Fila Brasileiro Pups
Fila brasileiro pups are the cutest of all puppies in any breed! We'll walk you through the whole process of purchasing your new family member, from finding a suitable breeder to welcoming your new fila puppy into your home, and getting through the first six months of puppy stages.
The first thing to consider is whether the Fila Brasileiro is the breed most suited to you and your family, so let's cover a bit of what this breed is about.
The Fila is a large, powerful, loyal and protective breed which originated in Brazil as the name suggests. It was used for hunting, tracking game and runaway slaves, herding, droving and guarding the family as well as the fazenda.
Breeds that went into the makeup of the fila are said to be the bloodhound, mastiff, an extinct bulldog and an assortment of Portuguese herding dogs. Over several hundred years the dog we know as the Fila Brasileiro has evolved into the extraordinary guard and working dog that we have today.
Regardless of it's origins, the dog that we have now has a wide variety of type as more and more Filas were exported to different countries with different laws and working requirements. Some wanted a heavier Fila, others favored a dog with sharper temperament, still others selected for a good stock dog with great herding drive and instincts.
In the seventies a great deal of cross breeding to English Mastiffs, Neopolitan Mastiffs and Great Danes took place in Brazil to better fit the foreign markets, which resulted in a split with the breeders who preferred to keep the breed as close to the original as possible.
On the other side, there is anecdotal evidence of some cross breeding to Bloodhounds. CAFIB is currently working on a DNA project, and you can see the first results here.
Another result of these selection processes and outcrosses is that the temperament of the Fila Brasileiro ranges from very mild to extremely sharp. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that you will not get either type in any given litter.
Because the fila is so devoted to and protective of their family, they can exhibit a strong dislike towards strangers, to the degree that a special word for this characteristic was created by the Brazilians: "ojeriza".
Obviously, a knowledgeable and responsible owner and a carefully planned environment is a must with such a large and powerful dog. While it is true that the fila is very devoted to his own people and it's unheard of for a well bred and properly raised fila to turn on members of his own family, never forget that a dog that often outweighs the smaller members of the family can be a handful if not trained.
It is important that the fila understand his place in the family heirarchy.
The Fila Brasileiro and Children
People often ask whether this breed is suitable for families with children. The answer is a resounding yes... it usually is. I say usually because a fila is not a dog for first time dog owners, nor for someone who has never owned a guardian breed before.
Although the fila is known to be very gentle with the children in their own family and will tolerate all sorts of well meaning abuse from kids, strange children that the fila has not been introduced to from puppyhood or that they have not grown up with must be introduced with extreme caution and never left unattended with the dog.
With their own children, the fila is extremely tolerant and gentle, and an unsurpassed guardian in an uncertain world. You will never have to worry about a pedophile sneaking into the yard or house and stealing any of the children in your family!
A good Fila can be safely introduced to a new baby in the family withous any issues, if you follow reasonable precautions as with any large dog.
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Fila Pups - what to watch out for
There are lots of warning signs, fortunately, that will help guide you away from making a bad choice... Read more