Monday, August 10, 2009

Considering Brazilian Mastiffs

By Eric Salson

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.

This breed has the ability and the bone structure to run fast and to attack if they feel it is necessary. They are known for their bravery and their value as a watchdog due to their alertness is quite impressive. With good training, though, they can be as loving with children as they are fierce with strangers.

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.

Remember that when you are dealing with this dog that it is never so keen on strangers. They are suspicious of people that they do not know, and though this might be a good thing if they are guard dogs, it might be as good if you have visitors. In many cases, they will undergo character testing to see whether they can be trusted to only attack when they are instructed to. It is important to keep this mind when you are thinking about purchasing a Brazilian mastiff. During dog shows, they maintain this aloof and wary quality and judges are often instructed not to touch the dog.

Despite the way they are with strangers, the Brazilian Mastiff is extremely gentle and loving towards his own family. He is also very protective and extremely loyal to his master. Keep in mind that the Brazilian Mastiff will attack strangers. It is their natural instinct to attack when they feel threatened or cannot trust the one who is unfamiliar to them.

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.

The Brazilian mastiff is quite adorable, with its blocky shape, its droopy long ears and its soft floppy lips. Always be careful when approaching an animal that you do not know well, and remember that the breed's reputation as a guard animal is well earned. Despite this, you'll soon see that with the right training, he can be amazingly sweet with the family in his care.

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