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The Brazilians like you have a passion for the Mastiff but the Brazilians also had an inseparable connection to the bloodhound. The Brazilians didn’t stop there, and got these two breeds to hump out a new lovable combination known as the Brazilian Mastiff aka Fila Brasileiro.
Though the major dogs behind the breed is indeed the bloodhound and Mastiff, the breed also contains some bulldog of European origin. This breed was made originally to guard the the plantations of Brazil. The ancestors of this Fila Brasileiro was introduced to South America by the Conquistadors.
Due to it’s diversity of breeding, the Braizillan Mastiff has a superior sense of sent like a bloodhound and the superpowers of a Mastiff. These qualities in this breed suited the farmers of cattle ranches of the Minas Gerais region; protecting their live-stock from cattle rustlers and steering clear from predators like jaguars.
The Brazilian Mastiff also was taken with hunting, as these dogs could easily track, attack and hold the hunters targeted prey. This is why ‘Fila’ is part of their native breed name; meaning “to hold”. These dogs were also used by the evil slave drivers that would use these dogs’ keen sense of tracking ability to find and capture runaway slaves.
Looking at the physic of a Brazilian Mastiff it can be demonstrated what made this breed a optimal tracking and hunting dog. The joints in the leg are loose, enabling the dog to change his direction on a dime – even when traveling at a full speed run.
Dislike of strangers is purposefully selected trait of the Brazilian Mastiff; and this is known well even to this day this ‘quality’ is evident. In fact, during Brazilian Mastiff championship shows a temperament is exercised to see if the breed will attack without being instructed remain un-spooked during gun fire, and display suspicion for strangers.
Furthermore during this show, the standard judging criteria states that Brazilian Mastiff is credited by not “allowing the judge [a stranger] to touch him/her”. The criteria also states that should a judge be attacked by the dog, this demonstration “must not be considered a fault, but be credited with a confirmation of desired temperament”.
Though the Brazilian Mastiff can be very aggressive with strangers, he/she will hold true to their owners. They are very gentle and affectionate with the family and those who they are instructed to protect. In other words you got to be in the Mastiff circle of trust.
Huge is a word used often to describe the size of the Brazilian Mastiff, like its cousins, the English Mastiff the size of this breed can be a little intimating. The Brazilian can reach a height of Twenty-seven to a high Thirty inches tall at the shoulder, on all fours. The male Brazilian Mastiff while full grown will weigh no less than 100 pounds while the female can weight as little as 90 pounds.
The Brazilian Mastiff comes in a variety of colors, including solid yellow, a red tan, and well as black and darker colors. There hair is always short and smooth. When it comes to there coat the Brazilian Mastiff is one of the most diverse of Mastiff breeds.
If your heart is set on the Brazilian Mastiff, and you are seriously considering on owning one, please take warning. All Mastiff’s where bread for their ability to be an intimidating guard dog, however the Brazilian Mastiff was bread to dislike and attack strangers without command. This means extra supervision is required, as the Brazilian can quickly become a liability |
