Owning a Fila

[WyomingWild]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post/tread/forum ever. My husband and I are considering owning a Fila. We really love the breed and the degree of protection and loyalty that comes with them. We live in rural wyoming and my husband is a State Trooper, so home protection to us is very important.

We currently have a South African Mastiff (Boerbel) and we love her, she is such a sweetheart, but she is not wary of strangers at all. I will take her on runs and if someone comes up behind us or approaches us she would rather get pets and love then show any sign of defense.

I dont like this because I have to run on the highways and you just never know what creeps will try stupid things, but there really isnt much i could do to stop them. Especially when my dogs wont even try to ward them off.

So, we know we want a more aggressive/protective of a breed. My concern is how different your life changes when owning a Fila. We are ready to make whatever changes we need (Kenneling, leashing, fencing, etc) but i would just like to get some perspective on your personal experiencing and how life changed for you. Lets be honest -- owning a fila would change how you live than owning any other type of dog, right?

Also, we own horses and enjoy trail riding all summer, along with camping. Anyone do the same? Can your Fila come along off leash or will they attack anyone in sight?

Thanks!

 

[filagiel]

Owning a Fila is life changing. The hardest part IMO is getting your Fila to bond to someone that doesn't live with you that you can count on to feed and care for them when you take a vacation. My older kids are the only ones that can feed are dogs if we want to leave for a short trip. I own horses as well, but anywhere we ride dogs have to be leashed so that doesn't work for us. We do take our dogs on camping trips but again they have to be leashed. I am overly cautious with my dogs, I don't want them to bite someone so if they go they are always on a leash. Friends and family know the drill they have to call 15 minutes ahead so I can put the dogs up. They are the best dog I've ever owned

 

[dogman#1]

Obviously most of your concerns are going to depend on the dog you own. There are some, apparently, that can be trained to sit off leash quietly near people (I really do not recommend this) and those that no matter what you do cannot be off leash near anyone else. If it were me, I'd err on the side of caution and never have them off leash in an area where any person might (not even how remote) come along. so to answer your question about off leash horse riding... no. people come over and you like them... dog gets put away. It really isn't that hard to own a fila once you get used to it... no complacency, no "OMG he/she never did that before"... just don't let them near people that they don't know w/o a leash on... too simple.

 

[angelbears]

I agree with dogman. At least until you have owned this breed and truly understand it. Don't forget it can take a year or more for its' true temperament to come in. So, just because at 6 months you could take him to the town square at 7 months it may be a totally different dog.

Have you thought about vacations or what if a family emergency arises? Are you physically able to constrain him? I'm a fat 50 year old woman. Who used to think she was pretty strong for a female. My Fila, Cane took me down about 10 pegs. Cane is on the large end, he weighs 170 to 180 and if he decides to go there is not a damn thing I can do. I hang on and buy time. If you are a nervous or anxious person you will have a harder time owning a Fila. Not saying that you can't own one but they do better with a strong confident leader.

All that being said, they are not maniacs. They are wonderful dogs who will die to protect you but you need to have that same commitment to keep him safe.

 

[Tubarao'smom]

We have horses as well and tubarao has never liked them. No amount of socialization would change his mind. He views them as a threat and acts accordingly. He will listen to my commands to calm down but I can see it in his eyes, he views them as prey/threat same goes for the cow we have. Now this could just be my fila I don't know. They are great dogs but they are night and day compared to other dogs and do require you to adjust your life to suit them.

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[zebraworks]

read this article that does a good job of describing different types of temperament that you could potentially expect from a person that used to breed filas (where your particular dog will fall will not be known positively based on the parents, though the genetic aspect has a strong influence): http://www.sombraultrajantefilas.com/documents/dowdyarticle.pdf

I would fence in your place, I live rural and even though we might only have a person walk by 1x or 2x a year it takes away alot of stress if you contain your dog in.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome~ How old is your Boerbel? Pics are necessary.

 

[WyomingWild]

Hi Everyone-

Thank you for your responses, they really helped. What everyone is saying, is what we were expecting. I think it is just a matter of choice now. If we are ready to make this change. Right now we really don't have to think about who our dogs are around and if people come over. We rarely have people over, but we do every once and a while and we take trips to my parents and in laws about once a year. So, that is definitely where are changes would be taking place and just with life in general.

I agree with not having a Fila off leash, better not leave the decision up to him/her with no chance of constraint. That is also what the breeder said that we have been talking to.
Angelbears - My strength and ability to restrain a Fila would be questionable. I am a confident dog handler/owner and would not say I am timid, but there might not be much you can do holding back a 170lb Fila. Hopefully good training and respect from the dog would come in to play?

I will let you guys know what we decide. Are there any other mastiff breeds that you all would recommend? We love the mastiffs (I have yet to have a dog too big) and we want something more protective. I also personally want a dog that i can take on runs 3-4 miles only, that i will feel protected with, but also might enjoy it... My borebel literally rolls her eyes when I say we are going on a run. Her favorite sport is sunbathing But she is a trooper and sticks it out!
If you have any suggestions please feel free to share.

 

[Siloh]

I want to respond with suggestions, but I thought better leave it to the experts. All I'll say is there seem to be other mastiffs out there who would do just fine for protection dogs without being the extreme--filas.

I am curious, though, for when the experts come along... How does the dogo do for protection purposes? I know they are certainly athletic and would be fine with running. I've always wondered if dogos would protect from a human threat (vs a cat or other large game).


"Nothing is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so."
Hamlet Prince of Denmark

 

[WyomingWild]

Siloh-- That's what we were wondering too. We also like the Dogo - didn't know how protective it was. As much as i love our boeboel, she just isn't wary of strangers or protective. Atleast when we are out and about. At home she will bark and growl if someone is at the door but once we open it, its all love. Maybe a fault in her breed? I am not sure. But yes, the dogo would be athletic enough no doubt.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Your Boerboel is lovely!

I own a Tibetan Mastiff, not a Fila, but some things are similer. So I want to thank you very very much for taking the time and energy to do your research!

 

[dogman#1]

Wild, I will suggest a female for you... they are just as protective (sometimes more so) as the males and more than capable of taking down a grown man. The females are smaller, more controllable but they also mature faster both mentally and physically. They are usually quicker to attack than males are and their intent is recognizable instantly.

 

[WyomingWild]

Thank you for your advice


We do love our Boerbel too and definitely find it necessary in doing the research- for any breed really but definitely for one that has such a strong defined personality.

One other question:

I know many of you said it is a life style change and friends and family know that and know your routine. Can i ask what your family (outside of the household) and friends felt about the choice of dog and how things have changed at your house? I know in the end its you and your households decision and outside people shouldn't influence it, but did you find peoples reaction to your choice in breed to be upsetting or neutral? Let's be honest, it would be intimidating to enter a home of someones who has a Fila and knowing the breed and that they do not like strangers, especially in the house.

 

[Hector]

I don't know the amount of running you do, but I don't think a fila would make a good running partner. At least I know my fila doesn't make a good running partner not that I can run too much anyway.

Also, just because you get a guardian breed, it does not mean it will protect you. Many times size alone is a good deterrent.

 

[chuckorlando]

Kona would run with you all day every day. Only things she likes more then running is killing things that run from her, and eating anything she can get.

I simply could never allow kona off a leash. Though she seems to not see kids as much a threat, I would never trust that notion.

We have parties for easter and the like with lots of people. Everyone knows to stay away from the dog when I have her on leash and it's not a problem. Just keep them away. Most of that time she is locked in her own room though.

There are lots of dogs from lots of breeds that will protect you. But not many breeds who has protection ingrained in their dna. It is the filas life to protect and serve(or piss you off). At least in theory.

Most folks at our get togethers just stand in awe at the Lion on a leash ahahahahaha. A few friends dont like her so much cause they cant pet her. But thats her job, to bite them very people if they ever become a foe. I dont want anyone friendly with my fila so there is no question for either of them. Jump my fence or break in my house, my own father is going down. Thats her job and why we have her

 

[Tubarao'smom]

Another thing to consider is fila's are not typically the jogging kind of dog. It may be hard pressed to convince a fila to jog 3-4 miles. While they can be athletic and strong I'm not sure they are best for this.

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[Tubarao'smom]

Thank you for your advice


We do love our Boerbel too and definitely find it necessary in doing the research- for any breed really but definitely for one that has such a strong defined personality.

One other question:

I know many of you said it is a life style change and friends and family know that and know your routine. Can i ask what your family (outside of the household) and friends felt about the choice of dog and how things have changed at your house? I know in the end its you and your households decision and outside people shouldn't influence it, but did you find peoples reaction to your choice in breed to be upsetting or neutral? Let's be honest, it would be intimidating to enter a home of someones who has a Fila and knowing the breed and that they do not like strangers, especially in the house.

Personally we don't have people over. Family events happen at other family members houses. Now i have it set up where if I have someone over the dogs are put up. I built an 8ft solid oak privacy fence around an acre that I can safely put them inside and not have to worry about any escapes or run in's with guests.

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[musicdeb]

Gotta love the Fila owners! Chuck, you just lay it down like it is.

 

[dogman#1]

I did 3-5 miles 2Xs a week with mine... she hated it but did it anyway. My house was like grand central station... lots of people in and out and because of this the dogs would be put outside for much of the day and let in the house at night. My mother hates filas as she thinks they will kill the whole family in our sleep, lol. most of our friends love filas and find them interesting to see their reactions towards them but of course they could never touch them.

 

[mountainfila]

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/froghollerfilas/FilaFAQ.html

Thought that this would fit in this post, its a good read for new people interested in the breed