| PURE BLACK FILAS |
Most of the American champions have black dogs in their pedigrees descending from the Br.Ch. Gruna de Karaponga, the famous dam of the incredible Gr.Intl.Ch. Camburi do Embirema, or from the Br.Ch. Guri do Kirongozi, one of the top dogs of his decade in Brazil. Some black dogs coming from these lines, such as the multiple international champion Pasco do Campingand bi-champion Sonho do Camping are a living poof of the great quality and merit of the black dogs. Other descendants of black Filas like Trouble, a son of the famous Intl Ch. Flint do Camping were able to get the BOB in world shows. All these dogs are great representatives of the Fila Brasileiro breed in any part of the world. |
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| PURE BLACK FILAS
(By Clelia Kruel) This article is part of the Fila Brasileiro Guide by Clelia Kruel and has been reproduced with the authorization of the author) A purebred black Fila is an animal of rare beauty. It’s coat is so shinny that it seems to have oil on. Black Filas represent only 2,5% of the total registered stock in Brazil. They are not so popular in the ranches as they are difficult to see in the night while tracking jaguars. |
| Apache (Windsor Spring Alex) Our first champion. A beautiful & shinny Black Fila. |
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| ARBA CHAMPION HOUNDMASTER CANE GRAN PUMA: OUR PRIDE & JOY |
| COLORS AND STRIPES MAY CHANGE IN PUPPIES
Most dog breeders know that Dalmatians are born pure white and get the lovely spots later on, or that the Kerry Blue Terrier is born black. However, very few breeders know that a totally mouse grey newborn Fila will change its color in a few weeks after its birth. The first stripes will resemble more a shade than a stripe which will gradually get darker. Later on the solid grey coat may turn into a champagne color and after a couple of months into a striking orange color, extremely becoming with the black or grey stripes which may cover the entire or just partially body. I had to learn about these changes in the hard way, almost discarding a mouse grey puppy, who later on turned out to be a brindle and a terrific champion besides a top producer of other several champions. Most dark brindles look like black dogs at the first day after they areborn. One month later the stripes will be more defined and the under coat, yellow or brown will show up. Even so, some dark brindles have the black stripes so close together that they give the impression of the dog being black. Oficially, even if the dog has only one stripe on and the rest of the body totally black, this dog will be considered a brindle. Light brindles have their striped well apart one from the other showing a lot of the basic solid coat. The“tigrado mineiro”, a yellow dog with black stripes well apart running from the top down to the feet are highly praised in Brazil, as they resemble a tiger. The longer the stripes are, the better. Patched, dappled or merle dogs are disqualified. Lately, also the “black and tan” are disqualified as they are consider atypical. All official organizations register Filas under the following colors: black, fawn, brindle and red. Breeders may call their dogs dark brindle, light brindle, golden fawn, reddish fawn, etc., but only one of the above four official colors may be shown in the pedigree. I would like to point out the silver as a disqualifying color for a Fila and there are no such color as “dark silver”, or any other silver colors. I saw some “frosted” coats in the past,really beautiful with the tips of the hair glittering like frost on the grass in the early morning, but these dogs have always been considered non-typical and therefore disqualified. It is really hard to tell the right color of a newly born Fila. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of some very pale fawns (straw or vanilla color) being born with very intense dark stripes, like a zebra. Unfortunately, after a week the stripes were gone and the puppies remained as normal fawns.Another beautiful unusual color I have always been hopingfor is the “pinhão” chestnut color, but just as the deep dark reds (of Setters) they are very rare. “Baios”or vanilla cream colors are more common. Sometimes the cream color is so light that the dog seems to have a whitish color. This is still permitted by the standard, as long as the dog is not white. |
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| A fawn female pup & a black male pup from our first litter. |
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| A 4 WEEK OLD "BABY PUMA." |
| PUMA IN JUNE 2005 |
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| APACHE SHOWING US HIS PATRIOTIC FILA SIDE. |
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