TRANSLATION :
Jennifer Mulholland & Raymond Triquet.
ORIGIN
: Brazil.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD :
10.03.2004.
UTILIZATION :
Watch Dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.
: Group 2
Pinscher and Schnauzer-Molossoid breeds- Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
and other breeds.
Section 2.1.
Molossoid breeds, Mastiff type.
Without working trial.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Typically a molossoid breed.
Powerful bones, rectangular and compact structure, but harmonious and
well proportioned. Displays, together with a massive body, a great amount of
concentrated agility which is easily perceived.
Bitches must show a well defined feminity which clearly distinguishes
them from males.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
: Courage, determination and outstanding braveness are part of its
characteristics. With its owners
and family it is docile, obedient and extremely tolerant with children.
Its loyalty is proverbial, insistingly seeking the company of its master.
One
of its characteristics is its aloofness towards strangers. It displays a calm
disposition, distinctive self-assurance and self-confidence, remaining
unperturbed by strange noises or circumstances. An unsurpassed guardian of
properties, it also instinctively indulges in big game hunting and cattle
herding.
EXPRESSION : In repose it is calm; noble and full of self-assurance.
Never displaying a bored or absent expression.
When alert, its expression should reflect determination conveyed by a
firm, penetrating look.
HEAD : The Fila head is big, heavy and massive, always proportionate to the
whole body. From a top view it
resembles a trapezoid figure into which a pear shape is inserted.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : The profile of the skull shows a smooth curve from the stop to the
occiput, which is well defined and protuberant specially in puppies.
From a front view it is large, broad with the upper line slightly curved.
Lateral lines come down almost vertically, in a slight continuous curve
narrowing towards the muzzle.
Stop : From a front view it is practically non existent.
The median groove is slight and runs up smoothly to approximately the
centre of the skull. Seen from the side, the stop is only slightly pronounced and
virtually only formed by the well developed eyebrows.
FACIAL
REGION :
Nose : Well developed, broad nostrils not occupying entirely the width of the
upper jaw. Colour : black.
Muzzle : Strong, broad and deep, always in harmony with the skull.
Fairly deep at the root but not deeper than long.
Seen from above, it is full
under the eyes, slightly narrowing towards the middle of the muzzle and again
broadening slightly to the front line. Seen
from the side, the muzzle is straight or has a Roman line, but never turned up. The front line of the muzzle is almost perpendicular to the
bridge of the nose with a slight depression right under the nose.
Lips : The upper lip is thick and pendulous and overlaps the lower lip in a
perfect curve; thus the lower line of the muzzle is almost parallel to the upper
line. The lower lip is tight and firm to the fangs and from there on it is loose
with dented borders ending at the corners which are always apparent.
The muzzle has a good depth at the root but without surpassing the
length. Edges of the lips form a
deep inverted “U”.
Teeth/jaws : The teeth are significantly wider than long. Strong and white. Upper
incisors are broad at their root and taper to the edge.
Canines are powerful, well set and well apart.
The ideal bite is a scissor bite but a level bite is acceptable.
Eyes : From medium to large size, almond shaped, spaced well apart, medium to
deep set. Permissible colours -
from dark brown to yellow, always in accordance to the colour of the coat.
Due to the loose skin many
individuals present drooping lower eyelids which are not considered a fault as
such a detail accentuate the melancholic expression which is typical of the
breed.
Ears : Pendant, large, thick, V-shaped.
Broad at the base and tapering to the ends. Rounded tips. Attached
at the back of the skull, in line with the eyes when in repose.
When roused, the ears are above the original position.
The root is oblique, with the front edge higher than the back edge.
Falling over the cheeks or folded back showing the inside (rose ear).
NECK : Extraordinarily
strong and muscled giving the impression of a short neck.
Slightly curved at the upper side and well detached from the skull.
Dewlaps at the throat.
BODY : Strong, broad and
deep, covered by thick and loose skin.
The thorax is longer than the abdomen.
Topline : Withers, in sloping line, are set well apart from each other due to
the distance between the shoulder blades. Withers
are set lower than the croup. After
the withers, the upper line changes direction, ascending smoothly to the croup.
Back line shows no tendency to sway or roach back.
Loin/Flanks : Shorter and not so deep as the thorax, showing distinctly the
separation of the two component parts. In
females the lower part of the flank is more developed.
Seen from above, the loin is narrower than the thorax and croup but
should not form a waistline.
Croup : Broad, long, sloping at angle of approximately 30 degrees to the
horizontal and ending in a smooth curve. The croup is set a little higher than
the withers. From a back view, the
croup is ample almost as wide as the chest and can be even
broader for females.
Chest : Well sprung ribs though not interfering with the position of shoulder.
Deep and broad chest reaching to the level of the elbows.
Well pronounced brisket.
Lower
line : A long chest and
parallel to the ground in all its extension.
Slightly tucked up but never whippety.
TAIL : Very wide at the
root, medium set, tapering rapidly to reach the hocks. When the dog is alert,
the tail is raised high and the curve at the extremity is more accentuated.
Should not be carried curled over the back nor touch it.
FOREQUARTERS : The length of the leg, from the ground to the elbow, should be half of
the height from the ground to the withers.
Shoulder : The shoulder structure should be composed by two bones of equal length
(scapula and humerus); the former at 45 degrees to the
horizontal and the latter 90 degrees to the scapula.
The scapla-humerus articulation forms the point of shoulder which is
situated at the same level but slightly behind the point of sternum.
In the ideal position, the point of shoulder should be half way from
elbow to withers. An imaginary
perpendicular line coming down from the withers should cut the elbow and reach
the foot.
Forearm : The limbs must be parallel. Strong
and straight bones.
Carpal
joint (wrist) : Strong and apparent.
Metacarpus
(pastern) : Short, slightly sloping.
Feet : Strong and well arched toes not too close together.
The dog stands on thick toes and pads which are long, broad and deep.
In the correct position, the feet should point forward.
Strong, dark nails; white nails permissible when the corresponding toes
are white.
HINDQUARTERS : Less heavy boned than forelegs but never
appearing thin compared to the overall build.
Hindlegs are parallel.
Upper
thigh : Broad with curved outline shaped by strong
muscles coming from the ilium and ischium which design the curve of the buttocks
and for this reason the ischium must have a good length.
Tarsus
(hock) : Strong.
Metatarsus
(Rear pastern) : Slightly
sloping, longer than the metacarpus. Moderately angled stifle and hock.
Feet : A little more oval than the forefeet but the otherwise identical.
Should not present dewclaws.
GAIT/MOVEMENT : Long and elastic feline-like strides whose principal
characteristic is the pace; a two beat lateral gait in which the legs of
each side move back and forth exactly as a pair (“camel’s pace” or amble)
causing a rolling or rocking motion of the thorax and hips accentuated by the
tail when carried erect. When
walking, it carries the head lower than the back line. The trot is smooth, free
and effortless with a long, powerful and reaching stride. The gallop is
powerful, attaining unsuspected speed for such a large and heavy dog.
Due to its articulations, typical of molossoids, the Fila’s movements
not only give the impression but actually allow him to make sudden and rapid
changes of direction.
SKIN : One of the most important breed characteristics is the thick, loose
skin over the whole body, chiefly at the neck forming pronounced dewlaps and
many times it can extend to the brisket and abdomen. Some individuals present a fold at the sides of the head,
also at the withers running down to the shoulders. If the dog is in repose, the
head should be free from wrinkles. When
alert, the dog raises its ears and the contraction of the skin on the skull
forms small longitudinal wrinkles between the ears.
COAT
HAIR : Short, smooth, dense and close to the body.
COLOUR : Any solid colours are permitted except the disqualifying ones.
Brindles with a solid coat and more or less dark stripes.
A
black mask may or may not be present. In
all permitted colours white marks are allowed on the feet, chest and tip of
tail. White markings on other parts
of the coat are considered a fault.
SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height at withers :
Males : from
65 cm (25.6 ins) to 75 cm (29.5 ins) at the shoulder.
Bitches : from 60
cm (23.6 ins) to 70 cm (27.5 ins) at the shoulder.
Weight :
Males : minimum : 50 kgs (100 pounds).
Bitches : minimum : 40 kgs (80 pounds).
FAULTS : Any departure from the
foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the
fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
SERIOUS
FAULTS :
VERY
SERIOUS FAULTS :
ELIMINATING
FAULTS :
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural
abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should
have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.