Fila Brasileiro

Despite not being very popular or easy to find in Spain due to its status as a PPP (potentially dangerous) breed, this big Brazilian dog with a genuinely good-natured, affectionate, obedient character, a devoted guardian of its family, deserves to be better known.

• Height at the withers: 65-75 cm in males and 60-70 cm in females.
• Body weight: males usually weigh a minimum of 50 kg, and females at least 40 kg.
• Coat type: its coat is short, thick, soft, and close to the body. It doesn't come in a uniform color.
• Life expectancy: 10-12 years.
• Temperament: obedient, affectionate, and a great guard dog for its family. It's confident and watchful. Wary of strangers, whether human or other animals.
• Health: there are some conditions common in large dog breeds that can also affect the Fila Brasileiro: hip dysplasia and bloat.

Where Does the Fila Brasileiro Breed Come From?

The Fila Brasileiro comes, as its name suggests, from Brazil. That said, even though it comes from this Latin American country, it's not a native breed, since it descends from molosser dogs brought to the South American country by European settlers.

Although its exact origin isn't known for certain, many experts believe it comes from a mix of the English Mastiff (hence its large, muscular, powerful body), the Bulldog, and Bloodhound-type dogs, from which it inherited its excellent tracking abilities. This is also why it's known as the Brazilian Mastiff.

It was created mainly for watching over and protecting these settlers' farms. It looked after crops and flocks, hunted, and tracked game until receiving the order from its owners.

What Is the Fila Brasileiro Dog Like?

These are genuinely large dogs, which can be intimidating at first. Their main trait is the loose skin covering their whole body, which produces a dewlap at the neck.

They have great muscle tone and thick skin, with a short, soft coat. Various colors are recognized, though pure white and mouse gray are not accepted, nor are spotted or piebald patterns.

It can have white markings on the feet, chest, and tip of the tail, but these shouldn't cover more than 25% of the total coat. The color it's most commonly known for is brindle-yellow in various shades, though it can also be found in black and reddish-brown.

Breed Morphology

Viewed from above, its head is trapezoid-shaped. Its muzzle is wide, deep, and powerful, slightly shorter than the skull; it has thick lips that hang on both sides. Its ears are large and thick with rounded tips, forming a "V" shape. Set apart and hanging, they're aligned with the eyes, which are medium to large, almond-shaped, and set well apart.

As for its body, it's deep, strong, and wide, with a square build. Another distinguishing trait of this breed is the croup (the part of the body between the kidneys and the tail), which is long and powerful, sitting higher than the withers. Its tail is long, wide at the base, and narrowing toward the tip.

It has a wide, deep chest with a clearly protruding breastbone and well-sprung ribs. It has straight legs with solid bones and powerful feet with arched toes.

Temperament of the Fila Brasileiro Dog Breed

Despite its appearance, this is a very affectionate breed, obedient toward its owners and family. It bonds deeply with its owner and doesn't adapt easily to change once it's older. It's a confident, brave, demanding dog.

It's a natural guardian, so it stays watchful and will defend its property (including its loved ones) when necessary. This is a breed that's wary of strangers, so if it senses its owner is in danger, it won't hesitate to act immediately. It's calm indoors. It has a hunting instinct and an extraordinary sense of smell.

Living Together and Training

Living with one is fairly straightforward, since it has no problems with the children in its family. The same isn't true for children outside it. It accepts other pets well as long as it's been raised with them from puppyhood; if pets join the family later on, there's no guarantee it will accept them.

Since it's highly wary of strangers, it can become aggressive or evasive, so it isn't recommended for people living in busy areas. It accepts regular visitors to the home well, as long as the owner signals that they're welcome.

It can be very dominant with other dogs, especially those of the same sex that aren't part of its circle.

As for training, it's not a suitable dog for indecisive or inexperienced owners, since its temperament can be a bit hard to understand. Its owner needs to be a determined, self-assured person (both physically and mentally).

They need natural authority and a real understanding of the dog's temperament and behavior, carrying out calm, harmonious training. Since this is a dog that responds immediately to stimuli, it's worth putting a lot of time into socializing it.

It needs plenty of exercise, so a well-fenced yard where it can exercise under its owner's supervision is ideal. To prevent frustration and boredom, it's a good idea to take it exploring new places (always properly leashed).

What Is Its Health Like?

Although it's considered a fairly healthy breed, it can develop the health issues common in large and giant dog breeds. This includes hip dysplasia (larger dogs face a higher risk since they carry more weight while walking) and bloat (aerophagia — swallowing excess air — causes the stomach to swell, which can be fatal), so it's essential to pay close attention to its diet, since besides being prone to easy weight gain, diet is closely tied to the conditions just mentioned.

The Fila Brasileiro doesn't need to be bathed too often. Every 6-8 weeks is enough, or whenever it's genuinely dirty.