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y do people get dogs they cant handle r for just likes r just size only

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Okay, help me out here Ace. You have forgotten more about Filas than I will ever know. So, this is not asked in the spirit to start shit but to learn. When I was researching and talking to breeders I was told a Fila should not chase someone to far from their owner, that would leave the owner unprotected.

My only experience is when Cane and I were coming out of the house, he was on leash and the meter reader was just rounding the corner. They were about 5 to 10 feet from each other and it was on. I just told the guy to run and I held on for dear life. Thank God he was a skinny little wirey kid that could run like the wind. And for that one day, I thank God that I was a fat old woman. I hit the ground and just hung on. Cane quit trying to pursue once the guy cleared our property line, about 175 feet. I always assumed that he quit because the guy had cleared our property but it could have been because I was on the ground.

As far as mauling goes, every story that I have ever read or heard was were people came home to find an intruder cornered and bleeding but I have never read that a Fila had actually killed someone. I'm not saying that they would not if they needed to but I have never heard of it.

I would love to hear of your experiences. Can never get enough Fila.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
Anglebears I meant no disrespect at all. Its just too many Filas are abandoned as adults or older puppies because the buyers did not REALLY UNDERSTAND the risk and behavior of this breed. Filas older than 8 months should almost never be rehomed so that means death, which is sad for the most human like canine on earth. I was just pointing out many Filas will pursue and bite. Sorry if that came off wrong.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
No, you didn't come off as disrespecting. As I said I really respect your knowledge and would like to learn more from it. I agree with you. These dogs are not meant for most people, myself included. More than likely these are the first and only 2 filas I will ever own. Which makes me sad, they are great dogs but I'm not a trainer and I'm not young. I do try to strongly dissuade most everyone that comes on here from getting a Fila. I just get tired of them sounding like they will eat their own family. They are the scariest dogs I have ever owned but the best most loving dogs I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my home with.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
I am open minded unlike many Fila people. None of us know as much as we might think we do. There are some extremely knowledgable Fila experts, but they are certainely not on this forum. But I have been around working dogs my whole life and Filas for awhile. Part of what determines how far a dog might go in a pursuit is that particular dogs prey drive, a quality few people seek in Filas these days. In my experience male Filas will pursue much farther than females, thats nots the same as temp testing or bitework. Everyone has a different definition of mauling. I can tell you a good one doesn't just give a nip and leave them alone, they give them a "Don't ever bring your punk ass around here again" series of bites. And if they get you down, or there is more than one dog they can kill you. And yes they have killed people. They are not blood thirsty, they have a job to do that is more important than life to them. The only time they would ever hurt their family is with their paws(bear claws) and that is by accident, however people with children under 8 or so should be carefull because they can scratch their eyes when they offer their paw which is, well you know that one.:eek:
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
I would have thought the same as AB myself. As they were bread to retrieve slaves who ran. I was always under the impression a Fila would hold, yet ramp it up as the aggressor ramped it up. Meaning if you held, they held, it you fight, they fight. I only know what I learn from ya'll or just reading the web and vids. I've kinda taken to AB way of explaining the worst because there has been way way to many filas round here lately. And it aint the number as much as some of the things folks do with them. I'll be the first to admit I was green as hell when I got Kona and probly had zero business with her. I see all the things I thought I was ready for and was'nt. And I read and read and read and figured I know whats what. But you really just wont understand till you own one. In all honesty, it's a shame I was even able to get Kona at the time. I had zero business with a Fila at the time.Of coarse I dont feel the same now but that day and the months to follow, it was stupid on everyones part.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
No, you didn't come off as disrespecting. As I said I really respect your knowledge and would like to learn more from it. I agree with you. These dogs are not meant for most people, myself included. More than likely these are the first and only 2 filas I will ever own. Which makes me sad, they are great dogs but I'm not a trainer and I'm not young. I do try to strongly dissuade most everyone that comes on here from getting a Fila. I just get tired of them sounding like they will eat their own family. They are the scariest dogs I have ever owned but the best most loving dogs I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my home with.

I agree so much with this. I also think its sad that people are trying to change the breed. I have never owned these dogs but they really do sound amazing in the right hands.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
I would have thought the same as AB myself. As they were bread to retrieve slaves who ran. I was always under the impression a Fila would hold, yet ramp it up as the aggressor ramped it up. Meaning if you held, they held, it you fight, they fight. I only know what I learn from ya'll or just reading the web and vids. I've kinda taken to AB way of explaining the worst because there has been way way to many filas round here lately. And it aint the number as much as some of the things folks do with them. I'll be the first to admit I was green as hell when I got Kona and probly had zero business with her. I see all the things I thought I was ready for and was'nt. And I read and read and read and figured I know whats what. But you really just wont understand till you own one. In all honesty, it's a shame I was even able to get Kona at the time. I had zero business with a Fila at the time.Of coarse I dont feel the same now but that day and the months to follow, it was stupid on everyones part.

Your right Chuck, Filas can hold with the best of mastiffs hence their name, however I have seen many spit the sleeve for another bite sometimes upstairs. That is different from most all breeds although I have seen Ovcharkas do the same. When I was talking about pursuing someone I was trying to show a worst case scenario. Some Filas can sit on the porch with the owner and someone could walk down the street and they stay put, but many will be gone the minute they see them, hear them or smell them. Like you said there are lots of new people with a "desire" for this breed and we should do our part to discourage unprepared owners. Just out of curiosity did your breeder no question you and your dog experience and living situation before he sold you a pup or was he happy to take your dough and be done with the dog? Regardless it sounds like you are happy with him and thats great.

---------- Post added at 08:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------

I agree so much with this. I also think its sad that people are trying to change the breed. I have never owned these dogs but they really do sound amazing in the right hands.

DD How do you specifically perceive they are changing the breed? And yes they are amazing!!
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Well in after being on here, I never should have gotten here from the folks I did. They were'nt really breeders but a cattle farm and the owners brother was a "breeder" . The only thing about that I dont doubt today, is they were actualy working Fila's. And again, after reading how some breeders are, well no they did'nt ask me 10% of what they should. This was my first non rescue dog ever so I really had no idea.

Likely alot of folks would have sold me one no doubt. As I tend absorb alot of info in a short time. I knew just what a Fila was. But I really had no clue just what a Fila was. Like I said, untill you have one, all the reading in the world just dont give you an understanding. You either assume they are straight up killers, or you assume it will be like any other hard dog. But you just wont get the complexity that is the Fila. Least my fila.

I mean I literally never trained a dog in my life. I had to actualy buy a book and listen to all the folks on this site. Mostly this site. I started way behind the ball on training. Had to have a super crash coarse on socializing "thanks to Angelbears" as who we got Kona from, never once told us anything about this. I mean it could have been a VERY VERY bad situation for everyone. I honestly worry for the rest of the litter. As these dogs were sold as fast as a person showed up it seems. All the males were spoken for and the last 2 females had folks on the way to get them.

Everything about the deal was just text book horrible. I had no idea about pedigree, health test, I did'nt even understand why you should not breed your own dog. When I say green, I was green. I thought I new but I was just a fool and am still a fool in many ways. It's bad when you know you would'nt sale your puppies to yourself. hahahahaha. But at the time, thats the reality. I'm just glad these folks here did'nt beat me up to bad for being that fool but helped me learn and do say fairly fast

---------- Post added at 06:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:51 AM ----------

And yes I am very happy now. But I totaly get the frustration of a new person swearing they got this. As that was me. We all think we can handle it regardless of the animal. We dont want to hear reality. And that ignorance or arrogance often ends bad for the dog or the person the dog bites

It double post anytime you post then post again with out leaving the orig post first
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
And yes I am very happy now. But I totaly get the frustration of a new person swearing they got this. As that was me. We all think we can handle it regardless of the animal. We dont want to hear reality. And that ignorance or arrogance often ends bad for the dog or the person the dog bites

It double post anytime you post then post again with out leaving the orig post first
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
DD How do you specifically perceive they are changing the breed? And yes they are amazing!!

Snapz Pro XSnapz009.jpg

This photo might be a common one if so I apologize, but this right here. From what I have been reading because of their temperament Filas were not to be touched or handled by others. This photo says a lot. I'm pretty sure it happens all the time people get these dogs not realizing what they are getting to so breeders opt to change the temp for bragging/potential buyers.

I read quite often that people blame AKC for ruining breeds, but to me AKC is nothing but a registry taking in the cash. The real "enemy" are parent clubs and breeders. Until these people are stopped this and many other breeds will fall just like their predecessors....
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
Good point DD. However the Fila will never follow the fate of the other working breeds because there are too many breeders who will never let that happen.

Chuck your honest with yourself, that's a rare quality these days in human beings. I will tell you the best Filas in the US are owned by private breeders. You will not see their pictures or videos on the internet, and you will not see litter announcements etc. These breeders will not even sell you a pup unless you are local and recommended by a friend and go thru a grilling. They will take dogs back as well. I will take mine back up to 6 months old, but if one properly vets the new living situation that should never happen. The biggest things new owners fail to grasp on young pups is the need for exercise and failure to do so resulting destructiveness, and people can never understand the attention needy nature of Filas if they have never owned one. You must be a real dog lover to own one, or they can get on your nerves. "He won't leave me alone. He follows me everywhere. He won't stop putting his paw on me. He likes to lick me and it is nasty". LOL
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Good point DD. However the Fila will never follow the fate of the other working breeds because there are too many breeders who will never let that happen.

Chuck your honest with yourself, that's a rare quality these days in human beings. I will tell you the best Filas in the US are owned by private breeders. You will not see their pictures or videos on the internet, and you will not see litter announcements etc. These breeders will not even sell you a pup unless you are local and recommended by a friend and go thru a grilling. They will take dogs back as well. I will take mine back up to 6 months old, but if one properly vets the new living situation that should never happen. The biggest things new owners fail to grasp on young pups is the need for exercise and failure to do so resulting destructiveness, and people can never understand the attention needy nature of Filas if they have never owned one. You must be a real dog lover to own one, or they can get on your nerves. "He won't leave me alone. He follows me everywhere. He won't stop putting his paw on me. He likes to lick me and it is nasty". LOL

I hope your right, but I do shake my head more I see breeders pop up.....

I agree with that notion and I think that's true with working dogs in general. Sometimes the "best" breeders are the ones that "do their own thing." ( not speaking BYB's) HA Thor fits the fila description perfectly, if he's not touching me in some way he has to be in the same room.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
DD You should hear the sounds Filas make if you lock them in a room besides there own and leave them there for 5 minutes alone. If they weren't dogs they could be opera singers, they sound so lonely and act like its the end of the world. BTW how is your new guy doing?
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Cane doesn't bay often but when he does, I swear it is the saddest sound I have ever heard. Ace your right, he only does it when I leave him, very rare but recently my son came over to babysit Cane, and was able to get him on his cellphone crying and baying at the front door waiting for my return.
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
Cane doesn't bay often but when he does, I swear it is the saddest sound I have ever heard. Ace your right, he only does it when I leave him, very rare but recently my son came over to babysit Cane, and was able to get him on his cellphone crying and baying at the front door waiting for my return.
"Fiel como um Fila" "Loyal as a Fila" They really do love us. He was probably worried you weren't coming back.:pray:
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Yea playing pretend with your self dont help no one. I dont know what you call it, but kona has a horible whine. My wife will actualy make me go out of the room if she dont want Kona in it. Cause she will follow me and if I shut her out, she just whines and whines
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Cane doesn't bay often but when he does, I swear it is the saddest sound I have ever heard. Ace your right, he only does it when I leave him, very rare but recently my son came over to babysit Cane, and was able to get him on his cellphone crying and baying at the front door waiting for my return.

Un oh. Sounds like it might be a problem for me the dogs have access to every room except the kitchen and the bedroom. It took a while but Thor got the hint usually if I leave he'll just lay there but every so often he'll follow me to the room but stand in the door way. Little bit hasn't quite got it yet but I'm working on it.

DD You should hear the sounds Filas make if you lock them in a room besides there own and leave them there for 5 minutes alone. If they weren't dogs they could be opera singers, they sound so lonely and act like its the end of the world. BTW how is your new guy doing?

LOL! What do they sound like? Thor has howled quite a few times when I left him in a strange place and its the funniest thing I ever heard. Sounds more like a low groan.

He's doing fine and I've had no more incidences that involve medical care, lol. Potty training is getting there, but the whining hasn't changed much. :rolleyes:
 

aceoutdoor

Well-Known Member
LOL! What do they sound like?
Its hard to describe. Its a howl of sorts, very depressing but with melody. Very loud. I have one female I can hear hundreds of feet away even though she is in the house. However I do have one male, the hardest I own ojeriza wise who when locked up has the most annoying, dry little girl yap/whine. It really breaks their heart when they know you are close and they can't be with you.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Its hard to describe. Its a howl of sorts, very depressing but with melody. Very loud. I have one female I can hear hundreds of feet away even though she is in the house. However I do have one male, the hardest I own ojeriza wise who when locked up has the most annoying, dry little girl yap/whine. It really breaks their heart when they know you are close and they can't be with you.

LMAO!!! You'd never guess by looking at them that they were even capable of making such noises. :D