CAFIB and the CBKC differences and recemblances between the two standards.

In the year 1938 Fila fans in Rio de Janeiro organized a conference. They wanted to improve the breed, provide a recognition and put together a breed standard.
The first official standard was written in 1946 by Dr. Paulo Santos Cruz and the breed was recognized by the Brazilian Kennel Club CBKC.
In 1968 the breed was regognized worldwide by the FCI organization.
In May 1976 there was a symposium in Brazil were they descriped the breed standard in more details.
In the 70 years the Fila became a somewhat popular dog and was also kept as a pet dog. Some owners started crossing the Fila with Mastino's, Great Danes, English Mastiff with the aim to create a larger, heavier and more manageable Fila. By crossing these breeds, the number of purebred Fila's dramatically fell back.

In 1978 a number of known breeders came together and under the direction of Dr. Paulo Santos Cruz they started the CAFIB who had as goal the maintaining the original Fila.
In 1983 there was another conference together the major Fila breeders. They discussed the future of the breed and the standard was once again renewed. January 1, 1984, the CAFIB breedstandard became official.
The history of the Fila is closely associated with Dr. Paulo Santos Cruz whom since the 40er years fought for recognition of the breed as part of the Brazilian cultural heritage.

CAFIB is an organization that is solely engaged to the Fila Brasileiro. CBKC is the Brazilian Kennel Club and they are engaged to all FCI recognized breeds. The CAFIB and CBKC standards have many similarities but also some differences. 1 of the big differences is the color, see the description of the breed standard both here on the site.

So far the history of CAFIB / CBKC.

In practice we see that there are breeders who deal exclusively with CAFIB bloodlines, and some breedes exclusively with CBKC bloodlines and some are involved with both bloodlines.

Some CAFIB supporters are sometimes quite extreme in their views on CBKC. Everything that is CBKC type, in their eyes, are no real Fila's. CBKC Breeders are generally more leniency in their words against CAFIB.

However there are a few points CAFIB equal in it. There is a list of characteristics in wich we can recognize Fila's with foreign blood. In their eyes you have the Mastino type, Great Dane type etc. Who takes a look at FCI shows can see nowadays heavier Fila's. This example also reflects the demand from Eastern Europe and the United States where people want to see large and heavy dogs.

Meanwhile we see the Mastino Napolitano who has become so heavy that they have many problems with health, low life expectancy etc. Fortunately, so far it has not yet become with the Fila but breeding them bigger and heavier in the long term will bring negative consequences.

Now, you would expect CAFIB bred Fila's would not accept this trend. The truth is different. There are also CAFIB breeders who breed Fila's heavier, more and more. Nevertheless there are still CAFIB breeders who fail to participate but others use the name as a marketing, CAFIB that only they have the original real Fila. The truth is sometimes different.

As mentioned, there are many similarities between CBKC and CAFIB and there are CBKC Fila's who will fit perfect in the CAFIB  breed standard and vice versa. CBKC Fila's are not necessarily bad Fila's, both in character and looks there are real beautifull Fila's, but unfortunately many times you can see simularities from other breeds.

For some, the crossing between CAFIB and CBKC a mortal sin, but this may not be so. What must be the most important goal is maintaining the characteristics of the Fila both in terms of character and construction.

If you go back in history, the Fila was used for various purposes, including guarding the cattle against big cats, detection of slaves, guarding the family. The Fila was no slow heavy clumsy dog. The typically looks of the Fila with its camelwalk, makes sure that Fila can run so fast, turn so quickly and jump so easy and high. And all this makes him so good in his job. 

The conserve the breed it would be good if breeders consider these characteristics more and concentrate on breeding healthy, typical Fila's and not only heavier and heavier because countries or buyers want that. A true Fila is not a dog for a city, to be able to see the best in your dog he must have the space to let out its true character.

CAFIB or CBKC is always the choice of the buyers / fans. By buying a puppy (or not) they determine indirectly the future of the breed. But also the breeders are responsible to whom they sell their puppies.