The fila Sao Miguel (Azores Cattle Dog) is a unique combination of cattle herder and farm guardian.  The Cao de Fila de Sao Miguel has been working on Sao Miguel, a remote Portuguese island in the Azores, for hundreds of years. Sometimes called the Azores Cattle Dog, this rarely seen breed is considered a beloved part of the island's culture and tradition.  A dedicated muscular watch and guard dog with a piercing glare, the Cao de Fila Sao Miguel zealously protects cattle, family, home and property, as well as working livestock.  A bold herder, the Fila Sao Miguel dominates even bad tempered cattle, while gently encouraging slackers, without harming the stock.  Some enthusiasts avow that the herding instinct is so powerful, puppies often start herding without training.  The dog's agility and size allow it to herd, as well as evade hooves and horns with astonishing speed.  Walking with its characteristic slight waddle, the hardy Fila Sao Miguel measures 19.5 to 23.4 inches tall for males; 18.7 to 22.6 inches tall, for females.  The breed bears a short, smooth and dense coat in brindled (tiger striped) shades of fawn, gray or yellow. White markings in some areas are acceptable.  A square head, strong jaws, docked tail, expressive dark eyes and rounded short - cropped ears complete the picture.  Firm, consistent training from its owner is a must for this aggressive and territorial personality.  Courageous and loyal, the FSM has a fine instinct for danger, but should respond docilely to tis owner's commands.

The Azores Cattle dog is a strong and resistant working dog with a firm character.  They are intelligent dogs that learn quickly.  In spite of their size they catch, bite and evade quickly as lightning.  They grasp a bovine only on the hamstring and know well how to beware the mammary glands of the cows.  They know very well how to control the biting so as not to wound the animal they are herding.  In addition to bovines, the Azores Cattle Dogs get well along with goats, sheep and pigs.  They do not shun even big and bad-tempered animals to be herded, on the contrary - when needed, their manner of herding is aggressive and bold, because without this characteristic the work could not be done.  These dogs are also used for guarding the cattle against wild dogs and thieves.  The FSM guards on the pasture independently.  They posses a huge amount of own will and intelligence, and do not act only when the master is at its side giving orders.  The FSM dogs bear the herding instinct very strong in the genes, because during their whole history they have been used only for work and that is why they have such a sound temperament.  The inner instinct is so strong that the puppies of the breed do not have to be trained to herd.  They herd immediately by instinct and grow to dominate different tasks while wandering around with the master, doing farm work and imitating the example of older dogs.

The FSM is an unsurpassed watch and guard dog.  Whether, they are keeping their eye on the cattle, people, their home property or anything that they regard as their own.  While the FSM is guarding it is useless for any stranger to approach them.  Just their strong presence and piercing glare are enough to drive away a would be intruder.  Under the menace of a real threat they weill defend with a fiery zeal and until the very end for what they think is their own.  These dogs have a good sense to discern a real danger from a normal situation and they are capable of acting in an instant, guided by their strong instincts.  There are very few cattle dogs in which these two working characteristics - both herding and guarding - are combined in such a close - knit and convincing way.  It is also important to mention that do to the strong instinct of a watch guarding dog the training must be very coherent and even severe when needed.  A well balanced watch and guard dog knows when to stop guarding when the master gives an order.  Even the watch and guard dog should accept a stranger accepted by the master, provided that the ranking order between the master and dog is clear.  The FSM is a primitive breed with very strong instincts!