Terceira Mastiff
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Terceira Mastiff | |||||||||||||||||
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![]() Original type of the breed | |||||||||||||||||
Other names | Fila da Terceira Cão de Fila da Terceira | ||||||||||||||||
Common nicknames | Rabo Torto | ||||||||||||||||
Origin | Portugal | ||||||||||||||||
Breed status | Extinct | ||||||||||||||||
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Dog (domestic dog) |
The Terceira Mastiff (Portuguese: Cão de Fila da Terceira) is an extinct Portuguese dog landrace, also known as the Rabo Torto (rabo=tail, torto=curled/twisted).[1][page needed]
History
[edit]The Terceira Mastiff came from the island of Terceira, located in the Azores, which is the only island where this dog has ever existed and where it was employed as a house guardian. It descended from the Rafeiro do Alentejo.[2]
In the 1960s, there was an attempt to revive the breed with the aid of the Portuguese government.[1] However, there was disagreement between government officials and breeders, which led to the project's failure.[1] After this, the future of the Terceira Mastiff depended solely on local farmers and breed fanciers. By the 1970s, it was already declared extinct.[1]
It is an ancestor to both the Cão Fila de São Miguel and the Fila Brasileiro. This breed is different from the Barbado da Terceira.
Appearance
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Fila_da_terceira%28Terceira_mastiff%29_-_Exposi%C3%A7%C3%A3o_de_c%C3%A3es_em_Lisboa%2C_20th_century.png)
The Terceira Mastiff is a medium-sized molosser that represents the Fila or Dogo type and resembles the Cão Fila de São Miguel. One of its most remarkable features is an innately short, corkscrew-like tail.[1] Its nose can be either black, brown, or even pink.[citation needed] The colour of the short, smooth[citation needed] coat can be either fawn or yellow, always with a light mask.[1] Red, black and brindle individuals are usually considered to be impure.[citation needed] The height is approximately 55 cm (22 in).[1]