Fila Brasileiro is an extremely loyal and protective dog as a companion and is a joy to own if you understand this breed fully. These dogs from Brazil are banned in many countries because of high rates of serious dog attacks. They are just too much protective to their owners and are extremely distrustful of strangers also known as Ojeriza. They can be said best companion to people who are experienced, responsible and confident. Many people stop socialising their Fila Brasileiro pups at 4 months to increase Ojeriza.
That thing leads to aggression of this breed towards strangers as a common practice from past to show power and having extremely protective dog. A responsible and experienced person can transform Fila into best companion to fit into outside world also. They are neither for inexperienced as well as nor for moderately active people. They are highly active breed who need to know their place and the alpha in the pack. Fila Brasileiro is a tricky dog to own. So, let’s know more about this great gaurd dog.
Fila Brasileiro Origin
Around 16th century Brazil was discovered in 22 April, 1500 by European first time by explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral. With Brazil’s discovery Portuguese colonialists came to Brazil in pursuit of valuable resources. They conquered and enslaved native inhabitants. Colonists needed huge human labour for their plantations of rubber, sugar and cotton. Above enslaved indigenous tribes colonists also imported large numbers of African slaves. Many slaves used to escape into jungle and were never found because they were very adapted to tropical rainforest climate. To find out these run away slaves in regular basis European master’s needed some way to track them.
They found their answer in to develop a dog breed who could track people like scent hounds and high drive to follow trails and of massive size to bring down an armed person with enough courage and aggression with capacity to survive in Brazilian harsh weather conditions. Portuguese had with them Cao de Castro Laboreiro and the Rafeiro do Alentejo dog breeds from Mastiff group as watch dog and gaurd dog. Other than these breeds a number of English dog breeds were imported.
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Brazilian plantations owners crossed English Mastiff, Old English Bulldog, bloodhound and Portuguese dog breeds to get the dog they desired to track and nab run away slaves. This breed came to be known as Cao de Fila, or Fila Brasileiro. Fila Brasileiro used to track the run away slaves and used to bite neck and shoulders of the slave or targeted person and hold down the person till their owners arrive.
Paulhistas were the ones who mainly kept Fila Brasileiro. They were also used for protection and battles by Paulhistas. This breed is the most heat tolerant breed among mastiffs. Fila Brasileiro became very popular in Brazil because they were suited to work in harsh conditions and other than tracking and nabbing slaves they are great gaurds and have the capacity to track and fight with predators. They were also used for gaurding mansions, properties and livestock and to ward off predators. Fila Brasileiro became highly valued for people of Brazil. After abolition of slavery in 1884, although Brazil to be last country to abolish slavery in the world, Filas continued to be popular in Brazil because they have already established themselves as good gaurd dogs and big game hunters.
In 1946, the first official written standard was published. There are two kinds of Filas according to dog fanciers. According to FCI, they are massive and less aggressive and more easily handled. But, Club for the Improvement of the Fila Brasileiro was formed to breed more traditional Filas which are less bulky, active and considerably more aggressive. This second one is with their traditional temperament of highly distrustful and highly resistant to touched by strangers known as Ojeriza as standard.
Fila Brasileiro Temperament
Fila is courageous, loving and an extremely loyal companion. When you and your family bond with Fila Brasileiro, it will just make you its world and will never hesitate to protect you and will never hesitate to protect you with its life. It is very faithful and tolerant to its human family. They love to be beside you.
They are extremely tolerant to even rough children of their human family and very docile and gentle to them. Same is with other pets of your family with whom they have grown up. They are calm and confident with high desire to gaurd property herding.
They are highly active breeds and need regular good amount of exercise. Even if some adult Filas are lazy, they need good physical activity.
They are very wary about strangers and need rigorous socialisation. To own this confident dog you need to have lots of knowledge about establishing alpha position. Therefore, it is not a dog for even average dog owners. You need to know a lot about authority and training about dogs.
Fila Brasileiro Physical Appearance
Fila Brasileiro is strong boned, muscular and rectangular proportioned. Head is in proportion to dog’s body. It’s muzzle is long and heavy with pendulous upper lips. Muzzle length is same as skull or slightly shorter than skull. Muzzle is strong, deep and broad. Ears are v shaped and large. Ears are close to head. Eye colour is according to coat colour.
Skin is thick and loose and forms pronounced dewlaps around neck with some having folds also in chest and abdomen. The coat is short, dense and smooth. Coat colours come in solid or brindle of any colour except white or black and tan. They mostly come in black, brown or yellow. Little white on chest and toes are permitted.
- Tail is very long and carried low.
Fila Brasileiro Size
Height
- Male – 26 to 30 inches
- Female – 24 to 28 inches
Weight
- Male – Minimum 110 pounds
- Female – Minimum 88 pounds
Fila Brasileiro FCI Classification
- Section – Section 2.1, Molossian: Mastiff type
- Group no 2
- Country of origin – Brazil
- Date of acceptance – 1/1/1960
- Standard no 225
Fila Brasileiro Grooming
Filas are average sheders. Their coat can be easily maintained. You should brush your Fila once a week with natural bristle brush or mitt. You can use coat conditioner or polish once a week to keep its coat shiny. Either you give bath to your Fila once in three months or when it gets dirty.
- Regularly brush teeth of your Fila at least once a week with soft toothbrush for kids and vet approved dog toothpaste. Also check its teeth once a week. If needed approach to your vet.
- Ears should be checked and cleaned once a week with cotton balls and dog ear cleaner for good ears health.
- Nails should also be trimmed once in a month to keep their feet healthy.
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Fila Brasileiro Nutrition
You can offer premium quality commercial kibbles specific for large breed dog. You need to feed your adult Fila twice or thrice daily to avoid bloating in them. They need maximum around 22% of protein and 9% of fat in their diet mainly from meat and it’s organs. If you want to give your dog home made food then you will need to consult your vet for guidance.
- Keep clean water for your dog to drink all the time.
- You should elevate their feeding and water bowls to avoid bloating.
Fila Brasileiro Training
They are tremendously strong and territorial so, they need rigorous early socialisation and training when they are puppies. You should know about establishing alpha position of yours and your family members when you decide to bring a Fila pup. It should be made Fila understand about its place in pack very early gently to have an obedient Fila. Then training becomes easy. You should be confident, firm and consistent in training your Fila pup. Training should be done with positive reinforcement.
Filas are extremely territorial so, it is not advised to owners to allow them to roam independently. Therefore, they should not be off leash if not contained in safe and fenced area. So, leash training is must from early for this breed.
Fila Brasileiro Health Challenges
We know large dogs are quite prone to musculoskeletal ailments because of their heavy weight and genetics. Fila Brasileiro is also prone to hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia which are genetic diseases. You need to choose therefore, pup from parents with clearance of these ailments. As Filas are deep chested therefore, they are also prone to bloating or gastric torsion which is a life threatening condition for a dog.
Other than these issues other health problems are as follows:
- Luxating patella
- Cataract
- Skeletal growth abnormalities
- Osteochondritis
- Cherry eye
- Entropion
- Ectropion
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy and
- Glaucoma
Litter size of Fila Brasileiro is 4 to 10 puppies.
Life expectancy of Fila Brasileiro is 10 to 12 years.
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