Play Dates

[Winterspring]

Yay! It's me again, asking endless questions!

I've read through a great many of the threads in the Fila section, but there's one thing that I haven't found regarding socialization.

Puppy Play Dates.

I have a friend that owns an English Mastiff. When she heard I had a Mastiff, too, she got excited. Her dog never gets to play with anyone because he's just so big. She happily suggested a puppy play date, and I told her that, at least for the foreseeable future, with him being relatively untrained, that it was out of the question. I don't know if he's got his full temperament yet, and I don't trust him around at least human strangers yet. (Especially since my other friend was a dope and tried to pet Taurus while he was growling.) Blah, blah, you guys know why I would be hesitant, what with being brand-new to the breed and am constantly learning new things about him.

(He's learned left from right when asking for his hand!! I'm so proud!)

I'm wondering if he'll be able to play with her EM once he's trained a little better. It seems like a good opportunity for socialization, at least with other dogs, but I don't know if he'll see other dogs as strangers, too, or if it's just people.

In addition, if we eventually get another dog, will he accept that new dog alright? I just got him, but I tend to plan long-term.

 

[ruthcatrin]

With her DOG, potentially possible.

With HER present, potentially very NOT possible.

 

[fila4me]

questions are awesome and always welcomed!!!

I can only speak for my own experiences with my FIlas current and over the years. Flower is my current 4yro spayed female,she tolerates no other dogs around me.she did up until she was about a year and then she decided she needed to go after any dog that comes near me and my children.before all of this she had a playdates 3x a week with my friends Fila and Cane Corso,they all played wonderfully and we could visit on the deck while they played in the yard.
then one Sunday,we go over like usual all seems fine until her Fila Nora comes outside and Flower nails her and takes her to the ground!!well,if we had not been quick and right there it would have been a full fledge fight, as Nora did not back down.it was horrible and I was deeply saddened by this since it was her only time to play where I could actually relax.my friend and I talked and we decided to try it again but this time on leash and in a neutral setting,no go again!we tried a couple of her other dogs as well,since FLower also knows them and has never had any problems.our mindset was kind of going along the lines of 2 female Filas just not getting along.same reaction to them!

in the fall we had an opportunity to get a 10 wk old Fila female puppy from my breeder and we were ecstatic!!!I did have a worry of getting another big dog with FLower,but we also have a little Boston/min.Schnauzer mix(Daisy-2yrs) and Flower is wonderful with her.so, we thought a pup may work fine.miss Maddie is thankfully a wonderful girl and it takes a lot to stir her.she and Flower are wonderful friends,Maddie is now 8 1/2 months,they play and sleep together and we actually had no problems with the introduction when Maddie was a little pup.

My past Filas had playdates with my friends dogs and were all ok,was I just lucky not sure?my past FIlas also traveled a lot with me when I showed Dogos,so lots of dogs in and out and they never knew what to expect.

I have never tried playdates with dogs whose humans my dogs have not known from puppyhood.

 

[angelbears]

Most Fila are not dog aggressive. We have been asked to doggy play dates but have to decline not because of the other dog but because of the other humans.

I've brought 2 rescues into my home since I got my male Fila. One was a girl puppy, a deaf ACD and the other was a grown female Fila. He has done great with both of them but they do respect him as Alpha.

I will not be brining home anymore rescues as long as I have my female Fila. She wants to be dominant, she respects the male but I'm not sure she would take any crap from a newbie. So, it is really how your dog will react to a new addition. In time you will get an indication of how he will do.

 

[tojvan]

Filas are very possessive and territorial they don't like anything messing around with their things or toys that includes family, now my puppy is wonderful with my male shepherd he is dominant over Him and tries to control him but In a very subtle and non confrontational way (which I find hailarious). Now when he is outside with my shepherd on a walk he will not tolerate any dog within 30 foot radius, shoot first ask questions later kind of way. But if I'm walking him alone it's still there but tonned down quiet a bit. Now it's not just dogs he is the same way with birds, insects or any other animal. Meaning he is extremely possessive and territorial. You put him is a car and he will defend it, put him in an enclosed area he will defend it. I'm sure flower is the same way she was defending her owner and didn't want the dogs messing with her number one possession in the whole wide world! Depending on the individual the temperament may come sooner or later as they mature. Depending on how they are bred some dogs may never switch on like slim's male fila. Intensity of it can vary aswell

 

[DennasMom]

Tojvan... your shepherd is "dominant ... in a non confrontational way" ??
I'd like to see that!

 

[Tiger12490]

Athena would try and hunt and kill the other dogs... a no-no for us

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[tojvan]

No my fila is dominat over the shepherd the way he does it is hilarious. He is very pushy doesn't know when to give up, as soon as he realizes bowzer is getting annoyed he stops and starts licking him and starts the whole
Thing again until bowzer gives in. Avoids confrontation at all costs. I have never heard him growl even when playing tug of war, grunts yes but no growl. Now if its a stranger it's a completely different story. Bowzer has become very mello compared to when we originally got trigger,since he has realized that aggression of anykind towards one another will not be tolerated.

 

[chuckorlando]

I think alot of it comes down to their prey drive. Kona will eat anything that runs. And she has to be the boss hog over our other dogs. But heres my thinking on it.... If you want to find out, nows the time to try. If you dont find out while the dogs smaller it will be hell to stop a fight when their bigger. Plus the two of you have not been together to long. But I would do so on lead fr both dogs at first. And remember, if there is a fight, your going in solo. Your friend is no help. If she gets in there I would bet anything she gets bit

My wife got me a traxxa slach r/c truck for fathers day. It does 45mph+ out the box. Kona was ok after a bit with it. She just ignored it. My wife came out side and this bitch straight up attacked my truck. I took off and she chassed this truck and damn near caught it

 

[Hector]

Hector loves to play with this lab/catahoula friend. Hector started at 6 months and he's now 11 months and he lives with 2 other dogs (one old female and another adult male). they only played together about 4 times. Since the lab/cata is an energizer bunny with no off switch, Hector has no problem keeping up and they both love to play with each other sooo much. Both dogs are not dominant. They play rough, so he's too much for little dogs. People come in and out of the yard and they are distant family and he's fine. However, he doesn't like when people try to pet him or kids he don't know that try. Good thing is, he'll run and engage in a game of chase. He hasn't shown any signs of dog aggression or nipped at anyone yet, but with that being said, we watch our dogs better than some people watch their kids.

 

[chuckorlando]

Is Hector a Fila?

 

[Hector]

Yes, he's one of the mongrels. Black with white on chest

 

[Winterspring]

So, essentially, it all comes down to the individual dog, and the dog with whom he's playing. I also assume that "mongrel" means a Fila that can't be bred because of various imperfections like dapples on his tummy or inappropriate coloring?

 

[angelbears]

So, essentially, it all comes down to the individual dog, and the dog with whom he's playing. I also assume that "mongrel" means a Fila that can't be bred because of various imperfections like dapples on his tummy or inappropriate coloring?

Oh no! Around here we lovingly refer to a fila that would not be approved by one small radical branch of breeders(cafib), a mongrel. They are Filas they just would not be approved by cafib. Cafib does not believe that a black dog is a true fila but is the result of mix breeding.

 

[chuckorlando]

Mongrel translated to english means perfect Fila. ahahahahahahahahahahah

 

[Winterspring]

Well, then!

I love my mongrel very muchly! It's like he couldn't quite decide whether he wanted to be black or brindle, and poof. Dark, sable brown and peppery around the ruff. ^_^ Plus, there's none of that "regal, poised and impressive when in repose" nonsense.

We call him "Monsieur Le Derp". He doesn't do "repose". He does "SPLAT". On more than one occasion, I've looked over and jokingly asked, "Is my dog dead?" He can't seem to grasp the idea that the cats are not, in fact, furry little dogs with weird ears. He insists on trying to play with our big, black male, who wants nothing to do with him. Poor Mayhem.

So. Now or never, I suppose. I'll contact my friend, and see if maybe we can arrange something so that her dog and my dog can meet, and maybe play (not at our house). I'll bring my roommate along, and she can hold onto Taurus while I hold onto my friend's EM so that Taurus can see that the dog's okay with me, so....And hey. Maybe he won't hate my friend on sight. Not that I would ever trust it at this point. Leash. Always on the leash. And I'm scoping out cool muzzles for him. With matching harnesses. And collars. (Just so he'll be in complete wardrobe. He'll likely be one of the best-dressed dogs in Phoenix.)

 

[aceoutdoor]

I love my mongrel very muchly! It's like he couldn't quite decide whether he wanted to be black or brindle, and poof. Dark, sable brown and peppery around the ruff.

Winterspring, I have never seen a Black Fila that did not show slight signs of brindling so that is normal. Good luck, its gonna be an experience for sure.

 

[Winterspring]

Cool! Thanks! I'm already so stoked about my boy that I was practically devastated when I realized I couldn't bring him out to show EVERYONE how awesome he is and to spread good things about his breed. Which I still can. Provided I get a good muzzle. This is a dog for ME and protection of my home, not for everyone else.

God help me, I'm already starting to think about what kind of dog would be a good sibling for him so he always has a friend and a built-in playmate. Not for a while, though. Probably after he's snipped, in a year. THEN I'll think about it. Research begins NOW, though. Why did nobody tell me dogs were as addictive as tattoos?? I am determined to be more responsible and careful with my breed choice, now, and to pay attention to the ultra-rare ones, because sometimes they're easier to get than you'd think. Learned that part the hard way. Now

I will heed the advice of those with more experience, and I can't thank you guys enough for all the help you're giving me with him. I think Taurus will be a happier, healthier dog for it, and a great example of his breed.

 

[chuckorlando]

I would be carefull who you tell about this breed. I wont tell some folks their fila but rather a hound mastiff mix. Once folks think a dog is bad ass, they become the next pitt.

 

[Winterspring]

Very true. I'll be very careful. I want good, responsible people to have dogs like him, who will care as much about their health and their awesomeness, not their bad-assery.