Are You Ready for a Fila?

So, you want to buy a Fila. You have heard all the fantastic stories of their fierce loyalty and protectiveness of their owners. You have seen the photos of their awesome size, the expressive eyes, the unique "look" of the breed. You have done your homework: contacting breeders, obtaining information on pedigrees, contracts and guarantees, looking at the various puppies available. You have saved up the funds and now the time has come to make the final choice of breeders, of the parents, of the particular puppy you want to take home. Take a moment to honestly evaluate your lifestyle and make sure this is the breed for you.

 The Fila is a breed that requires a special kind of family and a special commitment. Unless you treat the dog with respect and understanding of its size and temperament it is an "accident waiting to happen." A careless owner can allow the dog to be in a situation in which an "innocent" person will be bitten. When treated with care and respect, the Fila is a wonderful companion and guardian. The Fila is ALWAYS on alert, and the Fila owner must be equally alert to the environment around his dog.

 The first question to consider before you purchase your first Fila is what breeds of dogs have you owned in the past? The Fila is NOT the breed for a first time dog owner. Its strong temperament requires extensive training and socialization. It is a breed which is best suited for a dog owner who has had experience with a "guardian" type breed or one of the breeds from the AKC’s Working Group. Although the Fila is not difficult to train, they do require consistent, firm "alpha" leadership from the owner. The owner must earn and keep the dog’s respect of his authority in the "pack order" of the family. All adult members of the household should be familiar with "pack order" behavior and the dog should know his place in the family "pack". Small children should be socialized with the dog and be taught not to torment or abuse the Fila’s patience by teasing the dog. The Fila should be trained not to dominate the children in the household (for example, the dog should be taught from the earliest puppyhood not to jump up on the family members, especially the children). I encourage all dog owners (of any breed) to learn as much as they can about dog behavior by reading books and magazines, by attending training classes or "working weekends", or by watching training videos; however, nothing can substitute for actual "hands-on", day-to-day experience with your own dog. Learning to communicate with and to "read" your dog’s body language, expression, and behavior are the keys. Training and socializing your Fila will make him an accepted member of your family and in the community at large. If you have a history of "lost dogs", dogs which have repeatedly gotten out of your yard in into the Dog Pound, dogs getting hit by cars, etc. you probably are not ready for the supervision that Fila owners must provide for their dogs.
 

If you have had experience owning "working dogs" in the past, what experience have you had training your dog? The Fila needs no training to defend. They should have a natural dislike toward strangers. They do not need "attack" type training but rather they require obedience training and training to direct their energies in an acceptable manner. This training and control must begin when the dog is a puppy or you will not be able to control the 125+ pound adult who is trying his best to "defend" you. To the dog, a "stranger" is ANYONE that has not been a regular part of the dog’s world. The Fila (assuming he has the correct Fila temperament of "ojeriza") will display his dislike and aggressively defend his home and possessions from all strangers (including the Avon lady, visiting grandma, the delivery driver, your new boyfriend or girlfriend, etc.). Even children may be bitten if the dog feels they are a threat to his property or if the dog feels the children may be hurting your own children.
 

Don’t forget, the Fila cannot distinguish children running and screaming in a game of tag and children running and screaming in fear or anger. The Fila will not tolerate other children chasing or hitting "his" children. One of the best ways for early socialization for a puppy of any breed is organized "puppy kindergarten" classes. Formal obedience classes can be an excellent experience for you and your dog. Investigate the classes and make sure the instructor of the class understands and respects the temperament of the Fila, otherwise you may have a problem.
 

If you are secure with your own experience in owning and training a working dog, consider the question, who will have primary responsibility for the daily care and training of the dog? Although the Fila makes an excellent family dog and generally does well with the children in the household, the Fila is NOT a childís pet. A young child will not have the physical strength to restrain the dog. Even most teenagers will not have the maturity and experience to train the dog and to anticipate a potentially dangerous situation without help from the adults in the household. In addition, does your spouse want the dog as much as you do? ALL adults in the household should discuss the dog and be in agreement before the dog is purchased. If anyone is afraid or unwillingly accepting the dog into the household, problems will arise as the dog matures. In situations where the husband brings in the dog against the wishes of the wife, it is the dog that gets discarded in the long run. It is better to have never gotten the dog in the first place, than to bring the dog in and then have to call Fila Rescue or try to sell the half-grown dog when the "cute puppy" is no longer so cute and the wife is no longer willing to tolerate its (barking, hair, muddy footprints, ....whatever objections arise).
 

If you have honestly answered the previous questions and you feel confident this is the breed for you, consider if the time is right. What is your current housing situation? Do you have a fenced yard? The Fila is a very large, powerful, and agile dog. They need space and time to exercise on a regular basis. Although it is possible to raise a Fila in an uptown apartment, it is much more difficult to give them the time and exercise they need. This is especially true of an active, growing puppy. The Fila is an intelligent dog with high drives and energy levels : a "working" dog. If not given the opportunity to use these drives in an acceptable way and to burn off his energy, the dog will soon find ways of amusing himself which are NOT so acceptable ( often digging, chewing, or other destructive behavior). The Fila is not a breed which can be let off leash to run at will. They are extremely quick, deceptively so for their size. They do not generally go looking for trouble, but if challenged or threatened by another dog or by a human, they will not back down. As owner of the dog, it is your LEGAL responsibility to keep your dog under control and to prevent your dog from hurting someone. Lawsuits, doctor bills, and legal costs are not fun for anyone. As for fencing, you must provide secure enclosure for your dog. Filas can easily escape a standard 4 to 5 foot chainlink fence, especially if provoked. You will need fencing at least 6 feet high, preferably solid wood "stockade" type fencing. At a minimum, you will need a secure dog pen with a top to house your dog when you cannot be with the dog. "Radio" or "invisible" fencing is NOT adequate to contain the Fila, nor does it prevent "strangers" from entering your yard and encountering your dog.
 

Only you can evaluate your readiness to own a Fila. Most breeders will try to screen potential homes for their puppies and will not place a dog into a home that is not ready for the Fila. You can give a breeder the "right answers" and may convince them to sell you a dog before you are ready, but you will be setting yourself up for potential problems. Please, wait until you are ready and your family situation is such that you can provide a stable, responsible home for your Fila.