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April 21st, 2008 by PetGuru

Some people have said that the Brazilian mastiff is similar to a cross between a Bloodhound and a mastiff. This breed of mastiff is also known as the Fila Brasileiro.

Learn More About Brazilian Mastiffs

Originally bred for protecting the plantations in Brazil, it is not surprising that the ancestors of this large breed of dog did include bulldogs, bloodhounds, and Mastiffs originally from Europe. The resulting characteristics of this combination is a breed of dog with the Bloodhound’s great scent tracking ability, and the great guarding instincts of the Mastiff. This combination also made the Brazilian Mastiff extremely well suited to defend the cattle in the ranches of Minas Gerais and the surrounding regions. The Brazilian Mastiff’s history also includes their use on hunting excursions. One of the physical characteristics that helps to make the Brazilian Mastiff such a great tracking dog, is that the dog’s joints are loose, allowing him to quickly change direction even if he is running full-out.

Learn More About Brazilian Mastiff

Though it seems contrary to what you would normally expect to see at a dog show, the standard judging of the Brazilian Mastiff says that the dog should not allow the judge, being a stranger, to touch it. This trait is true with other types of Mastiffs. Like his other Mastiff cousins, the Brazilian Mastiff is huge! The Brazilian Mastiff has a coat that is smooth and short haired. Though the Brazilian Mastiff can be a loving, family dog, if you are considering owning one, you should be well aware of this dog’s strong guarding instincts, and remember that they may need more supervision around strangers than other types of the Mastiff breed.

See ya’ next time!
Sam