Fila Brasileiro: breed description and cultivation

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

The Brazilian Mastiff is considered to be the beginning of the 15th century in the development and development of the dog breed. The name, which subsequently received these animals, indicates that Brazil is considered the birthplace of four-legged animals. 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 who also needed protection were used as labor in the colony.

Brought animals with similar functions were not always coped, but over time the newly arrived dogs were naturally crossed with local dogs, which led to the emergence of the progenitors of Phil Brasilero.

If initially the breed of guard dogs occurred without direct human intervention, then later the owners of animals made a hard selection among dogs, in addition, linear crossbreeding between dogs began to be held to consolidate the characteristic features in the exterior and behavior.

Gradually, a kind of breeding books began to be kept on fazendas, in which dogs were used, which were used as escorts. It is this primary function that the origin of the breed name is due to, since “fila” in Portuguese means “escort”.

The year 1938 was considered the official starting point in the birth of the breed, when the first congress of breeders of the Brazilian mastiff was held in Rio de Janeiro. At that time there were two types of dogs of this breed:

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

For the unification of all representatives of the Fila Brasileiro, it was decided to breed an animal, which will be characterized by averaged exterior features. The result of the work of the Brazilian dog handlers was the emergence of animals with a stable appearance, so in 1946 a single standard was approved for the Brazilian mastiff, as well as a single breeding book, which subsequently entered all the data on dogs of this breed.

Recognition FCI occurred in 1960, to this day dogs are considered the pride of Brazil, but some features of the character, in particular, the low threshold of aggressiveness, led to the prohibition of the maintenance 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, animals have not lost their hunting instincts inherited from their ancestors, and therefore are in demand for hunting large animals.

The defining moment in the exterior of the Fila Brasileiro is the inheritance of the external characteristics of the animal from such breed ancestors as the mastiff and bloodhound. In particular, from the first breed, dogs adopted the characteristics of the structure of the body, when the head of animals would have pronounced features of the second ancestor. The first sign of the breed is the massiveness of dogs, regardless of gender. In the description of the Brazilian dogs indicated that males can have a height in the range of 65-75 centimeters at the withers, while for females, norms in the range from 60 to 70 centimeters are acceptable. However, there are frequent cases when males of the Brazilian mastiff reach 80 centimeters in height.

The mass of an adult animal will be at least 50 kilograms, the dogs have well-developed muscles. The tail of the dog is long, not crooked, kept low, should be slightly narrowed at the end. 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 borders of the skull.

Another feature of the breed is leather. It will everywhere be dense, but freely hanging, to a greater extent this is manifested in the neck zone. Thus, in dogs, a suspension of skin folds is formed, which will go to the thoracic region and the stomach. Fila Brozileiro refers to short-haired dogs, but 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 monophonic variant. Invalid are:

• white;
• mouse;
• blue.

There are mastiffs with tiger wool color, and the stripes can be both light and dark. A dog may have a dark shade mask on its face.

Dogs are distinguished by good health and stamina, but may suffer from certain diseases inherent in large four-legged pets. Among them it is worth highlighting:

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

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

Dogs are positioned as loyal comrades and companions, so the pets in the family are sure to establish close relations with all inhabitants. However, in addition to devotion, animals stand out for such a trait as independence. Difficulties may arise after the appearance of a new family member, especially a newborn. With the child, the dog will establish good contact only if the Brazilian mastiff appears in the family after the birth of the baby. It is not worth expecting that the dog will carry out the commands of the offspring, since for a pet of this breed all the children will be down the hierarchy in the family circle.

Fila Brasileiro have a pronounced suspicion of strangers.In order to avoid aggression from the animal, it is better for strangers not to immediately make tactile contact with the dog, since it can be regarded as a threat. Early socialization will help to avoid the development of such wariness towards people. Mastiffs will always be on guard, so pets will be in the house excellent guards and guards for the person. Dogs are almost devoid of a sense of fear, therefore, in protecting their family members, the self-preservation instinct of them fades into the background.

In relation to other dogs, the level of aggression in mastiffs is somewhat lower, but they will maintain their dominance anyway. Breeders are advised to keep one animal. Or try to acquire animals at the same time, so that Fila perceives them initially as members of his family. Potential breeders should know that the dog will bark at everything that is understood to be suspicious in its understanding. Therefore, in terms of the neighborhood, dogs are positioned as noisy, in addition, animals are unlikely to suit clean owners, since the pet always has saliva.

The first priority when purchasing a Brazilian mastiff is to meet the puppy's parents. It is important to learn information about the nature of animals, as well as to get acquainted with their pedigree.

It is important that the mother and father were purebred, a different cross in the genes may further cause mental disorders in the dog. Choosing a puppy, it is recommended to pay attention to such moments:

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

The optimal age of the animal for weaning from parents will be 1.5-2 months. When buying, you should evaluate the dog - the pet should not be depleted or, conversely, overfed. And also you need to pay attention to the exterior of the dog. The head should be of proportional size with the body, the nose bridge is elongated, the nose has large nostrils. Even small mastiffs already stand out for their powerful addition, outstanding breasts.

It is also recommended to examine the limbs of the animal. The paws must be straight, the fingers are well developed, therefore they are tight to each other. As for the hock joints of the hind limbs, but they will have the form of an unfolded angle.

Despite their size, the Brazilian mastiffs are very active animals, so daily walks with a pet are an indispensable part concerning 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 pretty crowded.

In terms of care, the breed does not require any complex activities. A dog will have enough regular brushing, cleansing ears and folds on the body, which usually accumulate pollution.

Puppy hygiene procedures should be taught immediately after purchase, as an adult dog cleared of dirt will not succeed if he does not want. Animals often molt, so the wool in the aviary or dwelling will have to be cleaned regularly. It is necessary to bathe a dog once in half a year, and also to carry out regular processing from external and internal parasites.

In the courtyard for the dog is recommended to build a fenced aviary with a booth, but it is constantly prohibited to keep locked Brazilian fille, because the dog may become too aggressive. In addition, pets need to communicate with the person. Walking a big dog is necessary not only on a leash, the animal requires physical exertion. It is more correct to conduct classes in designated areas.

In the process of choosing and purchasing a puppy, you should definitely ask the breeder about the dog's diet. In the future, it is recommended to follow the already compiled menu; you should not drastically change the pet's ration, since this may cause disorders of the digestive system. As practice shows, to feed the Brazilian mastiff is best dry industrial feed. Premium class will be suitable from the point of view of its chemical composition, the availability of essential minerals and vitamins. Evidence that the selected version of the feed does not suit the animal will be loose stools.

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

In light of the fact that the Brazilian large dogs are quite complex in nature, training and training may be associated with some difficulties. Most of the dogs of this breed are quite stubborn. In the process of education, it is important to immediately let the dog know who is in charge of the family. Training will require a lot of effort from the owner, so you can invite a professional to help.

With knowledge of the characteristics of the breed, as well as timely and regular training, the dog will demonstrate excellent results. Fila Brasileiro is an animal with a developed intellect, therefore during the training it will turn out to be quite clever.

In the next video you will find additional information about dogs breed Phil Brazilian.