Fila Brasileiro: The Ultimate Guard Dog
Country of Origin
The Fila Brasileiro is a Molosser that originated from Brazil. It is related to the Bloodhound, English Mastiff, Bulldog and Rafeiro do Alentejo, which gives it its large and loose-skinned appearance. They were once used to guard properties and estates, especially farms, where they would track and hold down intruders and wild animals by the neck until their owners arrive. These abilities, in addition to an excellent sense of smell inherited from the Bloodhound, also make them effective trackers and hunters, and their instinctual protectiveness make them a great choice for protecting and controlling livestock.
Size
These massive dogs are usually 25 to 29 inches in height, and 40 to 50 kilograms in weight. They are big, muscular dogs with large heads, large ears, droopy upper lips, broad chests, thick and wrinkled necks, and powerful bones.
Coat
This breed has a very short coat with a variety of colors such as black, fawn, black and tan, or brindle, and they sometimes come with black masks.
Character
The Fila Brasileiro is a strong, courageous dog that is very suspicious of strangers, making it an excellent guard dog. Although they could be aggressive towards people they do not know, they are very family oriented dogs who would do anything to keep their human pack safe. They do not need to be taught to protect, as this comes naturally to them. These dogs are very dominant and must therefore have owners who know how to take the alpha position. This can be achieved through proper training that is firm and consistent.
Temperament
This breed is highly loyal and obedient to an owner that has strong skills as a handler. They are not recommended for first time dog owners and inexperienced handlers as they are very demanding in terms of socialization, exercise and training. Failure to live up to the breed?s needs will cause problems such as frustration, destructive behavior, and aggression. Although they are great family pets that are very tolerant of children, these dogs are very anti-social towards other people, and are not recommended for homes with multiple pets as they have high prey drive and might see small animals as prey. In order to have a calm and reasonably friendly Fila, the owners must be dedicated to socializing this dog starting from a very early age and all throughout its life.
Care
The Fila is very easy to groom because of its smooth, short coat. Since they are working dogs that need lots of exercise and mental stimulation, they would not do well in small quarters like apartments. They need plenty of space to run, and need daily walks and training. Being big strong dogs that are wary of strangers, they need a home with huge, sturdy fences that they cannot jump over or destroy.
Training
This breed must be trained early during puppyhood, especially when they are still manageable in size. Allowing a Fila puppy to run your household and dominate over you will cause problems in the future, especially when he reaches maturity and is too big for you to control. Consistent and firm reward-based training would be good for this dog, and other activities like tracking or searching would be beneficial psychologically, and would help beat boredom.
Activity
These dogs are perfect protection dogs and can track, guard and hunt.
