People usually search for the Fila Brasileiro when they’re weighing up ownership: how big they get, what they’re like with strangers, what daily care looks like, and whether there are legal restrictions where they live. With a dog this powerful, small assumptions can have outsized consequences—around safety, housing, insurance, and compliance.
Below is a grounded snapshot of the breed’s build and behaviour, followed by practical guidance on training, health, grooming, and the often-overlooked reality: in Australia, the Fila Brasileiro is a prohibited import and is treated as a restricted breed in multiple jurisdictions.1, 2, 3
At a glance (size, coat, temperament)
- Height (at shoulder): about 65–75 cm for males; 60–70 cm for females (breed standard ranges).4
- Build: large, heavy-boned, loose-skinned mastiff-type working dog.4
- Coat: short, smooth coat; generally low-maintenance.4
- Colours: commonly fawn, brindle and black; some registries and standards differ on what’s acceptable (particularly around dilute colours).4
- Temperament (broadly): strongly bonded to family, naturally suspicious of strangers; this is a breed where early, skilled handling matters.4
Legal status in Australia (read this first)
The Fila Brasileiro is one of the dog breeds prohibited from import into Australia under Commonwealth rules.1
Within Australia, it may also be regulated as a restricted breed under state and territory dog laws. For example, Victoria lists the Fila Brasileiro as a restricted breed and councils can assess dogs against the approved standard.3 Queensland also lists it as a prohibited breed under its regulated dog framework, with strict controls and offences relating to ownership and supply.2
If you already have a dog that may be classed as a restricted/prohibited breed, check the rules where you live and speak with your local council before making changes like moving house, rehoming, or travelling.
Origins and working role
The Fila Brasileiro developed in Brazil as a large working dog used for guarding and handling livestock, with a history that also includes big-game hunting. Modern breed standards still reflect that working purpose: power, endurance, and a strong defensive response to unfamiliar people.4
Temperament and day-to-day realities
Well-bred, well-managed Filas are often steady with their own people, but they are not a casual “everyone’s mate” dog. The breed standard emphasises marked aversion to strangers, which can show up as intense watchfulness and rapid escalation if a situation feels threatening or chaotic.4
This matters most in ordinary Australian life: front gates, tradies, parcels at the door, kids’ friends coming and going, shared driveways, and off-lead encounters that happen in seconds. Management—secure fencing, controlled greetings, calm routines—is not optional.
Training and socialisation (what actually helps)
Start early, keep it gentle, and make it consistent. For a guardian breed, “socialisation” isn’t about encouraging every stranger to pat your puppy. It’s about building calm neutrality and teaching the dog what to do when the world is busy.
- Use reward-based training: it builds reliable behaviour without adding fear or conflict, which can backfire in protective dogs.
- Prioritise controlled exposure: lots of quiet reps with distance—people walking past, bikes, kids playing—paired with food, play, and a clear exit.
- Teach concrete life skills: mat/bed settle, relaxed lead walking, “leave it”, recall games (even if you’ll never rely on off-lead freedom), and muzzle training as a normal routine rather than an emergency tool.
- Plan for adolescence: many large breeds become bolder and less tolerant as they mature; training that worked at six months may not hold at eighteen months without steady practice.
Exercise and enrichment
Filas are athletic, but they don’t need constant high-speed chaos. Aim for a mix of steady movement and thinking work: sniffy walks on a long line, simple tracking games in the yard, food puzzles, and short training sessions that end while the dog still wants more.
Over-arousal can look like “energy” and quickly spill into reactivity. Calm fitness is the goal.
Common health concerns to know about
Hip dysplasia and joint disease
Large, heavy dogs are at higher risk of orthopaedic problems. Keep body condition lean (you should be able to feel ribs), avoid repetitive high-impact exercise in growing puppies, and ask breeders about hip scoring where available.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV, “bloat”)
GDV is a sudden, life-threatening emergency seen more often in large, deep-chested dogs. It involves the stomach distending and twisting, and it requires immediate veterinary care.5, 6
Practical risk-reduction habits include slower feeding (scatter feeding or puzzle feeders), splitting meals rather than one very large feed, and avoiding hard exercise straight after eating. In some high-risk dogs, vets may discuss preventative gastropexy.6
Grooming and routine care
The coat is short and generally simple: a weekly brush to lift dust and shed hair, plus baths only when needed. Pay more attention to the unglamorous basics—nails, ears, teeth, and skin folds—because large, loose-skinned dogs can be prone to irritation if moisture sits in creases.
If you’re grieving the loss of a Fila Brasileiro
Grief after losing a dog can be blunt and physical—sleep disruption, waves of guilt, a house that feels strangely empty. It’s normal for pet loss to hit hard, especially with a dog that lived close to the family’s daily rhythm.7, 8
- Keep it simple for the first week: eat, sleep, walk, and accept help. Decision-making is harder than it looks when you’re raw.
- Mark the bond in a grounded way: a paw print, a written memory, a photo book, or planting something in the yard can help give the loss a shape.8
- Watch other pets: some animals show changes after a companion dies—clinginess, searching behaviour, appetite shifts. Keeping routines steady often helps.9
- Reach out if you’re not coping: your vet can point you to pet grief supports. Mainstream supports can help too, especially if grief is tipping into anxiety or depression.8
Frequently asked questions
Is the Fila Brasileiro banned in Australia?
The breed is prohibited from import into Australia, and it is treated as a restricted/prohibited breed under various state frameworks.1, 2, 3
Is the Fila Brasileiro recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC)?
No. The Fila Brasileiro is not an AKC-recognised breed (though it is recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale and other registries).10, 4
Do Filas need much grooming?
Not usually. The coat is short; most owners do best with weekly brushing and occasional baths, plus regular nail, ear and dental care.
What’s the biggest health emergency risk to know?
GDV (“bloat”) is one of the most urgent emergencies seen in large breeds: a sudden swollen abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness, drooling, weakness or collapse are reasons to seek emergency veterinary care immediately.5, 6
References
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) — Cats and dogs frequently asked questions (prohibited dog breeds list)
- Queensland Government — Regulated dogs (prohibited dog breeds list)
- Agriculture Victoria — Owning a restricted breed dog (includes Fila Brasileiro)
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) — Breed Standard No. 225: Fila Brasileiro
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV) in small animals (overview, risk, urgency)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or “bloat”
- SAMHSA — Pet Loss and Grief (resource from the American Veterinary Medical Association)
- RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — What to do when a pet passes away at home
- RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — How to comfort a grieving pet
- American Kennel Club (AKC) — Dog breeds (recognised breeds list)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom