THE FILA BRASILEIRO

of the muzzle which is almost parallel to the upper line. The labial rim is always apparent. The lower lips are close and firm up to the fangs and from there on they are loose with dented borders. The muzzle has a great depth at the root but without surpassing the length of  the muzzle. The labial rim has the shape of an inverted and deep U.

NOSE:

Well-developed with brod nostrils not occupying entirely the maxila width. The color is black.

EYES:

From medium to large size, almond-shaped, spaced well apart, from medium to deep-set. The colors are from dark chestnut to yellow, always in harmoni with the coat color. Due to the profusion of the loose skin, many individuals present drooping lower eyelids which are not considered a fault as such detail increases the melancholic expression which is typical of the breed.

EARS:

Pendant, larger thick, V-shaped, broad at the base and taperin at the end with rounded tips. They are inserted at the posterior part of the skull in line with the medium level of the eyes when in repouse. When roused the ears go above the original position. The root is oblique with the front border higher than the back ]border. The ears are drooping at the cheeks or folded back allowing the interior to be seen.

TEETH:

Noticeably wider than long. They are strng and whitte. The upper scissor are broad at the rootand sharp at the edges. Canines are powefull, well set and well apart. A scissor bite is the ideal, but a level bite is acceptable.

NECK:

Extraordinarily strong and well-muscled giving the impreession of a short neck. It is silightly curved on the top and well-detached from the skull. The throat is furnished with dewlaps.

TOPLINE:

The withers, standing in a sloping line, are set well apart from each other due to the distance between the scapulas at a slightly lower level than the croup. After the withers, the top line changes direction, ascending smoothly to the croup, with no tendency to show a sway nor a roach back.

CROUP:

Broad and long, with an aproximate angulation of 30 degrees to horizontal line, showing a smooth curve. It is stands a little higher than the withers. Viewed from the rear the croup must be ample and its width is approximately equal to the thorax and may be even wider in females.

BODY:

Strong, broad, and deep, covered by thick and loose skin. The thorax is longer than the abdomen. The length of the body is the same as the height at the withers plus ten per cent, when measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks.

THORAX:

The ribs are well sprung, though not interfering with the position of the shoulders. The chest is deep and larger, descending to the level of the elbows.

LOINS:

Shorter and not as deep as the thorax, showing a separation of the two component parts. The lower part of the loins is more developed in females. Viewed from above, the loins are norrowed than the thorax and coup, but should not form a waistline.