Terceira Mastiff
{{notability|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| image = Fila de Terceira.jpg
| image_caption = Original type of the breed
| name = Terceira Mastiff
| altname = Fila da Terceira
Cão de Fila da Terceira
| nickname = Rabo Torto
| country = Portugal
| maleweight =
| femaleweight =
| height = {{convert|55|cm|in|abbr=on}}
| maleheight =
| femaleheight =
| fcistd =
| coat = Short and smooth
| color = Fawn or yellow; with a light mask
| litter_size =
| life_span =
| extinct = Yes
}}
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).Krämer, E.-M. (2009). Der grosse Kosmos Hundeführer, 229. Kosmos: Stuttgart.{{page number|date=February 2020}}
History
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.
In the 1960s, there was an attempt to revive the breed with the aid of the Portuguese government. However, there was disagreement between government officials and breeders, which led to the project's failure. After this, the future of the Terceira Mastiff depended solely on local farmers and breed fanciers. By the 1970s, it was already declared extinct.
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
File:Fila da terceira(Terceira mastiff) - Exposição de cães em Lisboa, 20th century.png
The Terceira Mastiff was a medium-sized molosser that represented the Fila or Dogo type and resembled the Cão Fila de São Miguel. One of its most remarkable features was an innately short, corkscrew-like tail. Its nose could be either black, brown, or even pink.{{cn|date=October 2020}} The colour of the short, smooth{{cn|date=October 2020}} coat can be either fawn or yellow, always with a light mask. Red, black and brindle individuals were usually considered to be impure.{{cn|date=October 2020}} The height was approximately {{convert|55|cm|0|abbr=on}}.
References
{{Reflist|refs=
}}
{{Portuguese dogs|state=autocollapse}}
{{Mastiffs}}
{{Extinct breeds of dog}}