Get in the mood for this post by listening to an oldie, but goodie by scrolling down:

Yes, we’re talking about traits having to do with “suspicion.”

Which of the breeds listed below, do you suppose, have the words, “suspicious” or “suspicion” written into their AKC breed standard?

Australian Cattle Dog
Siberian Husky
Puli
Pyrenean Shepherd
Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Guess what? It’s all of them! 

A suspicion of strangers is not unusual in a working or herding breed – but there is one breed that takes this a step further. The Brazilian Mastiff, also known as the Fila Brasileiro, is famously suspicious of strangers, and is one of the only breeds to have an intolerance of being touched written into the breed standard (written by Paulo Santos Cruz) that was approved and translated by CAFIB, Brazil. Exhibitors are asked to show their dog’s dentition and lift the tail of males in order for the judge to check the presence of testicles, but at general and international dog shows, judges are allowed to touch Filas because as show dogs, they’ve been trained to accept willingly being touched by a stranger. Still, it’s not in their nature. 

The registry that got the breed accepted by the FCI called for a “nicer” temperament in the breed, but the CAFIB strongly argued  for a trait unique to the breed – “ojeriza,” or a distrust of strangers. The breed is beloved across Brazil for its intense devotion and extreme courage, but owners who have been a poor fit for this breed have abused this trait and managed to get the breed banned in many countries for aggression.

Image: “Kalimba,” an eight month old Fila Brasileiro owned by Alejandro Weber and released into the public domain.