A very unusual combination, the Brazilian Mastiff is in fact a mastiff/bloodhound mix. They have traits of both breeds; including the famed sense of smell bloodhounds are so well known for. They also have the protectiveness and gentleness with children so common in mastiffs. Hailing from Brazil, they are known (in Portuguese) as Fila Brasileiro. Formerly employed as guards for plantations, they found their way to North America with 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.

As most of their cousins in the Mastiff family, the Brazilian Mastiff is very loving in nature. They can be aggressive as well. They are gentle with children and very protective of them. Mastiffs are very obedient to their masters and very easy to train as well. The have great pride and courage.

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.

The best way to get and stay in a Brazilian Mastiffs good graces is to spend time with it from puppyhood until it is an adult. They are loyal to a fault when it comes to their families; they have even become aggressive towards judges while entered in dog shows.

Remember to be careful as you choose your new Brazilian Mastiff puppy. You want to make sure that the breeder is a good and trustworthy one. Some breeders have other agendas when selling their puppies so it is wise to get references first hand.

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