Fila Brasileiro breed: an extreme dog who adores its owner for a lifetime but does not tolerate strangers

It is often said about the Fila Brasileiro that it is almost in love with its owner. It is infinitely loyal and willing to protect its owner at any cost. It is a fearless guard dog to the extent that even judges at shows cannot touch it, as it does not tolerate strangers.

Fans of the Fila Brasileiro, or Brazilian Mastiff consider it a very special dog, partly because of its personality. It is truly a dog of extremes, being so gentle and loyal with its family, whether it be a cat or a human, child or adult. It protects and loves anyone who is a member of its group. However, it is instinctively suspicious of those who are not part of its group. Even as puppies, they tend to withdraw from strangers, and as adults, they can act more assertively if necessary.

At dog shows, they do not allow the judge to touch them, which is not considered a fault for this breed.

History

The breed’s development dates back to around the 1400s. The dogs of the Brazilian natives mixed with the molosser-type dogs that later arrived in the country with Europeans. The English Bloodhound played a role in the breed’s development, from which it inherited its deeply set ears and its sad-looking, characteristic expression. In its homeland, it has performed and continues to perform a variety of tasks. Primarily, it protects territory, properties, and individuals. It is also used in herding work and hunting, as it can take down large game, such as jaguars. In Portuguese, the word ‘filar’ means ‘to grab,’ which is characteristic of its hunting method. It grabs the animal by the neck and pins it to the ground until the hunter arrives. In the past, its duties included capturing runaway slaves. The Brazilian army still employs it as a service dog today.

Breed standard

The Fila Brasileiro is a large molosser breed primarily used for guard and protection work. It is a large and powerful dog with well-developed bones and muscles. Its body is longer than its height at the withers. Its stride is long and flexible, yet it exudes a sense of heaviness. Fila’s movement is almost wave-like, also known as camel-walking, as it steps with the limbs on one side simultaneously. The croup is higher than the withers, which gives its movement a cat-like quality. Skin is loose and thick, especially around the neck and torso, forming wrinkles on the neck. The coat is short, thick, and soft. It can be brindle, fawn, or black. White markings are allowed on the legs, chest, and the tip of the tail.

Its head is large and heavy relative to its body, giving a square and solid impression. The large, broad skull tapers abruptly at the beginning of the muzzle. Occiput is very pronounced, with an almost nonexistent stop when viewed from the front and a distinct stop when viewed from the side. Muzzle is strong and broad, shorter than the skull. It ends in a deep, almost vertical line. The upper lip is thick and pendulous, perfectly covering the lower lip in an arch. The lower lip is tight and firm. It has strong teeth with a scissor bite. The nostrils are wide and well-developed. The ears are large, V-shaped, and set at the back of the skull. Neck has an exceptionally large diameter, developed and strong muscles, and is rather short than long. Body is strong, with thick and loose skin. The sides are well-arched, the chest is wide and deep, and the abdomen is tucked up. The tail is thick at the base, tapering quickly towards the end, and finishes in a point. The strong front limbs are set wide apart due to the width of the chest. The hind limbs have somewhat weaker bones but are longer than the front limbs. The paws are well-arched with strong toes. The males have a height at the withers of 65-75 cm, while females measure 60-70 cm. Males have a minimum body weight of 50 kg, and females have a minimum body weight of 40 kg. The expected lifespan is 9-11 years.

Character

The breed’s emotions are characterized by extremes. It is almost in love with its owner and loyally protects them even at the cost of its own life, but it outright hates strangers. A Brazilian saying goes, ‘nothing is as loyal as the Fila.’ This interesting duality makes it an excellent guard dog with extremely fast reaction times. It is a true bodyguard for everyone in the household. The Fila is an active, intelligent, and sometimes stubborn dog, but with the right owner, it is always obedient (although its aversion to strangers cannot be trained out of it). Is extremely brave, determined, and always vigilantly watches over its property. Nothing escapes its attention, and it is never afraid to intervene or take strong action if it deems the situation requires it.

Ideal environment

The Fila Brasileiro is not recommended for inexperienced owners at all. Even with proper socialization, it cannot be trained out of its instinct to protect what is its own. It will never be fond of strangers, so it is not recommended for households where guests frequently visit. If guests do come occasionally, the dog should be kept separated, and it should never be left alone with a stranger.

This dog is not suitable for urban environments; it is much more suited to rural estates or farms where it can excel as a guard dog. With the right owner and in the right environment, the Brazilian Mastiff is a wonderful, gentle, and protective companion who treats the family and children with care. It’s important for the owner to understand this duality.

Care

Its coat doesn’t require much attention when it comes to grooming. The breed sheds moderately throughout the year, so it’s advisable to brush it occasionally to remove dead hair. Care should always be taken to keep its eyes and ears clean.

Common health problems

The Fila Brasileiro is susceptible to diseases common in large breed dogs. One such example is gastric torsion, which can be prevented by ensuring the dog remains inactive for at least an hour after eating. Another relatively common problem is hip dysplasia. The third issue that threatens Filas is cherry eye, which is the prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and can be corrected through surgery, a condition more commonly seen in mastiffs.

(Literature: Dr. Pál Sárkány: Nemzetközi kutya-enciklopédia)