The Brazilian Mastiff

The Brazilian Mastiff, also known as Fila Basileiro, originally was bred for protecting the plantations and their owners in Brazil. It's not surprising that Mastiffs, Bloodhounds and Bulldogs of European descent are the ancestors of this large dog. The predecessors of this dog were conveyed to South America by the Spanish Conquistadors.

The awesome courageous strength of a mastiff and the astounding scenting gift of the Bloodhound is the result of this dogs breeding. It is this mixture that made the Brazilian Mastiff so well suited for safeguarding the cattle ranches of the Minas Gerais region. Cattle rustlers were easily discouraged with this massive dog protecting the cattle herds, not to mention wild jaguars which were also a problem for the ranchers that these giant dogs helped managed.

Looking at the history of the Brazilian Mastiff we discover they were also used for hunting and tracking. The owners trained them to track, attack and then hold the captured prey until his owner could catch up. Actually the name Fila comes from Portuguese and means "to hold." History also tells us that the Brazilian Mastiff was used to hunt and capture escaped slaves.

When looking at the physical structure of the Brazilian Mastiff it's clear the dog is well bred for tracking. The leg and spine joints are loose. This enables the dog to change his direction very quickly even if he’s running at full speed.

Another trait for which this dog is known is it's probably the only breed that was deliberately chosen for its actual dislike of strangers. This characteristic clearly shows in the breed even today. Did you know that temperament tests are actually run at some point in championship competition? Included is the testing of the ability to attack without being commanded, to stay composed throughout a shooting test, and to blatantly exhibit their dislike and distrust of people they don’t know.

The standard for this breed in a dog show expressly states that the Brazilian Mastiff should not "allow the judge [a stranger] to touch it." In addition, the standard explains that if the dog attacks the judge, this action "must not be considered a fault, but only a confirmation of its temperament." Though the Brazilian Mastiffs are ferocious and protective where strangers are concerned they are warm and loving with their own families. Just like other breeds of Mastiffs they are tender and affectionate with the family they are charged to look after. They are completely loyal to their owners also.

Like the English Mastiff, which he is specifically related to, he is a large dog. An adult male is between 27 to nearly 30 inches tall at the shoulder. He will weigh over 100 pounds. Of course females are a little smaller but still they are very large dogs. The female Brazilian Mastiff will weigh around 90 pounds and be between 24 to nearly 28 inches tall.

The Brazilian Mastiff has a short and smooth coat. You can find them in four basic colors including solid yellow, reddish tan, black and brindle. If you would like to see some pictures just do a web search and you will find hundreds if not thousands!

So the Brazilian Mastiff has captured your heart and you’re seriously thinking of getting one. Beware. Generally speaking all Mastiffs are fierce guard dogs and the Brazilian Mastiff was bred to be even more ferocious and to actually be suspicious of strangers and dislike them. Therefore he needs more supervision, guidance and understanding than most dogs. This also means more responsibility as the owner.