Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro

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Dutch Shepherd Versus Fila Brasileiro: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Dutch Shepherd and for the Fila Brasileiro. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Dutch Shepherd or the Fila Brasileiro

Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro: Overview

A very important difference between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dutch Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Fila Brasileiro is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Fila Brasileiro belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd to the Fila Brasileiro based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Dutch Shepherd Fila Brasileiro
Life Span 12 to 15 years 9 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 25 inches 24 to 30 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 90 to 180 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 10.5 years
Average Price $1590 $1270
Price Range $900 – $2000 $1000 – $1400
Temperament Score 96.2 percent 78.6 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

*Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Dutch Shepherd in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Fila Brasileiro. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

The Better-Pet score for a Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Fila Brasileiro is 62 out of 125.

Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Dutch Shepherd is a better pet than the Fila Brasileiro. So, you should get the Dutch Shepherd!

Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro

Below is a list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are most different:

  • Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train. However, Fila Brasileiros are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are most similar:

  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro.

    Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Fila Brasileiros weigh 90 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Fila Brasileiros are 24 to 30 inches when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Fila Brasileiro Versus the Dutch Shepherd

    The Dutch Shepherd has a better temperament than the Fila Brasileiro.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dutch Shepherd is 96.2 percent while the temperament score for the Fila Brasileiro is 78.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 96.2 percent, the Dutch Shepherd has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 78.6 percent, the Fila Brasileiro has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro by measuring the temperaments of 26 Dutch Shepherds and 14 Fila Brasileiros.

    Price of Dutch Shepherd versus Price of Fila Brasileiro

    The average price of the Dutch Shepherd puppy is $1590. The price of the Dutch Shepherd typically ranges from $900 – $2000. However, the price of a Dutch Shepherd can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 116 Dutch Shepherd puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Fila Brasileiro puppy is $1270. The price of the Fila Brasileiro typically ranges from $1000 – $1400. However, the price of a Fila Brasileiro can be as low as $1000 and as high as $1800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Fila Brasileiro puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Dutch Shepherd is more expensive than the Fila Brasileiro.

    Dutch Shepherd Fila Brasileiro
    Average Price $1590 $1270
    Price Range $900 to $2000 $1000 to $1400

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dutch Shepherd and Fila Brasileiro. For different price points, the charts show how many Dutch Shepherd puppies or how many Fila Brasileiro puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dutch Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dutch Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Fila Brasileiros

    A breakdown of the prices of Fila Brasileiros

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dutch Shepherd puppy or the Fila Brasileiro puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Dutch Shepherd versus Adopting the Fila Brasileiro

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Dutch Shepherds and many Fila Brasileiros are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Dutch Shepherd named Guiness – Located In North Carolina that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Dutch Shepherds like Guiness – Located In North Carolina on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Dutch Shepherds, Fila Brasileiros are also available for adoption. For example, Maverick is a Male Fila Brasileiro that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Fila Brasileiros like Maverick that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Saber is the name of another Dutch Shepherd (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Dutch Shepherds and Fila Brasileiros that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro

    Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Fila Brasileiros can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Fila Brasileiro

    Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Fila Brasileiros drool moderately.

    Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Fila Brasileiros?

    Dutch Shepherds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Fila Brasileiros bark and howl, but not very much.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Fila Brasileiro

    Dutch Shepherds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Fila Brasileiros have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Fila Brasileiros do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dutch Shepherd or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.

    Fila Brasileiros are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Fila Brasileiros are very easy to groom.

    Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Fila Brasileiros have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Fila Brasileiros cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Fila Brasileiros Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Fila Brasileiros can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Fila Brasileiros?

    Dutch Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Fila Brasileiros are good family dogs. They are affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Dutch Shepherds and Fila Brasileiros?

    Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Fila Brasileiros get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Fila Brasileiros do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Fila Brasileiros?

    Dutch Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Fila Brasileiros do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Fila Brasileiro?

    Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Fila Brasileiros are not easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dutch Shepherd that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Dutch Shepherd:

  • French Spaniel (80 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Fila Brasileiro vs French Spaniel.
  • Japanese Spitz (79 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Fila Brasileiro vs Japanese Spitz.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Fila Brasileiro

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Fila Brasileiro that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Fila Brasileiro:

  • Afador (75 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Afador.
  • Cane Corso (76 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Cane Corso.
  • Dogo Argentino (80 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Dogo Argentino.
  • Boerboel (78 percent match with Fila Brasileiro). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Boerboel.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dutch Shepherd and how the Fila Brasileiro compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dutch Shepherd and of the Fila Brasileiro to other breeds:

    Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dutch Shepherd versus Basenji     Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Terrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Bernedoodle     Dutch Shepherd versus Shiloh Shepherd     Dutch Shepherd versus Kai Ken     Dutch Shepherd versus Ibizan Hound     Dutch Shepherd versus Frenchton     Dutch Shepherd versus Bluetick Coonhound     Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Wolfhound     Dutch Shepherd versus Greyhound     

    Fila Brasileiro Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Fila Brasileiro versus Shetland Sheepdog     Fila Brasileiro versus Kuvasz     Fila Brasileiro versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Fila Brasileiro versus Golden Retriever     Fila Brasileiro versus Maltipoo     Fila Brasileiro versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Fila Brasileiro versus Pekingese     Fila Brasileiro versus Bullmastiff     Fila Brasileiro versus Norfolk Terrier     Fila Brasileiro versus French Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd versus Fila Brasileiro. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Dutch Shepherd and the Fila Brasileiro better suits you and your family.