Fila Brasileiro

The Fila Brasileiro is very large, bloodhound/bull mastiff/bulldog breed that was bred to be a guard dog in Brazil.

What makes this dog different from others is that it is probably the only breed that was selected for centuries to deeply dislike the humans they were not raised with. The breed is known for its courage, faithfulness to family, determination, and self confidence. The Fila is gentle with family children and very docile with its owner, always seeking his company. The Fila Brasileiro is an excellent estate guardian. Yet it does not hide its dislike towards strangers. This aversion, not forward aggression, is known as ojeriza.

Filas are also useful on hunting journeys to track, attack and then hold the prey until the hunter arrived to take over. The word 'Fila' is, in fact, derived from a Portugese word meaning 'to hold' or 'to secure'. At one time this dog was also employed to track down and capture runaway slaves. It was also a fierce jaguar hunter.

To this day temperament tests run during championships require the dogs to attack without being coached, to remain self-confident during a shooting test, and to openly show their suspicion of strangers. They are tested in the areas of Behavior Toward Strangers, Reaction to Noise, Unusual Footing, and Self-Protective/Aggressive Behavior. 

The objective is to test the dog's capacity to recognize a potential threatening situation and show how the dog defends himself and his owner in a positive manner. If the handler anticipates trouble controlling the dog, a second leash attached to a suitable object (vehicle or post) may be used.

Any Fila showing cowardice or aggression towards it's owner is immediately disqualified and cannot pass the Temperament Test. While aggression toward the stranger is rewarded and the dog passes.

Clearly this is not a dog for everyone or every setting. Once you have a Fila at home, allowing occasional visitors or a weekly cleaning help into your home may become a BIG problem.