Fila Brasileiro, An Obedient And Courageous Dog
In this article we have decided to tell you about a new dog that we have just included in our “library” of breeds and we think it is worth getting to know him thoroughly. We are talking about the Fila brasileiro, an animal so faithful that in Brazil, its country of origin, there is the saying ” you are faithful as a Fila “. Let’s see why and what this sizeable dog is special about.
Discovering the Fila Brasileiro
Origin and history
It is believed that this breed, rather than being ‘created’ by man through several crosses, evolved over time for the contingent needs of Portuguese settlers who had just arrived in the New Continent.
Despite this, other scholars believe that this interesting canid is the result of the combination of three distinct breeds: the Bulldog, the Mastiff and the St. Hubert’s Dog. The first internationally known Fila Brasileiro were officially registered in 1671. In short, we are talking about a not too old breed if we compare it with others. At the same time, as the origin of his race is unclear, we cannot really establish a certain and definitive year of birth.
According to the story, the first inhabitants of Brazil needed a versatile dog. In short, that he could do the job of a shepherd dog, but also carry out guard and hunting duties. All without forgetting obedience and loyalty to one’s master.
Due to the use of slaves for sugar plantations, the Fila Brasileiro was in charge of controlling these unfortunate people. Consider that there were about 200 slaves per plantation and it was easy for them to escape without anyone noticing. Even when slavery was abolished, the Filas obviously continued to perform other duties.
It is interesting to note that, around the year 1954, some specimens were exported to Germany : this was how the breed spread all over the world.
Characteristics of the Fila brasileiro
This beautiful dog belongs to the Molosser group. Its coat is generally smooth, unmarked and of a single shade of color. However, white markings on the feet, chest and tip of the tail are allowed. Sometimes this pigmentation can be black. All colors are allowed, with the exception of brindle, spotted, black or fiery red. Its coat is short and soft to the touch.
The skin is thick but wrinkled, similar to that of the Shar-Pei, with which it also shares a nice very pronounced double chin. Much of the body is wrinkled, especially in areas such as the chest or abdomen. The only area free of wrinkles is the head, but here they will appear immediately in case of alarm, when the dog shows a frown.
An adult male can measure, at the withers, between 65 and 75 centimeters, while females measure about five centimeters less. The weight can reach 50 kilos, which becomes 40 in the case of females. Despite this, they are agile and coordinated, capable of climbing a wall of 1.70 meters. The ears of the Fila brasileiro are long and fall gently to the sides of the muzzle. The eyes have a characteristic almond shape, with a shade ranging from dark brown to yellow.
Personality and character
As we said at the beginning, the Fila brasileiro is a dog faithful to its owner even if, with the same intensity, it shows distrust and antipathy towards strangers. For this reason, often, someone points the finger at a kind of “double personality”. In fact, breeders take the Fila’s temperament much more into consideration than its physical appearance when breeding two specimens.
He is considered to be courageous, docile, obedient and very tolerant of children. In fact, he has a calm, balanced character, even if he has a lot of self-esteem and self-confidence. Note that it adapts easily to new environments.
Health and care of the Fila brasileiro
An interesting aspect, which we want to underline, is that this breed does not suffer from typical genetic diseases. With the exception of hip dysplasia which occurs, however, sporadically.
If you want to adopt a Fila brasileiro, you will have to be good at keeping your pet clean at all times. Areas like ears and wrinkles are a favorite place for parasites and bacteria. Check these areas thoroughly and often, at least several times a week. Use damp cotton for cleaning – this will help prevent worse troubles. Also, brush the coat once a week to get rid of hair, dead skin cells and other debris.
The Fila brasileiro is a special dog, with a strong character that could cause you some problems at times. Keeping this in mind, in addition to its large size, think well if this is the most suitable dog for you. Always remember that adopting an animal involves a series of responsibilities that you will have to face, on a daily basis.
