Movement
Movement should be massive and lively. The lively pace reminds of the pace of the big felines. Its main characteristics is amble - a sort of gait when limbs at the same side move paralel in pair back and forth. It creates a swinging and rolling motion of the whole body (the so-called camel amble), accentuated along the top line all the way to the tail. While pacing, the head is lower than the ridge. Fila shows a resilient, light trot with massive strides. The gallop is full of strength and suprisingly fast considering the size and weight of the dog. With regard to its typical moloss free physique, one has the impression while Fila is in motion that it could change direction all of a sudden. And it is true.
 
Expression
When calm, relaxed, composed and full of self-confidence. It is never bored or far-away. If its attention is roused, its expression reflects determination and vigilance together with a decisive look.
 
Head
The head of a Fila is big, heavy, mighty, but at the same time is in a good proportion to the body. When watched from above, it resembles a trapezium, in which the head is written in the shape of a pear. From the side, the muzzle and the skull should rate 1:1, and the muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull.
 
Skull
In profile, the skull circles a light arch from the stop to the bulge at the back of the neck which is prominent, especially in puppies. From the front, the skull is big, wide, the top line is slightly arched. The side lines make an arch which grows narrow towards the muzzle, almost vertically. There is never a stop.
 
Stop
It lacks from the front. The middle crease is light and ascends a little towards the back. From the side, the stop can be slightly seen, oblique and it is in fact formed only by well developed eyebrows.
 
Muzzle
strong, deep and wide, always in harmony with the skull. From above, it is well filled under the eyes, towards the middle it gets narrower and towards the end of the snout it widens a little again. From the side, the top line is straight of slightly convex (Roman nose), but never concave. The front side of the muzzle is rectangular with a little depression right under the snout. It creates a perfect arch with the upper labium. The upper labium is strong, pulpy, it hangs and falls over the lower labium and thus forms the lower muzzle line, which is almost parallel with the top line. The labium rims are always visible. The lower labium is continguous with the eye-tooth in the mandible, then it is loose with a denticulated rim. The muzzle is at its base very deep, is is however not deeper than longer. The labium rims make up a conversed "U".
 
Snout
Well developed nostrils which are not as wide as the jaw. Colour: black.
 
Eyes
Middle size to big, almond shaped, set quite far away from each other and middle to deep laid. Tolerable colours: from dark brown to yellow - it always complies with the hair colour. As a result of their excessive skin, the lower eyelids of many Filas are floppy, which is not regarded as a deficiency as it points out the typical melancholic expression of this breed.
 
Ears
Hanging, big, strong, "V" shaped. Wide at the base, narrow towards the tip. The tips are round. They are set towards the back of the skull, when calm, at the eye level. When roused, they are placed above the basic position. The ear setting is higher at the front than at the back. The ears hang and bound on the face, or they are packed back so that the inside of the ear is visible.
 
Teeth
Teeth are wider than longer, strong and white. Upper cutters are wide at the root and have sharp edges. Eyeteeth are strong, good and set wide in the jaw. Scissor occlusion is ideal, forcipate occlusion is tolerable.
 
Neck
Extraordinarily strong and muscular, it makes a short impression. Its top line is slightly arched and from the head it is well set-back. There is a dewlap on the throat.
 
Body
The chest is wide, deep and strong with thick loose skin. It is longer than the rear part. The bodily length equates the height plus 10%, and it is measured from the shoulder to the ischium.
 
Top line
Withers with a slightly gradient line, because the shoulder-blades are rather far away from one another. The withers are lower than the rear. Behind the withers the top line changes direction and towards the rear slightly rises. The top line is never arched or gradient.
 
Rear
Wide, long, there is an angle of about 30° with the horizontal line, slightly arched. The rear is a little higher than the withers. From behind, it is roughly as wide as the chest, in females even wider.
 
Chest
Well arched ribs, their arch must not influence the position of shoulder- blades. Deep and spacey chest, it reaches down to the elbow. Very distinct breast bone.
 
Hipster part
Shorter and not so deep as the chest. Lumbus and chest are markedly set-back from each other. Females have better developed lower flanks. From above, lumbus is narrower than chest and rear, but it should not be too narrow.
 
Lower line
Long chest with a line parallel with the ground. The belly line slightly rises towards the back but not as much as with the vipet.
 
Forelimb
The shoulder part should be made by two bones of the same length (shoulder-blade and humerus). The shoulder-blade makes with the horizontal line an angle of 45°, with the humerus 90°. Their are connected with the shoulder joint. That can be found on the same level as the forechest but a little back. Ideally, this shoulder joint is in the middle of the length from withers to the lower rim of the chest. A virtual vertical running down from the withers should touch the shoulder and reach the paw.
 
Limbs
Strong bones, limbs parallel, straight till above the fingers (wrist). Wrist short, visibly strong, the joint slightly arched. The length of thelimb from the ground to the elbow is 50% of the withers height.
 
Paws
Strong, well arched fingers which should not be too closed, though. Fingers pulpy, wide and tall. Ideally, the paws are straight. Strong, dark claws; white claws are only allowed when finger or paw hair is white.
 
Hind-limb
Slightly lighter than the forelimb but never of a light build. Thighs are arched due to heavy mascularity. These muscles are attached to ilium and ischium which represent the outer boundary of the hind-limb. That is why the ischium must be of the right length. Hind-limbs are parallel with a strong hock, the wrist is slightly arched and higher than the forelimb wrist. The knee joint and hock are appropriately angled.
 
Hind-limb paws
A little more round than forelimb paws, otherwise similar description. No dewclaw.
 
Tail
Very wide at its basis, set in a medium height, visibly narrows from the hock down. If a Fila is excited, the tail can point up and the arch towards the end of the tail is more evident. However, it should never be curled above the ridge.
 
Height
Withers height: males 65 to 75 cm; females 60 to 70 cm
 
Weight
Males minimum 50 kg; females minimum 40 kg
 
Colour
All unicolours but disqualifying (white, mice grey, speckled, merle). Brindle filas can be very light or very dark. Black mask is allowed but is not required. All permitted colours can be spotted with white on the chest, paws and the tip of the tail. Anywhere else, it is not desirable. White spots covering more than a quarter of the body must be penalised.
 
Skin
One of the most prominent features is thick, loose skin covering the whole body. It is very loose on the throat where it makes a dewlap, on the chest and belly. Some filas have wrinkles on the side of their head or on the withers. It runs (from the withers) to the shoulder. If a fila is relaxed,the head is without wrinkles. Once it is roused, it constricts skin and thus creates petty wrinkles alongside the skull.
 
Hair
Short, smooth, adjoining to the body.