Fila brasileiro: breed description and cultivation

The interaction and friendship of a person with a dog has a long history. Each breed has unique characteristics and skills, in the light of which four-legged pets are appreciated by breeders. Fila Brazilian is a breed that combines excellent protective qualities, intelligence and an attractive exterior, thanks to which for several centuries it has been safely living side by side with a man.

The Brazilian mastiff is considered the beginning in the development and formation of the dog breed of the XV century. The name that these animals subsequently received indicates that Brazil is considered the birthplace of the four-legged. The discoverers who arrived on this land brought with them dogs of different breeds. Among them were mastiffs and bulldogs, necessary for the protection of settlements. In addition, slaves were also used in the colony as labor force, which also needed protection.

Brought animals with similar functions did not always cope, but over time Newly arrived dogs were naturally crossed with local dogs, which led to the appearance of the progenitors of the fila brasileiro.

If the origin of the breed of guard dogs occurred without direct human intervention, then later the owners of the animals made a strict selection among dogs, in addition, linear crosses between dogs began to be carried out to fix the characteristic features in the exterior and behavior.

Gradually, a kind of pedigree book began to be kept on the hacienda, in which dogs were used as escorts. The origin of the name of the breed owes this paramount function, since “fila” in Portuguese means “escort”.

It is considered the official reference point in the origin of the breed in 1938, when the first Congress of Brazilian mastiff breeders took place in Rio de Janeiro. At that time there were two varieties of dogs of this breed:

• dogs that stand out for their growth and underdeveloped chest;
• animals are shorter, but with a pronounced chest.

To unite all the representatives of the Brazilian fila, a decision was made to breed an animal that would have inherent averaged exterior features. The result of the work of Brazilian dog handlers was the appearance of animals with a stable appearance, so in 1946 a single standard for the Brazilian mastiff was approved, as well as a single pedigree book, which subsequently entered all the data on dogs of this breed.

FCI was recognized in 1960, to this day dogs are considered the pride of Brazil, however, some features of the character, in particular, a low threshold of aggressiveness, led to a ban on the keeping of such animals in several European countries without special permission.

Today, Brazilian mastiffs are actively used as guards, in addition, dogs participate in search activities. In addition, the animals did not lose their hunting instincts inherited from their ancestors, therefore they are in demand for hunting large animals.

The defining moment in the exterior of the Brazilian fila is the inheritance of the external characteristics of the animal from such pedigree ancestors as mastiff and bloodhound. In particular, from the first breed of dog, the structural features of the body were adopted, when the animal's head will have pronounced features of a second ancestor. The first sign of the breed is the massiveness of the dogs, regardless of gender. The description of Brazilian dogs indicates that males can grow between 65-75 centimeters at the withers, while norms for females are considered acceptable in the range from 60 to 70 centimeters. However, there are often cases when males of the Brazilian mastiff reach 80-centimeter marks in height.

The mass of an adult animal will be at least 50 kilograms, the dogs have well-developed muscles. The tail of the dogs is long, not subject to stopping, it is kept low, at the end it should be slightly narrowed. The head of the animal, even in the light of its massiveness relative to the proportions of the body, should not stand out. The shape of the skull is pear-shaped. In comparison with other mastiffs, the muzzle of the Brazilian variety will be slightly elongated, however, it should not appear clearly on the border of the skull.

Another feature of the breed is leather. It will be dense everywhere, but freely hanging, it manifests itself to a greater extent in the neck area. So, in dogs, a suspension of skin folds is formed, which will go to the chest and stomach. Fila brosileiro belongs to short-haired dogs, however, the cover is distinguished by its density.

There are certain requirements for color. So, dogs can be with wool of any color, but only in a plain version. Invalid are:

• white;
• mouse;
• blue.

Mastiffs with tiger-colored wool are found, while the stripes can be both light and dark. Dogs in the face may have a dark mask.

Dogs stand out for good health and stamina, but can suffer from some diseases inherent in large four-legged pets. Among them it is worth highlighting:

• volvulus;
• diseases related to the musculoskeletal system;
• joint dysplasia.

The main feature of Brazilian large dogs is their character. It was this feature of the animal that determined the glory of the pet. According to the opinion of the owners of the Brazilian fila about the nature of the nature of the four-legged pets, it is difficult to make an unambiguous description. However, the unifying quality for all is the highly developed instincts of the guard. In addition, the breed is distinguished as one of the most aggressive in relation to humans. That is why not everyone is recommended to start a large pet. It is more correct that the owner already has a certain experience in keeping large animals, as well as possesses training skills. If the puppy is properly trained and raised from an early age, the breeder of the Brazilian giant will acquire a first-class watchman and defender. In inexperienced hands, the dog will become uncontrollable, which is fraught with serious problems in the future.

Dogs are positioned as loyal companions and companions, so pets in the family will definitely establish close relationships with all inhabitants. However, besides devotion, animals stand out with such a character trait as independence. Difficulties may arise after the appearance of a new family member, especially a newborn. A dog will establish good contact with a child only if the Brazilian mastiff appears in the family after the baby is born. It is not worth expecting that the dog will fulfill the commands of the child, since for a pet of this breed all children will be lower in the hierarchical ladder in the family circle.

Fila Brazilillero have a pronounced suspicion of strangers. In order to avoid aggression from the side of the animal, it is better for strangers not to immediately make tactile contact with the dog, since it can regard this as a threat. Early socialization will help to avoid the development of such alertness to people. Mastiffs will always be on the alert, so the pets will be in the house wonderful watchmen and guards for humans. Dogs are practically devoid of a sense of fear, therefore, when protecting their family members, their instinct for self-preservation fades into the background.

In relation to other dogs, the level of aggression in mastiffs is slightly lower, but they will remain dominant in any case. Breeders are advised to keep one animal. Or try to acquire animals at the same time so that the fila perceives them initially as members of their family. Potential breeders should know that the dog will bark at everything that in its understanding is considered suspicious. Therefore, in terms of neighborhood, dogs are positioned as noisy, in addition, animals are unlikely to fit clean owners, since the pet always spits saliva.

The first priority when buying a Brazilian mastiff is to get to know the puppy's parents. It is important to find out information regarding the nature of animals, as well as get acquainted with their pedigree.

It is important that the mother and father are purebred, a different cross in the genes can subsequently cause mental disorders in the dog. When choosing a puppy, it is recommended to pay attention to such points:

• paperwork for a pet;
• the presence of a stigma in the genital area;
• vaccination card.

The optimal age of the animal for excommunication will be 1.5-2 months. When buying, you should evaluate the dog - the pet should not be exhausted or, conversely, overfed. It is also necessary to pay attention to the exterior of the dog. The fila’s head should be proportional to the body, the nose — elongated, the nose has large nostrils. Even small mastiffs are already distinguished by their powerful constitution, outstanding breasts.

It is also recommended to examine the limbs of the animal. Paws should be straight, fingers well developed, so they fit snugly together.As for the hock joints of the hind limbs, but they will have the form of a wide angle.

Despite its size, Brazilian mastiffs are very active animals, so daily walks with a pet are a mandatory part regarding the content of a large dog. The minimum time that the animal will spend in the fresh air will be 1 hour. It is best to purchase a mastiff for keeping in a private house, so that the dog has its own territory for patrolling. In an apartment, such a dog will be quite crowded.

In terms of grooming, the breed does not require any complex measures. Regular combing, cleansing of the auricles and folds on the body, in which pollution usually accumulates, will be enough for the dog.

A puppy should be accustomed to hygiene procedures immediately after purchase, since an adult dog cannot be cleaned of dirt if he does not want to. Animals often molt, so wool in an aviary or housing will have to be cleaned regularly. A dog should be bathed once every six months, as well as regular treatments from external and internal parasites.

In the yard for the dog, it is recommended to build a fenced aviary with a booth, but locked up fila brazileiro is constantly forbidden, as the dog may become too aggressive. In addition, pets need to communicate with a person. Walking a large dog is necessary not only on a leash, the animal requires physical activity. It is more correct to conduct classes on specially designated sites.

In the process of choosing and acquiring a puppy, you must always ask the breeder about the dog’s diet. In the future, it is recommended to follow the already compiled menu, it is not worth sharply changing the pet's diet, as this can cause digestive system disorders. As practice shows, it is best to feed the Brazilian mastiff with dry feeds of industrial production. The premium class will be suitable in terms of its chemical composition, the presence of the necessary minerals and vitamins. Liquid stool will become evidence that the selected feed option is not suitable for the animal.

Dogs aged 1.5 to 3 months are fed at least 5 times a day, after 6 months the number of feeds is reduced to 3, an adult dog can be fed 2 times - morning and evening. In the heat, mastiffs can refuse food, during this period one meal per day will be enough for them.

In light of the fact that Brazilian large dogs have a rather complex character, training and training can be fraught with some difficulties. Most dogs of this breed are quite stubborn. In the process of upbringing, it is important to immediately make it clear to the dog who is in charge of the family. Training requires a lot of effort from the owner, so you can invite a professional to help.

If you have knowledge of the characteristics of the breed, as well as timely and regular training, the dog will demonstrate excellent results. Fila Brazilian is an animal with a developed intellect, so during the training it will turn out to be quite smart.

In the next video you will find more information about Fila Brazilian dogs.