Red Heeler vs Fila Brasileiro - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Red Heeler vs Fila Brasileiro - Breed ComparisonFila Brasileiro is originated from Brazil but Red Heeler is originated from Australia. Fila Brasileiro may grow 24 cm / 10 inches higher than Red Heeler. Fila Brasileiro may weigh 64 kg / 142 pounds more than Red Heeler. Fila Brasileiro may live 3 years less than Red Heeler. Both Fila Brasileiro and Red Heeler has almost same litter size. Fila Brasileiro requires Moderate Maintenance. But Red Heeler requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Herding dogs
undefined
Brazil
Australia
Height Male:
60 - 75 cm
23 - 30 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
60 - 75 cm
23 - 30 inches
43 - 51 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Weight Female:
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
14 - 16 kg
30 - 36 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 12 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
2 - 8
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
Brazilian Mastiff
Australian Cattle Dog, ACD
Colors Available:
red, black, Fawn, brindle
Reddish, Blue-grey
Coat:
Short and dense
Shortish and dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

fila brasileiroHailing 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.

red heelerKnown also as the Australian Cattle Dog, the Red Heeler is also known as the Blue Heeler. This is a breed of herding dog originally developed in Australia.

These dogs are known for their stamina and resilience with driving cattle over long distances in hot weather and across rough terrain.

It was George Eliott who developed the Red Heeler – crossing native Dingoes with Collies and other herding dogs.

In America, the breed was fully recognised in September 1980.

Description

fila brasileiro puppy - descriptionWith 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.

red heeler puppy - descriptionThe Red Heeler is a medium-sized dog standing at between 43 to 51 cm in height and weighing in the region of 14 – 16 kg.

He is muscular, with a sturdy build. The coat of this robust dog is shortish and thick and quite often you’ll find a white star marking on he forehead. The coat is a blue-grey color or reddish. The tail of this dog is long and the ears are erect.

Temperament:

The Red Heeler has always been a working dog so he is energetic and lively, being independent and strong-willed.

He is super intelligent too and can be easily trained and socialized. He is a dog that simply loves the outdoors and if you don’t live on a farm, he is going to need lots of exercise.

He gets on well with kids and other pets, but children should be taught to respect him and be kind towards him, otherwise he might not tolerate them. He is a loyal, protective dog, wanting to ensure the safety of his human family.

Characteristics

fila brasileiro dog - characteristicsThe 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.

red heeler dog - characteristicsWhen you bring a Red Heeler into your home, you must know that you’re never going to have a dull moment. They’re not content to lie around with nothing to do. These popular dogs literally coax you to come out and to be active.

Red Heelers need lots of activities and lots of room, so they aren’t particularly suited to life in the city. Large properties and plenty to do is what they ask for.

Your Red Heeler is going to make a splendid pet, loyal and devoted, the perfect example of man’s best friend.

Health Problems

fila brasileiro puppies - health problemsFilas 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.

red heeler puppies - health problemsYour Red Heeler can live to be 15 years of age with good care. Every dog however, can fall prey to some of the many common dog diseases there are, some of which can be -

Musculosceletal Problems:

There are quite a lot of congenital and inherited musculoskeletal disorders in dogs, with some of the more common ones being hip dysplasia and muscular dystrophy for instance.

There are some of these musculosceletal problems which can be fatal. Some of the typical symptoms you’ll see with these problems are difficulty climbing stairs or jumping, loss of muscle mass in the hind limbs, arthritis and lameness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy:

The retina of the eye is that light-sensitive part and which is part of the central nervous system. With retinal degeneration, the cells decline, leading to impaired vision and sometimes even blindness.

Some symptoms to look out for include dilated pupils, night blindness and the inability to see clearly in bright light. The disease worsens over times with sudden blindness being quite common with older dogs. Your vet will want a thorough history of your dog’s health.

Other dog diseases to be very aware of are cancer, obesity, bloat, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Caring The Pet

Exercise and Space:

fila brasileiro dogs - caringThe 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.

Exercise:

red heeler dogs - caringThe Red Heeler is an active dog, and apart from walks which will give him the chance to sniff around, he will need lots of other forms of exercise. Rope pulling games he’ll love and running after a ball will please him because it takes him back to days when he used to run around and herd livestock.

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person who loves hiking in the wilds and swimming in rivers, you can count this dog in.

Grooming:

You can look at the Red Heeler as a low maintenance dog. He does shed, but a good brush of the coat twice a week will be excellent for him. If he doesn’t wear his nails down naturally, you will need to trim them. Also, while you are brushing him, check his ears and eyes and inside his mouth to make sure he is clear of all infections.

Diet:

Red Heelers rely on good food for their resilience and stamina, and for convenience it is good to have commercially manufactured dog food as a backup. The best is home-made food which is easy to prepare and totally uncomplicated.

Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your pet's dry kibble once or twice a week. Simple and tasty, your Red Heeler will love it and thrive on it too.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Fila Brasileiro vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Fila Brasileiro vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Fila Brasileiro vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Fila Brasileiro vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Fila Brasileiro vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Fila Brasileiro vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Fila Brasileiro vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Fila Brasileiro vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Fila Brasileiro vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Fila Brasileiro vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Fila Brasileiro vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Fila Brasileiro vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Fila Brasileiro vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Fila Brasileiro vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Fila Brasileiro vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Fila Brasileiro vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Fila Brasileiro vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Fila Brasileiro vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Fila Brasileiro vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Fila Brasileiro vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Fila Brasileiro vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Fila Brasileiro vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Fila Brasileiro vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Fila Brasileiro vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Fila Brasileiro vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Red Heeler vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Red Heeler vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Red Heeler vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Red Heeler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Red Heeler vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Red Heeler vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Red Heeler vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Red Heeler vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Red Heeler vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Red Heeler vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Red Heeler vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Red Heeler vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Red Heeler vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Red Heeler vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Red Heeler vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Red Heeler vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Red Heeler vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Red Heeler vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Red Heeler vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Red Heeler vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Red Heeler vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Red Heeler vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Red Heeler vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Red Heeler vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Red Heeler vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison