The Fila Brasileiro Portal
The Fila
Brasileiro is arguably the most
beautiful and awesome of all the guardian dog breeds, with some
characteristics not found in many other breeds. You will often hear Fila owners
and breeders say "they're not like other dogs!"
What is a Fila Brasileiro? The Fila is a rare molosser breed that
had it's origins in Brazil starting around 400 years ago, possibly from
bloodhounds, Portuguese herding dogs, mastiffs and ancient bulldogs. The
Fila Brasileiro is the National dog of Brazil, it's legendary loyalty
expressed in a Brazilian saying: "Faithful as a Fila".
The
Fila excels
at family and estate protection as well as hunting, tracking, cattle herding and
even carting. A large and powerful dog, but don't let that fool you: the
Fila is also extremely agile and athletic, and it is not unheard of for
a Fila to clear a six foot fence to defend his master.
The Fila Brasileiro's protectiveness is also
legendary. He is a patient and gentle family dog with those he considers
his own, but does not take to strangers and should never be left
unattended with casual acquaintances, strangers or anyone he does not regard as part of
his immediate family.
The Fila does not need to be trained to
defend, it is part of his genetic makeup. A Fila should, however, be
intensively obedience trained and desensitized to external environmental
stimuli ridgt from early puppyhpood. Some people use the term "socialized".
Most Fila Brasileiro fanciers in the USA favor a heavier,
larger dog with more facial skin, a broader skull, a somewhat milder
temperament and less ojeriza, more like an English or Neopolitan
mastiff in appearance, while the European and South American followers prefer a lighter framed
fila looking more like a hound with more ear leather, a pear shaped head
and a sharper temperament with plenty of ojeriza.
If you're considering
a Fila Brasileiro pup as your next dog, there are some things you
need to know BEFORE you take that fila pup home! For more
detailed information on this breed, check out the
fila brasileiro
FAQ on this
site.
The Fila Brasileiro Portal is neither owned by nor affiliated with any
fila breeders; rather, it is a labor of love and a work in progress
which hopefully will eventually have some value to fellow enthusiasts
and those researching the breed.
Enjoy!
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