounds to Brazil in the seventeenth century. These breeds were crossed with Brazilian dogs to create the Fila Brasileiro. The Fila was originally used to track escaped slaves. Later, the breed was used as a guard and to drive cattle. The Fila Brasileiro was recognized in 1950.


Behavior

The Fila Brasileiro is a courageous, powerful mastiff. It is amenable with its human family, making a very loyal loving companion. Extremely dedicated to his owner. A Fila will protect you without a moment’s hesitation. He feels that is why he is there. Once you bond with your Fila, you and your family will become his whole world. You do not teach your Fila to protect you, as he does this on his own. It is the breed’s nature to be loyal and protective of his family. They love kids in their own family and take a lot of abuse from them. Filas make great family pets and are gentle, loving, loyal and very protective. They will also bond with other pets in your home. Outstanding courage, determination and bravery are part of his characteristics. He is docile and obedient to his owners and family and extremely tolerant with children in his own family. He shows a calm disposition, self-assurance and self-confidence, not being disturbed by strange noises nor when facing a new environment. An unsurpassed guardian of property, he is also inclined, by instinct, to hunt big game and to herd cattle. Bold and wary with strangers, this breed makes a wonderful guard dog.

The Fila Brasileiro are known to be naturally protective. It is also known for its extreme wariness of strangers and agility when protecting or defending its master. The dedication and obedience of the Fila Brasileiro has found its way into Brazilian saying "As faithful as a Fila".

The socialization period - about the first two to four months - of the dog's life is crucial to the temperament of the individual dog. If the pup is exposed to a lot of people in a positive manner and keeping in mind the dog's aggressive instincts (known as 'socializing'), the pup can be encouraged to behave in a calmer manner, but only to a point. Lack of all socialization with strangers at a young age will result in a dog which is very anti-social and aggressive towards strangers, a behaviour often called Ojeriza ("Ojeriza" means detestation, aversion). Many Fila owners prefer the dog due to its "Ojeriza" towards strangers.

This breed does not adapt well to urban living. He needs wide open spaces and plenty of exercise. The Fila is not a suitable pet for a first time dog owner. As mentioned, this breed will be gentle with the family but it would need a family who will understand the quirky nature of the Fila. The owner has to be dominant and must be able to show the dog that he is the leader of the pack.

Function

Cattle Driver, Guard Dog, Hunting Dog (large game), Pet.


Health

Hip dysplasia and Bloat (gastric torsion; twisted stomach). Bloat is a health issue to most dogs, being the second largest killer of dogs other than cancer, but Fila Brasileiros can be particularly susceptible to it because of their deep chests.



Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.


Top