Caes e Compania | Dogs & Co. #31 yr III - december 1981 - part II


“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
Christopher Hitchens

In search of a more homogeneous breeding stock, says the subtitle.. The article acknowledges that the breed is too heterogeneous and an ideal defined type has not been achieved. One of the factors they attribute this situation to is the origin of the breed, resulting from the crossing of breeds such as the Bulldog, the Bloodhound and the Mastiff in the farms of Minas Gerais. The Grand book of the Fila Brasileiro by Procopio do Vale, Enio Monte and 43 collaborators advertised in this same issue, promotes that same hypothesis for the origin of the breed, although the authors fail to produce evidence to substantiate the hypothesis. 
They also blame the Initial Registry accepted from 1946 until 1974. Claiming it brought in questionable breeding stock from farms and other sources outside of the control of the CBKC, although in 1981 the breed was already at a stage of evolution wherein breeders could work well known bloodlines from a few generations.
 The 3rd reason they attribute as contributing for a very heterogeneous breeding stock,  was the culture of dog breeding being used to "ready made" standards from foreign breeds, making it difficult for a proper and defined standard for a national breed. The breed standard in effect at the time of this publication was issued in 1976 and according to the article, was put together to define certain obscure aspects prior to the previous standard of 1954. There was unanimity among breeders in the recognition of some improvement in their breeding stock, however, the standard in place gave way to diverse interpretations a fact proven by at least 6 different types of fila which are accepted, they affirm.

pages 24 & 25 - Canil Belo Cruzeiro, SP (top left|Black coat), Canil da Cachoeira, RJ (center | brindle) Canil Curumau, RJ (top right | fawn)

 
This pie chart on page 25, shows the number of registered filas in Brazil (5.067 filas) in 1980, according to their total by state numbers. Rio de Janeiro holding the 38,1% (1.932 filas) and Sao Paulo with 28.6% (1.451 filas), having the largest amount. It's very curious that Minas Gerais, the state named by them as where the fila originated from only contributed with only 7% (358 filas) of the total registered dogs, just a little over the distant northeastern state of Pernambuco, 6,8% (345). I am curious to know the explanation of how RJ and SP end up with almost 3 times as many dogs as the state that originated the breed..





pages 26 & 27
 It appears as if in 1981 they had no clue what a Fila should be like. They believe the standard permits "elasticity" of interpretations and suppose there were "combinations" of characteristics that could be put together and selected. As I read this, I imagine in my mind a lego-like breed that can be constructed into whatever one's ideal can put together! They were so married to this mentality, that the CBKC intended to create a commission for a hearing on judges, breeders and specialized clubs, as well as an excursion around the country to observe individual dogs. They talk about the organization of a symposium to debate the standard and to create breeding guidelines to be put in effect at a national level by this Counsel. The entire page is devoted to justify plans for the debate about the standard for the breed in the following year, with an objective of modifying it. Mainly, because they found pressing reasons to urgently contain the great number of liters being bred and registered from being notably heterogeneous as the trend in breeding results had indicated thus far.
The pages are filled with fila kennel advertisements as well as Great Dane advertisements. Just as in Fashion magazines, wherein the editorial fashion shoots are done with the clothing brands advertised, so are the dogs featured in the editorials are from the kennels in the advertisements.



page 28

The caption on the photo on page 28 says that Females display 10% less aggressiveness when alongside a male. (The source this information is taken from is not indicated). On this page they also discuss the aggressiveness of the Fila. They say many are adamant that the Fila will not let anyone touch them, not even a judge at a show. Judges, on the other hand, believe this is an excuse used to keep judges from examining faults in teeth alignment. Also, a great impediment for the breed to be recognized by the AKC. The article calls the Fila a breed having a "split personality" because it is docile with those at home and hard to handle in face of strangers. Stating that a Fila may bite a visitor; they state the owner of Brafa da Mata Fria, Sergio Lopes, was bit by one of his own dogs. These were just some of the issues with the breed in the 80's as well as prognathism, cow-hocks, a variety of proportions of head and muzzle, all of which would be dealt with in the following year's symposium, having the main objective to seek a less atypical and better Fila. 

The 2 graphs on the bottom of page 28 are based on a CBKC bulletin of march, 1981, which showed a progression of number of dogs participating in shows, Championship Titles and Titles for Grand Champion. The difference between number of dogs participating in shows from 1976 to 1981 is of 1.634 dogs. Almost 3 times as many dogs participated in shows in 1981 than in 1976. Even more shocking is the number of registered Filas, which is shown in the next graphic with blue rectangles. In 1976, 1554 Filas were registered (which is quite a lot); in 1979, 5323 Filas were registered. That is a minimum average increase of 1256 dogs per year.  This progression is not explained throughout the article.


The Situation of the Fila in the Country.. This portion of the article is a run down of the situation of the breed in different parts of the country. The entire article is fundamentally a pep talk for a reformulation of the standard. Which was the solution they found to "equalize disparities". Finally, there are suggestions drafted on the last page of the article, on page 31.


Some suggestions for a new official standard for the breed

Trends put together by gathering the opinions of the majority of fila breeders for a debate at a symposium in 1982. There were divergent segments one pro standard change and another in favor of keeping the 1976 Standard.

-Evaluation of character and temperament trial to be done on dogs over 12 months   outside of the show ring.
- Head better definition for form, top of head and stop, as there was believed to be contradictions in the current (1976) standard. They believed the head should be slightly squared, and that the stop should not be marked seen front on, but the could be marked seen in profile.
- Bite inferior overbite to be discussed because it was believed it could be tolerated. However, superior overbite not permited, or both not accepted but not judged having equal value .
- Ears  definition of height of insertion
- Eyes  definition
- Topline and rump  rump not excessively higher than front -
- Trunk rectangular seen in profile - square figures to be penalized
- Coat Colors definition for acceptable colors preferably - brindle having base coat color chocolate, fawn and greyish, black, golden, and fawn. The brindle having greyish base coat color from crossing with Great Dane (which can be noticed by coat texture) must be penalized, as well as the brindle having white markings on its back. White markings will only be permitted on paws and chest. Some have the opinion there should be genetic research for the black coat color.
- Height and weight  stipulate max limits
- DQ's  short ears, lightweight build, prance, paws turning out
- Serious Faults short gait
- Faults  lack of dewlap

 
End of Article.

Collaboration  credits for this article:
 
Since the First written Standard, the CBKC has always opted for changing the breed standard. The latest change was made in 2004. Currently, they do no test for temperament or any other functional capacity and they also do not have an approval for reproduction certificate program in place.

1984 CBKC Standard and 1st Fila Standard

Current breed standard compared to the Cafib Standard. 








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