Starting to train Kona

[chuckorlando]

Of coarse I can AB. With in reason. Can I walk her into a crowd, likely not. Can she be off lead, no. Hell you cant even walk up to us. But if I have her on lead, I can walk her where ever I want more or less. But always, ALWAYS, she finds one fool that she goes off on. She always picks one or two people that she has nothing but hate for. Everyone else, if they stay out the buffer zone she is fine. But she wa raised around groups. Every camping trip she goes, every holiday get together she goes, any place we go she goes. I have likely logged more in door leash time than most here. But there is almost no place I cant take kona as long as I know the people and they know how to deal with the dog. And when we are out, everyone gets the list of do's and dont's in regards to the black dog. But of coarse the places she goes, are places we have pre controled the environment. Like camping. For us to go camping we can no longer tent camp. We have to rent an rv or cabin because of her. Then we set her up on about a 15ft run when we are outside with her. Then my chair goes at about the 13ft mark. The rest of the chairs span out away from her. So if she intended on acting a fool, and she has, she cant do nothing. Once your in the circle your good(unless your the guy she picked). But every time you walk up, she will go off. Any stranger who try's to walk up, she goes off. So yea, I can take her where I want. It just takes a shit ton of work and constantly being aware of whats around you. The adults are easy. No one wants around Kona. It's the kids you have to keep on top of. Does she try to bite folks, hell yes. Every single day she will try. But if she is on leash and I have her and respect our space, she likely wont give you any trouble. On her run you had just better stay out of it cause I aint holding her to redirect her. But if she acts a fool on lead, I will simply shut the foolishness down. Let her know that aint no threat, and carry on.

 

[chuckorlando]

To add to that, I am a believer that many fila are so intolerant of strangers because once they become a threat, we pull them behind doors. Instead of pushing through we lock them up at 8m old. Soon as the temp comes in. I think they learn from the first few experiences. They see a stranger, they go off, we run and hide them.... They never learn not to go off. By the time they have the confidence they needed to not have to show their ass, all they learned was to show their ass. When the whole golf club deal happened she was wild as hell with her temp. I just pushed right through it. Keep going till her hard temp matches her confidence. She in no way's wants nothing to do with anyone but us. But I like to think she knows she can crush you, she just waits for more reason and if I say it's ok, it's ok

 

[angelbears]

To add to that, I am a believer that many fila are so intolerant of strangers because once they become a threat, we pull them behind doors. Instead of pushing through we lock them up at 8m old. Soon as the temp comes in. I think they learn from the first few experiences. They see a stranger, they go off, we run and hide them.... They never learn not to go off. By the time they have the confidence they needed to not have to show their ass, all they learned was to show their ass. When the whole golf club deal happened she was wild as hell with her temp. I just pushed right through it. Keep going till her hard temp matches her confidence. She in no way's wants nothing to do with anyone but us. But I like to think she knows she can crush you, she just waits for more reason and if I say it's ok, it's ok

I more than agree with you. I had to do that with Cane because he was too strong by the time he was about 9 months to a year, I could not hold him and I was not willing to take a chance of someone innocent getting hurt. We don't have a circle of friends that we interact with, so the only thing Cane encountered was strangers. In the last year he has finally calmed down. He doesn't lunge and act a fool like he used to.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Stupid question here...what are your guys feeling on muzzles and Fila's? DONT SHOOT ME FOR ASKING!! I am just wonder is all. Say you wanted to or needed to take Kona or Cane in to a busy public area, the main shopping street for example, would you consider muzzling? Or is that completely unfair on the Fila?

 

[chuckorlando]

Yea I dont see anything wrong with that at all. Diffrent life style all together. You know I dont think any dog needs to fit anyone else standards. Train him or not, socialize or not, if it works for you it works.I wont lie, I wont let my wife handle Kona out around people for the same reason, she could not stop her. And with a fila, at the end of the day, the most important thing is being able to stop the dog. She sure as hell aint gonna just recall. Thats when you need to be the bigger gorilla.

 

[chuckorlando]

I would never take Kona to a place like that. When kona is arround people it's people we know. But we have a muzzle just for that type of deal. Like the vet. Small check in room....

enclosed? check
humans? check
small animals? check

Thats a fila's wet dream. ahahahaha

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

hahaha.

 

[angelbears]

MM, I have no problems with a muzzle. However, back when we were trying to take him out and about his chin stayed raw and I just didn't won't to put one on him. Now, Ziva she is small enough that I could take her out. I would put a muzzle on her though. I just don't have the need to take the dogs with me when I'm out, so it's not a big deal.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Cool - now I know. I was just wondering how Fila humans take their babies 'in public' and is a Fila good with a muzzle. Now I know - happy MM.

 

[chuckorlando]

well they can hate the muzzle. But if it's them being unhappy for a bit, or someone getting possibly bitten, be sad bitch, be real sad. ahahahahaha

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

hahahaha!!

 

[aceoutdoor]

To add to that, I am a believer that many fila are so intolerant of strangers because once they become a threat, we pull them behind doors. Instead of pushing through we lock them up at 8m old. Soon as the temp comes in. I think they learn from the first few experiences. They see a stranger, they go off, we run and hide them.... They never learn not to go off.

That applies to some Filas but certainly not all. My Alpha female is a mean bitch. She is the most confident, hard ass guard dog I have ever seen and the last dog you would ever want on you. That being said if I give her a proper introduction, tell her this person is a friend, I hold their hand and let her smell them she will tolerate them just fine. Now if they make an aggressive move or yell its on. I actually prefer that kind of intelligent, restrained aggression in a Fila even though some consider that soft. On the other hand I have some that are hard as a rock at a very young age and there is no socializing or pushing them thru that. In fact their ojeriza is so strong you are risking a bite just trying to socialize them. They are as hard temped as they come and there is no way to reduce that, they don't just distrust strangers they HATE them. They are not for your average owner because they are a handfull. My point is with the latter, after they turn on you must keep them away from any non family.

 

[chuckorlando]

Oh yea no doubt. Thats why I only say many. Some are just off the hinges. And if you buy a Fila, your best bet is to treat every pup like it will be the worst untill you know other wise. I would hope that by the time your pup is to a size you cant hardly restrain, you would have a grasp on how hard of a dog your working with.

 

[aceoutdoor]

Chuck the video in your sig... "A Fila Brasileiro will walk on water". HAHAHA WTF Dude? Wow that was surreal.

 

[chuckorlando]

AB sent that to me. I love that song now. ahahahahahaha. You gotta pay attention to catch what they say, but it's bad ass. Slim must be a Fila guy.

A Fila Brasileiro, will snack on a blood hound, and use the bones to clean out his mouth. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[aceoutdoor]

A Fila Brasileiro will stand on the mountain, oohhhh hear him howl! LOL He's gonna hunt you down. HAHAHA