Brazilian Mastiff

If you can imagine a cross between a bloodhound and a mastiff, you've just pictured a Brazilian mastiff. He also has another perhaps less familiar name, the Fila Brasileiro.

Originally, this dog was bred to protect Brazil's plantations. Perhaps not surprisingly, this dog's ancestors were mastiffs, bloodhounds, and European-origin bulldogs. The conquistadors originally brought these dogs' ancestors to South America.

What comes of all this is a dog with the amazing scent-detecting capabilities of the bloodhound along with a mastiff's fearlessness and power. This has made the Brazilian mastiff perfect for defending the cattle ranches of the Minas Gerais region. This dog not only has been able to keep cattle rustlers away, but has also kept cattle safe from the dangers of wild jaguars.

The Brazilian mastiff's history also is one of their inclusion on hunting trips. These dogs have been used to track and attack, then hold intended prey until the hunter arrived. In fact, the name "Fila" is derived from Portuguese verb, "to hold."

Interestingly, the Brazilian Mastiff, at one point in the history of the breed and the country, was used to track and capture runaway slaves.

The Brazilian mastiff's and spine and leg joints show us perfectly what has made this dog so great at tracking. The joints are loose, which allows him to change direction very quickly, even if running at full gallop.

The dog has one unique characteristic for which it is particularly known. That is, it is probably the only breed purposely selected because it actually dislikes strangers. To this day, this characteristic is definitely obvious.

In fact, this is tested during championships as part of its temperament challenge. Among the tests performed are those that show the dog's ability to attack without instruction first, to remain self-confident while shots are fired, and to have the ability to overtly display suspicion and dislike for people they don't know.

Perhaps ironically, one of the tests for this breed during a dog show specifically says that the Brazilian mastiff should not "allow the judge to touch it." Because the judge is a stranger, this, of course, demonstrates that this particular temperament characteristic is fully present in the dog. Further, this task is specifically states that if the dog should attack the judge, this action is merely to be considered a confirmation of temperament and not a fault.

Even though Brazilian mastiffs can be absolutely fierce with strangers, they are gentle and tender with their own families. As with other mastiffs, they are affectionate with those they are charged to protect. Of course, members of this breed are also loyal to their owners.

And like his cousins, the English Mastiff and others, he is a large dog. He stands between 27 to nearly 30 inches tall at the shoulder. His weight is no less than 100 pounds. While females are slightly smaller, they are still quite big as well. The female Brazilian Mastiff weighs approximately 90 pounds, with a height that ranges between 24 to nearly 28 inches.

The coat of the Brazilian Mastiff is short and smooth. Colors include solid yellow, reddish tan, as well as black and brindled colors. There are tons of mastiff pictures available on the net.

If you have fallen in love with the Brazilian mastiff and you want to own one, be careful. The mastiff as a general breed is a ferocious guard dog, but the Brazilian mastiff has been taken one step further as a breed in that it actually dislikes and distrusts strangers. Therefore, this dog will need more understanding and supervision than the average dog will.

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