DogTrainingAggression.com

Male Brazilian mastiffs come in at well over 100 pounds and will stand upwards of thirty inches at the shoulder when they are full grown. Females are similarly large, though they tend to average around 90 pounds and are a few inches shorter as well. Both males and females will have short, soft fur, an extremely thick neck and resemble a bloodhound in the face. You might find this breed sporting coats of brindle, black, yellow and reddish tan, making it a very handsome dog.

The bone structure on the Brazilian Mastiff helps it to run fast with the ability to attack if need be. They are known for their courage and also for the fact that they possess the ability to stand alerted at all times. Despite their aggressive nature towards strangers, they do carry a loving nature towards children.

There are several qualities that set the Brazilian mastiff apart from other breeds. They do have the hunting instinct of the bloodhound in combination with the guarding instinct of the mastiff. They have been used in the past to herd and guard cattle, and in many ways they are an excellent, well-rounded working dog. Not only can they follow a trail, they can catch it and hold it when they find it. In times past, they were even trusted to keep wild jaguars away from the herd.

Another one of their unique tasks were to track down slaves that had run away. The word ‘Fila’ means ‘to hold’ in Portuguese. Along with their great hunting and holding skills, the Brazilian Mastiff can even run extremely fast and are able to gallop to the fullest.

The Brazilian Mastiff is not too keen to strangers. They do not like people that they don’t know. That could be good in some ways; on the other hand it is not so good if they are around people on a regular basis. They do undergo character testing to make sure that they remain self-confident and also to see if they would attack without being instructed to. That is one characteristic that may shun you from purchasing a Brazilian Mastiff. They are even cautious during dog shows and the judges are advised not to touch the dog, even though that is necessary for judging.

While they can be absolutely savage with strangers, remember that the Brazilian mastiff is still a gentle and loving animal to his own pack. He can be very loyal to his master and is very protective of his own property. He will attack strangers and it is his natural instinct to attack when he is with someone he doesn’t feel comfortable with.

If you are thinking about adopting a Brazilian mastiff puppy, look for a good breeder. Consider going to the shows and going to the homes of private breeders. Do not stop at looking at just one breeder. Ask every question that you think of and see whether the breeder is someone who really feels for their dogs. Remember that they should be able to answer any questions that you throw out at them. Remember that you can always check out pictures of the breed online as well.

With its rectangular shape, droopy hound dog ears and flabby lips, you can say that the Brazilian Mastiff is an adorable looking dog. If you don’t know him well, you may want to stay clear of him, because his instincts tell him to attack. Despite the behavior towards any strangers, when it comes to children and his human family, this dog is sure to be as gentle as a kitten.