Frequently Asked Questions About the Fila

HOW LONG DOES THE DOG GENERALLY LIVE ?
 Reports from Brazil have been made of dogs living to 14 years and longer. The first dogs were brought to America in 1983-84 and as far I as I know none of them lived beyond the age of 11. Most dogs are living an average of 7 to 9 years. Many of the dogs are dying of accident , injury, or bloat rather than "old age". Chara is 9 this year (1999) and is still going strong.
 

CAN THE DOG BE "OVER-SOCIALIZED" OR CAN I "RUIN" HIS TEMPERAMENT BY OBEDIENCE TRAINING?
 I fully believe you cannot "train out" or "over-socialize" the young Fila. "Temperament" is genetic, inherited from your pups parents. He either "has it" or he doesn't. This is very important to remember in your search for the right dog for your situation. The Fila temperament varies greatly from dog to dog... from the "friendly Fila" who has NO "ojeriza" (no guarding instincts at all, even when threatened or in defense of his home or owner) ...to the opposite extreme of a totally out of control "killer". The "correct" Fila, the one described in the breed standard falls somewhere in between. To quote the standard "courage ..determination ..brave ...calm and self assured... docile to his owners ..faithful ..alert..." this is the Fila that I am trying to breed. This is the dog which can become an accepted member of your household and be trusted to defend you, yet at the same time is trainable and controllable. It is the owner's responsibility to train and direct the dog so that he matures into your companion and responds properly. Lisa Ford has written an excellen article on the fila temperament, click here to read it now.
 

WHAT ARE COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE BREED?
 The Fila suffers from of the same problems shared by many of the "giant" breeds such as the Mastiff and Great Dane. Most commonly these are hip and elbow dysplasia (CHD), bloat (gastric torsion or "colic" which requires immediate surgery and frequently results in the death of the dog), entropia (eye lashes which grow inward causing damage to the eye), and genetic related temperament faults. The Fila is very pain tolerant. They can be affected by any of these problems and yet not show any outward signs for long periods of time. This is especially true of CHD. The ONLY way to determine if a dog is free from dysplasia is by x-ray of the hip/elbow joints. I strongly recommend you see the OFA certification number for the dog (or its parents) rather than someone’s "word" the dog was "x-rayed" or "looks good" or "my vet said it was OK". OFA certification can only be completed after the dog is 24 months old. Be sure your "guarantee" doesn’t "run out" before then. OFA'd parents are not a guarantee that all pups will be free of the problem, but it will give you the best chance... and it indicates a breeder who is taking the time to evaluate their dogs.  PennHIP is gaining popularity as a useful tool in determining joint problems such as CHD; however, OFA remains the “standard” evaluation tool.  Check out our “fila links” page for more information about these problems.
 

WHAT ARE THE CORRECT REGISTRATION PAPERS FOR THE FILA?
 The Fila is not recognized by the AKC. The only internationally recognized registry for the Fila and other "rare breeds" in the US is through the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) issued from Puerto Rico (FCPR) or from Brazil (CBKC). The Fila Brasileiro Club of America (FBCA) also issues registration certificates allowing you to earn titles in the US. SouthLand Filas are registered with both the FCI and FBCA as should be all dogs from FBCA members. DO NOT PURCHASE A FILA WITHOUT GETTING A VALID FCI REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE WITH YOUR DOG. There are many  registries in the US who are issuing "registrations" for dogs including the AKA (American Kennel Association) and the FIC (Federation of International Canines). They are worthless if you plan on breeding or showing your Fila. These registries do not maintain accurate extended pedigree information for the Fila. Do not purchase a dog without proper FCI registration at any price, unless you are keeping the dog simply as a pet.