The Fila Brasileiro (or Brazilian Mastiff) is a large working breed of dog developed in Brazil. The leg and spine joints of this breed of Mastiff demonstrate perfectly what made this dog such a great tracking dog. Interestingly, this Mastiff, at one point in the history of the breed and the country, was used to track and capture runaway slaves.

The Fila Brasileiro is believed to have been developed from a number of breeds, predominantly the Mastiff, the Bulldog, and the Bloodhound (the last contributing to breed's loose skin).

Not surprisingly, the ancestors of this dog included Bloodhounds, Mastiffs and Bulldogs of European origin. The result of this breeding is a dog that possesses the incredible scenting ability of the Bloodhound and the amazing fearless power of a mastiff. Like his cousins, the English Mastiff and others, he is a large dog. Their loose joints allowed them to change direction or stop on a dime in a fraction of a second.

The Brazilian Mastiff can be a ferocious guard dog, bred to actually distrust and dislike stranger. This combination made this dog suited to the defence of the cattle ranches of the Minas Gerais region.

The male Brazilian Mastiff weighs between 160 and 230 pounds and stands in the region of 30 inches tall. Whereas the female is slightly smaller. She weighs approximately 90 pounds, with a height that ranges between 24 to nearly 28 inches.

This breed of Mastiff can be prone to health problems, such as obesity, bone cancer, and hip dysphasia.

If you have taken to the Brazilian Mastiff and you are considering owning one. Then all I can say is beware. Because they are known for their self-assured, but fiery temperament and at times can be uncontrollable.

Brazilian Mastiffs are not suitable for city life or for busy households where non-family members come and go as they please. These dogs are very courageous and require firm training in order to prevent excessive aggression and to promote calm and obedient behaviour.

This breed of Mastiff can be extremely loyal and affectionate with family members and instinctively (and ferociously) protects his family from all strangers. They are reckoned to be one of the top ten guard dogs of all time.

They are a very intelligent animal and at times they give you the impression that they have a docile temperament. They have a tendency to bark very infrequently, but surprisingly they are aware of everything going on around them.