Brazilian Mastiff Breed Explained

A bloodhound and mastiff mix. Can you imagine? These beautiful mastiff dogs can sniff out something as well as being as gentle as possible. They are originally from Brazil and have the original name of Fila Brasileiro. When they were first around, they were made to watch out for the plantations, then they were later brought to the United States by a group called the Conquistadors.

These gentle giants can easily weigh over 100 pounds, and stand up to 30″ tall. Having the flabby neck and long face of bloodhounds, their fur varies in color from reddish to black, even yellow. Brindled specimens are the most popular however.

Gentle like most mastiffs, they are capable of aggression when called for. Excellent guard dogs, they are nonetheless very good with children. They are also famed for their loyalty.

Brazilian Mastiffs still are seen in hunting, being as good at the job as their bloodhound relatives. They specialize in tracking down and catching prey while waiting for their owners to catch up; in fact, the “Fila” in “Fila Brasileiro” is from Portuguese and means “hold”.

These are an athletic breed although some Mastiffs are not athletic at all and they even are known to become obese. Again they get their athletic abilities from the bloodhound side. The guarding side comes from the Mastiff. Mastiffs are very watchful dogs and although they aren’t aggressive in nature, they will guard their family.

A downside to the breed is that they are not good at dealing with strangers. They have been known to attack strangers with no provocation or warning. For this reason, they should be kept locked up if say, a repairman is coming.

It is best to keep your mastiff locked up if you will have houseguests, as Brazilian Mastiffs have been known to attack without provocation – this unfortunate quality extends even to mastiffs entered in dog shows and the judges.

If you are getting a new Brazilian Mastiff puppy, choose very carefully. Be certain that the breeder is reputable; don’t be afraid to ask for references.

Tagged with: dog • Dogs • family • puppy

Filed under: Dog Training

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