Kennel Devotado Forasteiro

Donna Rubia
The champion of Ukraine, Russia
CAC-10, R.CAC-2, CACIB-7, R.CACIB-4, BOB-7

The history of FILA BRASILEIRO

APPEARANCE OF THE BREED

Since 1500, when the Portugese Pedro Alves Cabral opened Brazil, Brazilian fila was acknowledged as the separate breed of dogs, fitted out to the life of people in the New World. In 1550 began the forced colonization as a result of the reforms of the king of Portugal Juan III, who replaced the system of captains, which acted during those days, by the colonial government. New era in the history of the country began. In Brazil began to flow the migrants from the different countries, they confessed different religions and belonged to the different cultures - from the Jesuits, who dealt with rotation Indians into Christianity, to the slave-traders, whose sole purpose was obtaining money.
In this situation a number of native breeds of dogs acquired special importance. They were used not only for the protection of the prisons, where Indians, who were struggling with the Portugese, were contained, but also they released into the pursuit, if prisoners were decided to run out. To fulfill these tasks such fierce and courageous dogs were needed because they could grip with the despairing people, ready to battle to the end. Besides this, the dogs had to have excellent scent and skill independently making the correct decisions, when the footprint of slaves laid on the enemy`s territories.
Despite the fact that Jesuits by all forces tried to stop the enslavement of native Indians, this did not stop slave-traders. They switched their attention to the coasts of Africa, and again they resorted to the aid of the dogs. In 1630 East-Indian company, was attracted by remunerative trade of cotton and sent the fleet into Brazil, which captured Pernambuko. Hollandian dominion continued until 1654, and during this period between two continents prospered trade by spices, people and animals.
In the same period from San Paulo started the raids of bands or "baideirantes", they needed in slaves and gold. And again the local dogs became the irreplaceable assistants to people, because of their scent and fierce. At the end of the XVII century "baideirantes" actually found gold in the mountains of central Brazilian plateau. This led to the mass migration into the region, called Minas Gerays. Migrants were accompanied by the slaves to work in the fields and in the gold mines and by the aggressive watch dogs.
European immigrants brought into Brazil their dogs, that belonged to the different breeds and types. They crossed with each other without any control from the side of people. Two types especially were greeted: dogs similar to mastiff - for the courage and the force, and bloodhounds - for their exceptional scent. From this time began the natural selection of those dogs, which were better suit to fulfill stated problem and more quickly adapted to the environment.
Because of rising population, in order to satisfy the growing needs to the food, the development of cattle breeding began. This led to the delivery of such dogs as bulldogs, which were used for driving the cattle. Into the tasks of the dogs entered protection of the cattle during the driving from place to place and protection the animals from the thieves and the local beast of preys - jaguars. Herdsmen also got the help from the dogs when they moved the cows into the enclosures. One of the most lively commercial ways was passed through the bank of San Francisco river, which connected the central regions Minas Grays with the oceanic coast.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREED

Breed Fila Brazileiro, as it is called now, was brought out on the basis of the crossing the breeds or types of the dogs, mentioned above. Now it is not possible to establish the role of each of these breeds, because we do not have any written evidence.
In the book "The dog in the health and the disease" by Stonehage, which was written in 1859, there were such lines: "Many times Mastiffs were crossed with the bulldogs. Some modern breed lines are confirmation to that by their elevated ears, turned-up noses and common structure. No one caused objections to this small infusion of the bulldogs` blood, especially as it is very well mixed up with the blood of mastiffs, but frequent crossing with bloodhounds is necessary to avoid because of bad tempered of this breed, which can be transmitted to posterity". This advice was heard too late, or simply no one heard it.
In the result of casual cross-breeding has been evolved the dog with the following characteristics.

• Large, with tight coat to the skin
• With large physical endurance because of absence attention from the side of the owner. After fulfillment the work the dogs had to get the food themselves. Those, who did not bear such life, simply died.
• With a good scent, it helped to reveal jaguar and other enemies before they will note the dog. It demanded a long muzzle, and crossing with the bloodhounds, gave the proportions to skull and muzzle 1:1, different from others molosses.
• With the powerful jaws, but not very large teeth, which rapidly break and leave the dog unprotected. The fila`s teeth are wide at the root with the sharp borders, capable instantly to detach the piece of strange flesh.
• For such powerful jaws was necessary wide and deep muzzle.
• The dog must be ready rapidly change the direction of movement, which is necessary in the work with the cattle. For this are necessary very mobile joints with the free bonds, which would give advantage, also, during the struggle: the dog always could manage somehow and grip enemy, even if it has already held the dog . The energy-saving walk, typical for fila, was necessary for the prolonged daily work.
• Thick and loose skin was resistant to the cuts by the sharp shafts of bushes, which could rapidly be inflamed. Loose skin also protected the dog from the jaguar`s attack, who could hurt the skin, but doesn`t hurt vitally important organs.
• High fecund gave the numerous litters that guaranteed the survival at least a minimum quantity of puppies.
• Devotion to the owner and his family, but aggression to the strangers. This was the dog, that obeyed the owner even with the minimum attention from his side. It guarded him and his property -the land, the slaves or the cattle.

NEW ROLE
In 1888 slavery was abolished, and now filas were used as shepherd, hunting and watch dogs ("fazendas"). In the daytime they worked with the cattle, and at night they were in the freedom in order to guard the property of owner from the undesirable trespass. When it became known about their ability to guard, they moved into the cities on the coast.
In 1940 years the lawyer Paulo Santos Cruz was in need of the guards to the collection of rare birds. He knew about the exceptional abilities of the farmer`s dogs and left for farms to look for the puppies. Cruz was charming by the dog`s conduct. He began breeding dogs under the affix Cadyz y Cadyz, which more lately replaced to world famous Parnapu- n. To his pen also belongs the standard of breed, which was acknowledged by FCI in 1946. Paulo Santos Cruz - known to the hole world as "the father of breed", respected and authoritative, because of his knowledge of fila. A large role in formation and development of breed belongs to him.