the Fila Brasileiro

History of the Fila Brasiliero

Some of the greatest developments of life come from nothing more than sheer necessity. That is very true of the Fila Brasiliero. They are a breed that came from the need of the Brazilian Colonists need for a strong, hardy, working dog. The first records of Filas can be dated back to 1671. Due to the breed being sculpted by nature, as much as the need of their human counterparts, the exact roots of these early Filas can not be fully identified. However, most people agree that the breed came from a cross between bloodhounds, mastiffs, and ancient Bulldogs. It is also believed by some that the Fila Terceirense may have played a part in the early breeding of the Fila Brasiliero. These breeds can still be seen in the Fila Brasiliero of today. The Mastiff influence is clearly visible even in Filas today. From these large, aggressive, and powerful dogs the Fila Brasiliero gained many things. From them they gained his size and substance. The ancient mastiffs that were commonly used in battle and hunting large game passed their heavy head, short neck and curved croup. The Fila Brasiliero also gained their method of attack. The mastiff was well known for being used in battle and standing on their rear legs to challenge their opponents. The Fila Brasiliero also shares the same basic colors as the Mastiff, as well as his black mask. The ancient bulldogs also known as the Engelsen Doggen, or Bullenbeisser also contributed a great deal to the Fila Brasiliero. They were brought to Brazil in 1630 by the Dutch invaders. They commonly had a long nose and an undershot bite for a "better grip". These dogs were well known and revered for their fighting ability as well as for their hunting ability. They were crossed with Mastiffs to form Dogur de Forte Race. Which then were used by the Dutch army to battle in the swamps and woods. From these dogs the Fila Brasiliero inherited their aggressive temperment, stubbornness and Tenacity. Some of the physical traits can still be seen today. Such as the rose ear, the slope which rises from the shoulders to the croup, and the colors in the coat. The higher croup then withers has become one of the main charters tics of this breed. The bloodhounds were imported in the early 1800s due to their profound ability to track. To the Filas they passed their abundantly loose skin, pendulous lips with hanging flews and dew laps; also many other obvious characteristics of the breed can be found in the Fila Brasiliero. The blood hound temperament however widely differs from that of a Fila Brasiliero. A blood hound may track but does not pose any threat. They are extremely docile. The Fila Brasiliero seems to have gained all the benefits of the Fila Brasiliero tracking and hunting abilities with one major difference. At the end of the trail the Fila Brasiliero will grab and hold, which is what contributed to the Fila Brasiliero name. Fila in Old Portuguese means "to Hold". Anyone who owns a Fila Brasiliero will easily see the connection between a Filas vocalization and a blood hound. They have numerous sounds that can not be classified as a bark, whine, or yip. The fourth breed that is suspected of having a hand in the creation of the Fila Brasiliero breed is the Fila Terceirense. A Brazilian herding dog. It helps explain the natural ability of the Fila Brasiliero to herd. As well as helps explain the Fila Brasiliero as a natural drover. To be able to handle wild and aggressive cattle in a wide open space it took an exceptional herding dog. They tend to be as much at home working with their owners in the field as they are at home at their feet. It also explains one of the unique traits of the breed. Such as the "crooked" or "broken" tail. Where the tail will change direction or twist to the side. In 1930, when great Danes were becoming popular in Brazil some breeders tried to cross them with the Fila Brasiliero. The Fila Brasiliero at this time was a totally established breed. And many breeders realized that this only would hurt the breed. They did nothing to improve the breed. It would mess with the delicate temperament of the Fila Brasiliero as well as the working ability and drive of this well established breed. In 1968 the first Official standard was developed by Dr. Rathsam, Dr. Ebner, as well as Dr. Paulo Santos Cruz. Until this slandered was written the breed had solely been thought of as a working breed. This was also the first time Filas were shown in Brazil. Although many owners chose to only use their dogs for working and not to peruse a show career. Most of these working dogs did not have pedigrees; their sole purpose was their working ability. It was also at this time that Federation Cynologique International (FCI) recognized the Fila Brasiliero as a breed. The standard did not receive and changes until 1976 when the first symposium of the Fila Brasiliero and the standard was revised. In 1983 the national congress met in Rio de Janeiro with the purpose of determining the breeding practices as well as the standard of the breed. They developed a more detailed standard and released it as the official standard on January 1st, 2004. This is the standard that we still use today. The original Fila Brasiliero was bred to fit the needs of the early Brazilian colonists. They needed a working breed that could complete a variety of tasks. They needed a guard dog, herding dog, a loyal companion, a tracking dog, as well as a fearless hunter. They achieved all this in the Fila Brasiliero breed. The Fila Brasiliero developed in a time of the great sugar plantations. Due to the great need for help many farmers used African slaves. The Fila Brasiliero was present to help discourage escape from the plantation. With his keen nose as well as ability to HOLD something he caught he was an invaluable resource on the plantations. The early Filas also served as hunting dogs. They have been used for centuries to hunt large game such as wild boar, large rodents and jaguar. In the jungles of Brazil this was a truly trying task. And required a robust dog, with great endurance, and little fear. He also had to deal with the swarm of mosquitoes and other insects that are found in the jungles. These same hunting skills were used on large farms to keep the livestock safe from unwanted predators. The Filas natural dislike and distrust of strangers as combined with his loyalty and legendary faithfulness to his owner made him an unsurpassed guard dog. This also is why the Brazilians commonly use the phrase "faithful as a Fila" to relate to something or someone that is trustworthy. A Filas whole world is their owner, and it is their life to protect them. As time went on and more and more people moved to more populated areas the Fila Brasiliero became a natural choice for a guard dog against unwanted burglars and thieves. The Filas aggressiveness toward them made them a natural choice for a guard dog. Due to their temperament this is not the breed for everyone. A true Fila Brasiliero has a very sharp temperament and will stop at nothing if their owner is in harms way. Because of this they are an unsurpassed guard dog, and truly devoted pet. ~^ Latricia Porter ^~