Fila Brasileiro vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison

Hailing from Brazil, and known also as the Brazilian Mastiff, nobody seems to be too sure of the exact origins of the large Fila Brasileiro but it is believed to be a cross between the English Mastiff, the Bulldog and the Bloodhound.

Other theories are that the dog comes from a mix of Portuguese and Spanish dogs and that they were bred to guard livestock from predators. Breeds that have no doubt contributed to the modern Fila are the Bullenbeisser, the Bloodhound, Mastiff and Rafeiro do Alentejo. All these dogs have characteristics such as excellent working dog skills, herding instincts as well as courage and tenacity.

The official Brazilian breed standard of the Fila was developed in the 1960s and the Fila Brasileiro Club of America was formed in 1984.

Alangu Mastiff is a breed that ,originates from southern India. Since the very beginning of this breed, it has been used as guard dogs and official dogs of Persian Army. They have been used mostly for wars and as a guard dogs for protection. Also, Alangu Mastiff was used as large gain hunters because of its size and power.

With his huge head covered in loose skin much like that of a Blooohound, and a body resembling that of a Mastiff, the large heavily built Fila Brasileiro is a mastiff breed from Brazil. He stands at 60 to 75cm in height and he weighs roughly 55 to 80kg.

The ears of the Fila are large and droop down or are folded back, depending on his mood. The tail is long and slim. The coat of the dog is short and dense with the texture being quite smooth and soft. Colours of the coat can vary from solid fawn or black to red to brindle.

Temperament:

Perhaps the huge Fila wouldn’t be a good choice as a pet for the first-time inexperienced dog owner as he is a powerful, intelligent, self-assured, headstrong animal that will certainly need to have training and socialization if you want him as an obedient pet in your home.

He is a dog known for his courage and bravery. The Fila is loving and affectionate with his human family, being protective of them and not being too friendly with strangers. He isn't a particularly good pet choice with children in the home.

Some people, after buying a cute Fila puppy, put him out in the yard when he becomes large, and then they pretty much neglect him. This is cruel and irresponsible as he is a social, playful dog who wants to be part of his human family.

These dogs have some aggression in them and this makes them good watchdogs. They generally don’t show aggression towards their family but may snap at a stranger who tries to touch as he feels threatened.

Weight of Alangu Mastiff depends but approximately, male weight is 70-90kg, while females are 60-70kg. While males height is 76-86cm. Females are slightly smaller with an average height of 75-80cm.

Lifespan depends drastically on every breed, but it is approximately 8-10 years.

The average litter size of Alangu Mastiff is 6-8 puppies.

Another Name for Alangu Mastiff is Sindh Mastiff.

The Fila Brasileiro or Brazilian Mastiff is a powerful dog and it is believed that a large dog like this can be a danger to people if he isn’t trained and socialized.

He is therefore not recommended for first time dog owners or homes with small children. He is a dog that is particularly wary of strangers too.

When he has been properly socialized he can be loving, loyal and obedient because it is essentially how a dog is brought up as to how he turns out.

If you bring one of these big, beautiful dogs into your home, have him socialized as a puppy, treat him firmly, but kindly and you could have yourself an extraordinary pet.

Alangu Mastiff is a very powerful breed. They are a giant breed that is very strong and protective. If you are first time owner, you definitely don’t want this breed as your first pet. They can be very aggressive, and if you are not a dominant owner who knows what he is doing all the time, you can have a lot of troubles with this breed. Alangu Mastiff is a guard dog, and they tend to protect the family no matter what is happening. Of course, with proper care and socialization, they can be wonderful pets that love family, and they can be gentle with children too. Basically, it is very important to socialize them from the earliest age. Alangu is also very hard to train, so you have to be patient and devote a lot of time to train your dog properly. Since they are large dogs, they require a lot of exercises. Walking with the leash is not enough for this breed. They need to run to be fully happy. They can be very aggressive towards other dogs, so it is not very recommendable to spend time with other pets, at least not if they are not socialized. If you train them from an early age, then you should still be careful how your dog behaves around other pets and animals. Don’t get this wrong, Alangu can be a wonderful pet for the whole family, but you have to be careful and well-trained for this breed. They require a lot of attention, patience and time, but overall they can be amazing pets.

Filas are a dog breed who have a high rate of hip- and elbow dysplasia. This is a serious disease which can lead to lameness with your pet. Other orthopedic diseases with the breed include osteochondritis and luxating patella.

Also, as a deep-chested dog breed, your Fila also is at risk of getting the very serious gastrointestinal syndrome known as bloat. This is a common condition that can prove deadly for your pet. The Fila’s stomach will fill with gas, putting pressure on other organs and stopping blood flow to the heart and difficulty with breathing. Sometimes the stomach will twist. Get him to the vet immediately if you notice a swollen stomach, drooling or restless behaviour.

Basically most of the health problems depend on the dog to dog. If you choose puppy carefully, with an adequate examination of professional you will have a healthy dog. Alangu Mastiff is overall healthy breed, but as every other breed, they can develop some issues. Hip dysplasia is can be common for this breed, but again, only if you don’t select your puppy carefully.

Exercise and Space:

The Filas size makes it important that he have a good amount of exercise if you want to maintain his health and happiness. He isn’t a dog suited to city life as he is too large and will irritate his owners when cooped up in a tiny space with them. He isn’t demanding when it comes to exercise and activities all the time, but he should still be exercised regularly as he is inclined to become lazy .

Grooming:

Moderate shedding. Regular brushing twice a week will be required. Check ears for infection and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week.

Diet:

Nothing is set in stone as to what to feed your Fila Brasileiro, but a large dog will require quality food with a good amount of protein and fat according to size, age and activity levels.

Because a large breed dog is prone to hip dysplasia, look out for ingredients such as chondroitin and gludosamine which are specifically good for joint health. Try and avoid commercially manufactured food with common allergens such as soy, corn and wheat, artifical flavors and fillers.

A source of cooked rice, chicken and vegetables as well as some raw meat will be excellent for your big pet. Make sure he is never deprived of fresh, cool drinking water.

Feeding Alangu Mastiff

Feeding of your dog highly depends on activity, size, and food that you are feeding your dog. 5-10 cups of high-quality food divided into 2 meals would be enough for an average Alangu Mastiff, but again, you should feed your dog based on activity.

Feeding the Alangu puppy

Puppies must eat 3-5 times per day, few cups of high-quality food. They need to eat quality food with a lot of vitamins and minerals to develop into a happy and healthy adult.

Grooming Alangu Mastif

Groming is one of the easiest jobs that you should do around your Alangu Mastiff. They are very easy to take care off. Few brushes every now and then would be enough to have perfectly groomed pet. They do not have long coats with a lot of fur so there will be no hair around the house, and maintaining this majestic creature is very easy.