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Hello! New an eager for some additional Fila info!

Sitka

New Member
Hi! I own a 8 month old Fila x Neapolitian and can find very little useful information on the Fila. From what I have read, my female Sitka is leaning towards a hard temperament. She is very wary of strangers, and if she lets them know from barking and stance and they approach (happened one time) she doesn't hesitate to lunge. When I purchased her, I inquired about the Fila and she told me wonderful stories about her, and I could find little information online.
Was just curious what others would recommend to maybe better control my pup. She's been heavily socialized with adults and other dogs through classes and dog park. Does not allow children near her.
She is also 94 lbs at 8 months, on large breed formula food with controlled feelings 3x daily.
 

cookiedough39

Well-Known Member
Every dog is different in temperament. However most Filas are this way. It's what they were bred for. They love to guard space. Your puppy is only doing what use to be required of the breed. I have a 17 wk old Corso that is the same way. She will actually circle strangers until she if comfortable with them. It will take lots of patience and lots of friends to get her to the point where she will let a stranger in her space and be ok with it. Please do not let anybody try to pet her unless you know she is ready. She will never loose this temperament but with lots of work you will be able to control it a little better. As far as the kids thing, if she was not raised with kids it is going to be hard for her to tolerate them. Your best bet would be to take her around kids (at a good distance) a whole lot, so she can start to be comfortable around them. I'm no Fila expert but I know a couple people with Filas and they are hard core.
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
no amount of socialization will make her allow strangers in her space/home/yard etc...continue with of obedience and do her a favor and STOP the dog parks!you are setting her up to fail at a dog park!if you have read up on the Filas and Neos,I do not understand what you are trying to stop.it sounds as if she is doing what the genetics of both breeds are telling her to do.I do suggest keeping up with the socialization.socialization does not have to be in the middle of a dog park or pet store.it can be getting her used to walking on a busy road,working her with her obedience commands.go to a park while a baseball game is going on,be far enough away for her not to have the need to protect, but close enough to be exposed to the sounds.while there,again work her in obedience,have her focus on you.all you can do to make her be a confident dog,will benefit you both.
 

Sitka

New Member
no amount of socialization will make her allow strangers in her space/home/yard etc...continue with of obedience and do her a favor and STOP the dog parks!you are setting her up to fail at a dog park!if you have read up on the Filas and Neos,I do not understand what you are trying to stop.it sounds as if she is doing what the genetics of both breeds are telling her to do.I do suggest keeping up with the socialization.socialization does not have to be in the middle of a dog park or pet store.it can be getting her used to walking on a busy road,working her with her obedience commands.go to a park while a baseball game is going on,be far enough away for her not to have the need to protect, but close enough to be exposed to the sounds.while there,again work her in obedience,have her focus on you.all you can do to make her be a confident dog,will benefit you both.


When we are at the dog park she is always under control on leash Andalusia it was on the advise of trainers to get her used to sounds and smells. Thank you so much for the advise though, I will use it!
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
When we are at the dog park she is always under control on leash Andalusia it was on the advise of trainers to get her used to sounds and smells. Thank you so much for the advise though, I will use it!
you are welcome,you have hit the jackpot of Fila knowledge on this forum!many of us with many,many years of Fila experience. I have had Filas for almost 20yrs and use the methods with my dogs.I also,thankfully,have a trainer who has had Filas just as long.she and I got our Filas at the same time and worked with a Fila kennel for 4 yrs before we got ours.please use other places to get her used to those things. dog parks can be awful places because of others,even with you being responsible.all it takes is one idiot!!I forgot to add we LOVE pics!!
 

Sitka

New Member
Thanks for the information, I'm so grateful to have found knowledgeable Fila owners. I knew absolutely ZERO about the Fila before I brought her home. I will avoid dog parks, would you recommend muzzling for vet appt's or when friends come over? Generally I crate her if someone comes over.
 

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fila4me

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the information, I'm so grateful to have found knowledgeable Fila owners. I knew absolutely ZERO about the Fila before I brought her home. I will avoid dog parks, would you recommend muzzling for vet appt's or when friends come over? Generally I crate her if someone comes over.
she is a cutie!love the 2nd pic. I would muzzle at the vet and just continue to crate at home.
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
I would also suggest having folks over alot who will be around the pups. Like your kids, or parents, or best friend, or anyone you wish to be around the dog. I mean alot to. Not here and there. If it does have a fila temp once that temp hits it will be a very long up hill battle to bring in new people
 

DennasMom

Well-Known Member
I love that fila4me pointed out "socialization" is not all about "interacting" with other dogs and people - but more about getting used to different situations and experiencing new things. Going to the local baseball park and walking around it at a comfortable (for the dog) distance is a GREAT idea! I'm going to have to do that one, too... we're always looking for new places to go and experience... and "socialize".
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Adorable pup~ We have very knowledgeable Fila owners on here. You've come to the right place for advice and info.
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Yes, that is what is hard to get sometimes about socializing. With our fila, Cane, we were told to get as many hands on him as we could while he would accept strangers. That didn't last very long but we did still try to get him out around all kind of different situation. We would go to Sonic and order him an ice cream cone, we would go to community garage sales, got a lot of stuffies for him to tear up(for a quarter or less), he also got to see a lot of people walking around. If your pup rides well, take him out as much as possible.

Always remember though, "Safety First"! Try to never put your dog in a situation that could get him and you in trouble.
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
Yea I took Kona every where we could. People every where. While we could. But thats a few short months. Then you will need to keep more distance. And if your lucky, once the pup matures it wont be a crazy dog as long as folks stay out of yalls space.
 

Sitka

New Member
Oh perfect, thanks for all the useful information.
Could you recommend some ways to tell people not to touch her without scaring them? People are always drawn in by the way she moves and her intense expression and when my sister takes her out people always are approaching and want to show her love, which Sitka does not want. And it's even hard to explain to my sister that just because she avoids them and doesn't always lunge, and or growl doesn't mean she won't the next time and the more I'm learning its making me nervous, if I'm not the one in control of her. I've never owned a guardian breed and its a whole new ball game for me and I don't want people to necessarily be afraid of her, but just respect her.
 

Kujo

Well-Known Member
You could get her a vest that says "In training, do not pet" or something along those lines...

Also just wanted to say that she is adorable!!
 

Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
They do have specific items for dogs that don't like to be touched. If you look up DINOS (Dogs in need of space) they have lots of suggestions.
 

Sitka

New Member
Wonderful, I will look that up. And the vest would be a perfect tool in addition to me making sure she always has space and isn't feeling the need to protect.
Thanks again! I cannot say how thankful I am to have found all of you!
I've thought of rehoming her, but she is so wonderful, attentive, vocal and goofy. And I realize I should have better researched before bringing her home. I feel like I'm better prepared in giving her space and just working extra on the obedience and not forcing her to let people touch her.
She is amazing with other dogs, so amazing. My mothers chihuahua and toy poodle are evil little dogs and attack her if they come over and she will just lay on top of them until they settle.
 

chuckorlando

Well-Known Member
I would muzzle the dog. If you cant trust who ever is walking the dog, then at least keep the mouth under wraps. I dont let folks get close enough to pet Kona. And your pup likely wont after a bit. At some point the dogs gonna go hog wild. When it's in temp yet dont have the confidence in her self yet, they can become real beast. And the last thing you want to do is hide the dog when this happens. You have to socialize right through it. Thats when you change how you do it. At a distance.

Fila's can and should be an extreme breed. They need to be dealt with using alot of caution and awareness of the breed and whats going on around you at all times.