FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (FCI) STANDARD
 

Secretariat General 14 rue Leopoid II, 6530 THUIN (Belgium)
 Standard of the Fila Brasileiro # 225/12.01.93/GB
 

GENERAL CONFORMATION: Typically molossiod breed. Powerful bones, rectangular structure, compact but harmonic and proportional. Added to his massiveness a great agility is easy to be seen. Bitches must show a well defined femininity which differs them immediately from males.
 CHARACTER & TEMPERAMENT: Courage, determination and outstanding braveness are part of his characteristics. He is docile to his owners and family and extremely tolerant with children. His faithfulness became a Brazilian proverb. He is always looking for the company of his master. One of his characteristics is his distrust of strangers (orig. from the Portuguese "ojeriza" which can be translated "hatred, spite, or ill-will"). He shows a calm disposition, self-assurance, and self-confidance not being disturbed by strange noises or when facing a new environment. An unsurpassed guardian of the property. He is well directed by instinct to hunt big game and to cattle herding.
 

MOVEMENT: The Fila should have a long reach and elastic gate. His smooth stride reminds you of the great cats movements. His main characteristic is the PACE- a two beat lateral gate in which the legs of each side move back and forth exactly as a pair causing a rolling or rocking motion of the dogís body (called the camelís pace) accentuated all along the top line to the tail. During the walk he carries the head lower than the back region. He shows a smooth, free and effortless trot with a powerful stride. His gallop is powerful with unsuspecting speed coming from such a large and heavy dog. Due to his loose articulations, typical of mollossoids, the Filaís movements give the impression, and in fact it is so, of being capable of instant and very rapid changes of direction.
 

EXPRESSION: In repose it is calm, noble and full of self-assurance. Never discloses a bored or absent expression. When at attention his expression reflects determination and alertness with a firm look in the eyes.
 

HEAD: The Fila head is big, heavy,massive,always proportionate to the whole body. From a top view it resembles a trapezoid figure in which the head is inserted in a pear form shape. From the side view, muzzle and skull should have approximately the proportion of one-per-one or the muzzle slightly shorter than the skull.
 

SKULL: The profile of the skull shows a smooth curve from the stop to the occiput, which is protuberant (especially in puppies). From the front view it is large, broad with the upper line slightly curved. Lateral lines come down almost vertical, in a curve narrowing towards the muzzle. Never shows a stop.
 

STOP ( FRONTAL DEPRESSION): From a front view it is particularly non existant. The medial furrow is slight and runs up smoothly. Looking sideways the stop is low, sloped and virtually formed only by the well developed eyebrows.
 

MUZZLE: Strong, broad and deep always in harmony with the skull. From a top view it is full under the eyes slightly narrowing toward the middle of the muzzle and again broadening slightly to the front line. From a side view the nose is straight or has a Roman line, but never turned up. The front line of the muzzle is close to a perpendicular line with a depression right under the nose and forming a perfect curve with the upper lips which are thick, pendulous and drooping over the lower lips, giving shape to the inferior line of the muzzle which is almost parallel to the upper line. The labial rim is always apparent. The lower lips are close and firm to the fangs and from there on they are loose with dented borders. The muzzle has a great depth at the root but without surpassing the size of the length. Edges of the lips form an inverted "U".
 

NOSE: Well developed broad nostrils not occupying entirely the maxillar width. Black in color.
 

EYES: From medium to large size, almond shaped, spaced well apart, medium to deep set. Permitted colors- From dark brown to yellow, always in harmony with the color of the coat. Due to the profusion of loose skin, many individuals present drooping lower eyelids which is not considered a fault as such a detail increases the melancholic expression which is typical of the breed.
 

TEETH: Wider than longer, strong and white. Upper incisors are broad at their root and sharp at the edges. Canines or fangs are powerful, well set and well apart. The ideal bite is a scissor bite but a level bight is acceptable.
 

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.
 

TOPLINE: Withers in a sloping line, are set well apart from each other due to the distance between the scapulas. Withers are set in a lower level from 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.
 

CROUP: Broad, long, with an approximately 30 degree angulation from the horizontal line showing a smooth curve. The croup is set a little higher than the withers. From a back view the croup is ample approximately as wide as the thorax being permitted to be broader in bitches.
 

BODY: Strong, broad, and deep, covered by thick loose skin. The thorax is longer than the abdomen. The length of the body is the same as the height plus 10% when measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock.
 

THORAX: Well sprung ribs though not interfering with the position of the shoulder. Deep and large chest going down to the level of the elbows. Well pronounced brisket.
 

LOINS: Shorter and not so deep as the as the thorax showing well a separation of the two component parts. In bitches the lower part of the loins are more developed. From an upper view the loins are narrower than the thorax and the croup but should not form a waist line.
 

LOWER LINE: A long chest and parallel to the ground in all its extension. Tuck up slightly ascencion but never whippety.
 

FORELEGS: The shoulder structure should be composed by two bones of equal length (scapula and humerus) being the first one is at 45 degrees from the horizontal line and the last one is 90 degrees from the first one. The articulation scapula-humerus forms the point of shoulder which is situated at the level of the prosternum but a little behind it. In the ideal position the point of the shoulder should be half way from the elbow to withers. An imaginary perpendicular line coming down from the withers should cut the elbow and reach the foot.
 

LEGS: Strong bones, legs parallel and straight to the pasterns. Metacarpus short, strong apparent carpus slightly sloping. Length of the leg from ground to elbow should be 50% of the length from ground to withers.
 

FEET: Strong and well arched toes not too close together. Pads thick, broad and deep. The ideal position of the feet is pointing to the front. Strong dark nails, white nails permissible when this is the color of the feet and toes.
 

HIND LEGS: Less heavy boned than fore legs but never light as a whole. Upper thigh with curved borders shaped by strong muscles coming from the Illium and Ischium which design the borders of the rear and for this reason the Ischium must have good length. Hind legs are parallel, with strong tarsus, metatarsus slightly bent,higher than the metacarpus. Moderately angled stifle and metatarsus.
 

HIND FEET: A little more oval than the forefeet but the same goes for the whole description. Should not present dewclaws (the fifth toe).
 

TAIL: Very wide at the root, medium set, tapering rapidly when reaching to the hocks level. 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.
 

HEIGHT: Males from 27 inches (65cm) to 29.52 inches (75cm) at the shoulder. Females from 24 inches (60cm) to 27.56 inches (70cm) at the shoulder.
 

WEIGHT: minimum weight for males 100 pounds (50 kg), for females 90 pounds (40kg)
 

COLOR: All solid colors are permitted with the exception of the disqualifying (solid white, mouse-gray, patched or dappled (merle) coats). Brindles with a solid coat may have stripes of less intensity or very strong dark stripes. A black mask may or may not be present. In all permitted colors white marks are allowed on the feet, chest, and the tip of the tail. White is not desirable on any other part of the coat. White markings exceeding one fourth (1/4) of the total body must be penalized.
 

SKIN: One of the most important breed characteristic is the thick, loose skin over the whole body chiefly at the neck forming pronounced dewlaps and many times it can be seen at 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 is free of wrinkle. When alert the contraction of the skin at the skull forms small wrinkles running in a longetudinal line of the skull. The coat is short, smooth, dense, and tight to the body.
 

TEST OF TEMPERAMENT: It is compulsory to all individuals (after 12 months of age) in order to obtain a registered championship title. All champions must have a certificate of approval at the temperament test. This sort of test is made at all speciality shows. It is optional at general shows, up to the judgeís will, provided it is public and takes place outside the show ring. The trial includes:
 1) Attack with a stick. The dog is supposed to attack in front of the handler, without being coached, and the exhibitor or handler will remain in his position. It is forbidden to touch or beat the dog.
 2) Shooting test. There will be fired blanks at a distance of 5 meters from the dog. The dog should express attention, show self-confidence and self assurance.
 3) During all performance in the ring the judge will analyse the behavior and temperament of the dog, paying attention to his expression. During the test the following should be observed: a) dislike of the animal to strangers. b) the self-assurance, courage, determination and braveness of each individual.
 

FAULTS-GENERAL: cryptorchids, monorchids, use of artificial ways to produce certain effects, albinism, lack of type, etc.
 

DISQUALIFICATIONS:
 1) aggressiveness to his owner. 2) cowardice. 3) pink nose. 4) overshot teeth. 5) undershot teeth showing the teeth when the mouth is shut. 6) lack of one canine or one molar, except the third one. 7) blue eyes (porcelain like). 8) cropped ears or docked tail. 9 )croup lower than the withers. 10) all white dogs, mouse gray, patched, dapple or merle coats. 11) under the minimum height. 12) lack of loose skin. 13) lack of the camelís pace.
 

VERY SERIOUS FAULTS:
 1) small head. 2) tight upper lips (without flews). 3) a pronounced stop from the front view. 4) protruding eyes. 5) lack of two teeth except the PI. 6) lack of dewlaps. 7) apathetic or timid. 8) negative sensitiveness to shooting test. 9) roach back. 10) level back line (not ascending towards the croup). 11) excessive tuck up. 12) cowhocks. 13) lack of angulation (straight hocks). 14) light bones. 15) lack of substance ("shelly"). 16) over the maximum height. 17) white markings exceeding 1/4th of body. 18) lack of pigment at the eye rims. 19) round eyes. 20) square figure.
 

SERIOUS FAULTS:
 1) short muzzle. 2) small ears. 3) highly set ears. 4) excessively light colored eyes. 5) wrinkles at the skull when the dog is in repose. 6) undershot teeth. 7) lack of two teeth. 8) folded skin under the throat that is not dewlap (horizontal folds). 9) sway back. 10) narrow croup. 11) curled tail carried over the back. 12) chest lacking deepness. 13) any deviation of carpus or metatarsus. (east-west front, etc) 14) over angulation (sickle hocks). 15) short steps (poor reach).
 

MINOR FAULTS: Anything in disagreement with the standard.
 

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.