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Frequently Asked Questions about the
Fila
Provided by Lisa Ford – Frogholler
Filas
The standard calls for bitches that are between the heights of 23.5
to 27.5
inches at the withers, weighing over 90 pounds. Males are expected
to fall
between 25.5 and 29.5 inches and over 100 pounds. Oversized dogs are
to
be faulted in the ring, and undersized dogs are to be disqualified.
Generally,
females are around 26 inches and 110 pounds and males are often 28
inches
and 140 pounds. The Fila is not fully mature until it is 3 years
old, although
much of its growth is done during its first year.
An adult Fila fed a premium kibble will usually eat between 4 and 6
cups of
food a day. A puppy may eat between 6 and 8 cups of the same kibble
as a
youngster, with male pups generally eating more than female pups. If
fed a
biologically appropriate raw diet, the Fila will consume between 1.5
to 4
pounds of raw meaty bones in a 24 hour period. Pups fed via this
method
should especially be kept on the lean side as the food is more
bio-available.
The Fila is known for having what Brazilians term, Ojeriza, or a
strong
dislike for, distrust of, hatred of, or having ill-will towards
strangers. Most
Filas will not allow strangers to touch them, and many don’t
appreciate being
talked to by a stranger. They are excellent guardians and
protectors, and
take their job very seriously. If pressed a Fila WILL bite. It is
not recommended that a Fila be allowed loose when a stranger is
present in its home. Due to the Fila being very territorial, they
are not likely to appreciate a stranger in their home, and the
smallest infraction from a guest could be all that the Fila needs to
show its displeasure. It is the responsibility of the owner to
socialize and train their Fila to remain calm and under control. If
this is done, the Fila can easily be a part of society without the
general public knowing that the dog is protective in nature. They
can be walked down the streets through crowds, taken in stores, and
able to accompany their owners in elevators, buses, etc., without
incident, as long as no one poses a threat to them or their family.
But, if confronted, they will not hesitate to stand their ground and
defend their person.
In general, the Fila is very adoring and aware of its family’s
moods. If left
to its own devises, the Fila will gladly be a couch potato. They are
fun-loving
and silly, and they are able to display a sense of humor. Usually
the Fila will
pick out one family member to call its own, and they will follow
this person
around the house like a shadow. Most will try to sit on their
person, so as to
be as close as possible to that person. In the absence of their
primary
owner, they will fall back on the rest of the family. In comparing
their
attitude in public with being at home in the presence of family, it
is fair to
say that they are almost completely opposite. A regular Dr Jekyl and
Mr
Hyde, if you will.
Filas are good with THEIR children. This doesn't mean that Filas are
good
with ALL children. To many Fila, a child is just another stranger,
but in a
smaller form. The fact that many kids rough-house is reason enough
to not
trust a Fila with children outside the family. With its own kids,
the Fila is
gentle and tolerant.
Assuming that the dog didn’t have a bad experience as a puppy, most
Filas
are good with other animals. There are some that are not tolerant to
other
dogs, but this is the exception and not the rule. The Fila will not
generally
tolerate another dog vying for it’s position as alpha-dog though. If
another
dog is willing to accept the Fila as the boss, then, for the most
part, all is
well. The Fila is noted for not having a high prey drive. There are
those
that are used for hunting large game, and most will happily give
chase to a
rabbit, but for the most part, they are able to get along with
livestock and
other family pets.
In days of old, the Fila had many jobs assigned to it. Its roles
included
service as an estate guardian, a cattle drover and a jaguar hunter.
It has
been used as an army dog and it was even used by Brazilian slave
owners to
capture run-away slaves. In this day and age, the Fila is primarily
kept as a
guardian and companion.
8. What is their life
span?
In America, the Fila doesn’t seem to enjoy a long life. In Brazil,
they claim
the Fila is able to live well into its twelfth year. A Fila here
that has made it
to the age of 8 years is lucky indeed.
Unfortunately, this noble, rare breed does have several major health
concerns. Like other large, fast-growing, deep chested breeds, the
Fila is
plagued primarily with Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Bloat.
Nor is
cancer a rarity with the Fila either. Hip and elbow dysplasia is
most easily controlled when breeders do genetic screening on their
breeding stock and only breed the dogs that are normal. Bloat is a
very dangerous disease that has unknown causes. Some believe that it
is genetic in nature, while others feel that it is due to stress.
There are those that feel that it is a result of feeding bulky
kibbled diets that swell after being eaten. Most likely, it is a
combination of all of these. Regardless, it can be fatal if the
signs are ignored and it is allowed to progress. Once the stomach
begins to fill with gas, it will start to flip itself over,
otherwise known as torsion. When this occurs, the stomach is
deprived of its circulation and dies or becomes necrotic. Once this
stage has happened, there is usually no turning back. The toxins
from the dead tissues are released systemically and the dog dies.
The best way to deal with this disease is through prevention. Don't
feed your dog a food that swells when it is mixed with water. Limit
water around meal times. Limit activity for one hour before, and a
couple of hours after, a meal. Try to keep the dog's environment as
stress-free as possible. And, don't let you dog over eat on a food
source that is known to absorb water and swell. Some lines of Filas
suffer from eyelid disorders. One is entropion, where the eyelid is
a bit folded in towards the eyeball, which causes the eye lashes to
scratch the cornea. This is a serious problem as it is very
uncomfortable for the dog and can cause blindness if severe enough.
Many puppies will have mild entropion that they will outgrow by one
year if given the chance. The other eyelid disorder is ectropion.
This is more common and is found most often in males. It is where
the eyelid is a bit too loose and hangs open a bit showing the haw.
Many feel that this is part of the 'look' of the Fila, and give the
breed its look of melancholy. Dogs with ectropion are more likely to
suffer irritation from dust and pollen, and they will have more
tears and eye discharge. Other than those mentioned, Filas remain
relatively free from other health concerns.
Very carefully! It would take pages to explain the process of
adopting an
adult Fila, but it is possible. Understand that Filas are extremely
devoted to
their owners. When removed from this chosen person, the Fila is
lost. It is
usually only a matter of a week before they are looking for someone
new to
call theirs. It is during this week that the new owner must be very
careful
not to push the dog’s progress too quickly, because doing so will
result in
setbacks. With one-on-one time spent together, the dog will likely
seek the
affection of the new person soon enough. It is also possible to
adopt an
adult Fila into a family environment, but this task is much more
tricky. All
family members must understand exactly what they are getting into
and
then strictly adhere to specific guidelines, or the adoption is
likely to be
lengthy and tremulous, at best.
It is true, some Filas look like hounds and others look more like
mastiffs.
Being that this is not a breed that has followed a standard for very
long,
there is a lot of variety within the breed. Some say that the hound
look is
more correct, with the other type being Fila-bastards resulting from
cross-breeding of true Filas with different types of mastiffs. The
opposite
end of the spectrum, states that this breed is to look like a
molosser first
and foremost. Each breeder has a type that they will prefer and
their dogs
will tend to look like the dogs that they wish to look at. As long
as the
individual animal can be compared to and fits within the breed
standard, it is
considered to be correct. So, pick the type that you like best and
find an
ethical breeder that produces this look. If you are familiar with
the
standard, and you are able to see the faults in a dog of either
type, then you
will rest more comfortably knowing that you will get a dog of which
you can
be proud.
The Fila comes in three colors - fawn, brindle and black. With these
three
colors come many shades, from cream to red, and from red with a few
black
stripes to almost its reverse, black with a few red stripes. These
three
colors can be solid, or they are allowed to have white markings
limited to
their chests, feet, and tips of tails, but no more than 1/4 of the
dog’s total
body should be covered with these markings of white. The coat of the
Fila
is short and soft, lying relatively flat along its skin. They tend
to shed in the
Spring and Fall, although this can be greatly minimized by weekly
bathing in
warm water during these times. Brushing is not needed often, but it
does
help to distribute the oils in the coat and remove any dead hairs.
Usually, yes. There is the occasional stubborn Fila, or the
super-intelligent
one that is always testing you. For the most part the Fila wants to
please its
owner, and because of this, they try really hard to learn what is
being taught
to them. Nothing is quite as happy as a Fila who has the praise of
its owner.
It is important to remember when training a Fila pup, that this dog
will likely
weigh over 100 pounds as an adult. Something that isn’t cute at that
size
should not be tolerated when the dog is young. In general, females
have a
longer attention span as puppies. Potty training comes easily for
the vigilant,
persistent owner. Like any dog, clarity, consistency, praise, and
well-timed
discipline are most important. In turn you will have love, respect,
and a
well-behaved companion who will give its life to protect you if the
need
presents itself.
14. Are Filas good
indoor dogs?
Absolutely!! No where else is the Fila happier than in the home of
his owner.
This breed is only able to give its all when it has a one-on-one
relationship
with its family, and this is most easily achieved when the dog is
allowed to
live inside the home with its people. The level of training that the
dog
receives when it is first introduced to the home as a pup, will
directly
reflect on its behavior as an adult. A dog that lacks discipline as
a puppy,
will lack discipline as an adult. A dog that is given rules and
limits will likely
grow up respecting these rules and limits as an adult. Destructive
behaviors
such as chewing should be nipped in the bud. Not much different than
any
other breed, except that the level of love and adoration that the
Fila
returns to you is ten-fold. Once the puppy stages are over, Filas
make
trustworthy indoor animals.
Surprisingly, not much. Being a relatively calm, easy-going dog to
start with,
the Fila could not be categorized as hyper-active or high-strung.
Although
the breed is a large one, and appropriate exercise is important, the
young
Fila does not need, nor should it be subjected to, a rigorous daily
walk. Most
Filas do well with indoor or backyard play as puppies, and a hike or
weekly
play-time with another dog as an adult. Once their joints and
skeletal
system is mature and strong, they are willing and able to jog for 10
miles or
they are equally content to lay at their owner’s feet. The
occasional
tension-burning gallop at full-speed ahead is enough to keep most
Filas calm
and relaxed.
Every person raises their dogs a little different. Most will agree
that not
only is crate-training necessary, but training and socializing in
general is of
utmost importance. Like any other dog, the Fila needs to be trained
with
consistency and love. Rules must be adhered to, and correction given
appropriately. It is important to socialize your Fila puppy because
this is
creating the foundation of confidence for the rest of the dog’s
life. Picture
a Fila puppy like this: the pup’s psyche is sitting in a barn with
the doors wide
open. It is accepting of new things and situations, and is most
willing to
react in a positive way to stimuli. As that pup matures those barn
doors
begin to close. When that dog is anywhere between 6 months and 3
years of
age, the barn doors close shut. It is difficult to introduce the dog
to a new
person, situation, or stimuli. A puppy that was happily walked in a
crowded
city, will be at ease in any city as an adult. A pup that has never
been
outside the confines of its own yard is not likely to cope well with
something
as confusing as a walk around the block, much less a bustling city
street.
The best way to raise a Fila puppy is to give it some basic limits,
always try
to nurture its confidence, and encourage its respect. In the end,
you will
have a dog that is a pleasure to own, one that will be confident
enough to
come to your aid if it must, and one that you can control with ease.
This is quite the debated topic in the Fila world. There are some
who think
that by socializing your puppy, you are ruining its temperament.
There are
others who feel that socializing includes forcing a Fila pup to be
touched by
strangers. In this author’s opinion, the truth lies in the middle. A
friendly
Fila puppy that is willing to be pet by strangers should be
encouraged to act
according to its nature. It should always be supervised and
strangers should
not attempt to control it or discipline it. By keeping a friendly
puppy at
home, away from all people, it will only loose the chance to build
its
confidence at a young age. It may still be friendly, but instead it
is now
somewhat nervous or shy too! That is no good. The reverse is true as
well.
An aggressive puppy should not be locked up for fear that it will
try to get
everyone in sight. Rather, it needs to begin obedience where it
learns to
‘Leave It!’. An unfriendly puppy should still be able to stand
quietly in public
and behave without lunging and acting silly. But by forcing this
puppy to be
handled by strangers, you may be creating a dog that is vindictive,
and when given the chance
as an adult, will retaliate. This too is no good. Let your puppy be
the judge.
If it wants to go up to someone, let it. Keep the experience short
and
pleasant for the puppy. If it doesn’t want to go up to someone, tell
the
person that the puppy is lacking its shots, that it has an ear ache,
or that it
is in a crabby mood, and DON’T make it be social. Your puppy will be
the
guide, so learn to read your puppy! At this time in its life, let
your Fila puppy
be a puppy. Don’t agitate it or try to ‘bring out’ its temperament.
This will
only result in an extremely confused puppy that has had its
confidence shook
instead of strengthened, and a disappointed owner that can’t
understand why
their Fila wouldn’t protect them at the tender age of 4 months.
Would you
expect a 3 year old child to stand its ground with an aggravated
adult
attacker? Probably not. Then don’t expect this from your puppy.
Rejoice in
its youth and antics, they outgrow this phase (and size!) really
quickly!
If it is impossible to go on vacation WITH your Fila, then you will
be faced
with leaving its care with someone else. It is possible, although
this is a
situation that you should prepare for when your Fila is a puppy.
Introduce it
to the person or facility that you intend to leave the dog with.
When it is a
puppy you will likely have an open window to do this. As the dog
matures it
will be less and less tolerant to new introductions. So take
advantage of this
during its youth! Have the person meet the pup at least once a
month, or
better yet, every week for several months. If this is a relative or
friend,
invite the person to your home for dinner. Let them play with and
feed the
pup. If you are planning to board the dog at a facility, take the
pup there
and let the staff feed it and become familiar with it. If it is too
late, or
your puppy is not willing to be friends with anyone outside the
family, board
it at a facility where they have an indoor and outdoor kennel with a
guillotine
door separating the two sections. That way they are able to lock the
dog on
one side while they clean the opposite side, and then switch the dog
to the
clean side to take care of the other side. By following this
suggestion, no
one will be hurt, as there will be no handling of the dog. This
works great
for most Filas.
If your Fila is familiar with your
vet, and has been socialized with him/her since puppy hood, it will
just be an issue of restraint. If your Fila is unfamiliar with the
vet, it is best to be over cautious. Most vets appreciate someone
who has put the effort into training their dog to wear a muzzle if
the dog is the least bit likely to resent handling. There are many
muzzles on the market, from fancy leather, wire baskets, to nylon
pouches. It should be more of a issue of control rather than being a
fail-safe bite protection device. The muzzle should be a signal for
the dog to turn down its aggressive behavior and tolerate some
handling from a stranger. Well behaved dogs can be controlled with a
simple length of gauze looped around the muzzle and secured behind
the ears. Find a vet that understands your breed and is willing to
work with you on its health care. You may need to learn some of the
procedures such as vaccinating, taking the temperature, etc. so that
the visit is easier on your vet and less stressful to your dog.
Probably the biggest difference is size. A female would be hard
pressed to
be 140 pounds, where I have seen quite a few males that have topped
the
scales at 170 pounds. With this increase in size, males are likely
to drool
more, snore louder, and of course, take up more space! Some find
males to
be better protection dogs, while others prefer the females. In
GENERAL,
females are usually more apt to be demonstrative in their dislike
for
someone by growling, clacking their teeth, or just plain giving the
evil-eye.
Males are usually more calm and give the impression of being
lethargic. They
are less likely to growl and make a stink, but in turn are more
likely to bite
without much overt warning. Males have the potential to do more
damage
due to their size.
When a Fila perceives a threat, they are very intense. They look at
the
offender very directly, with their ears pulled up and their eyes
focused.
Some call the eyes of an angry Fila flat, cold, or evil. There is a
definite
change that is easily seen. Most dogs will growl a warning. Some
will just
launch themselves at the attacker. Much of this depends on the dogs
socialization. A well socialized, trained Fila will be more likely
to give a
warning thus stopping an intruder before the chance of a physical
encounter.
An unsocialized dog will likely do one of two things: attack, or
bail. A threat
is noticed by a Fila when a person acts aggressively (yelling,
flailing arms,
jumping, etc.) or if that person acts sneaky (timid, unsure,
slouchy, etc.).
The Fila doesn’t react like a German Shepherd or a Rottie. They are
very
defensive dogs that are quite lacking in prey drive. To them,
agitation is not
a game, and most Filas hold a grudge against the agitator. When the
threat
is approaching, they are aggressing, when the threat turns away, the
Fila
calms once again. They are not usually interested in running the
length of a
football field to bite an agitator because from that distance the
Fila doesn’t
see the person as that much of a threat. This makes the majority of
the
breed unsuitable for Schutzhund or Ring Sport type activities. It is
VERY
important to always be looking through your dog’s eyes and vigilant
in
guessing how your dog will react to a situation before it is given
the chance.
A well bred, loved, socialized and trained Fila will not let
anything horrible
happen to you; it will be there for you when you need it most.
You should ask them where they are going with their breeding
program. Are
they producing pets, show dogs, working dogs? How many dogs do they
have
on the premises? How many dogs do they co-own? How long have they
been
involved with the breed? How many litters have they had? How many
litters
do they have each year? Do they offer a guarantee? Does it cost more
to
get a guarantee? Does their guarantee apply to show pups only, or
both
show and pet quality pups? Do they do any genetic screening on their
breeding stock? If so, do they OFA? PennHIP? CERF? Do they
Temperament test their breeding stock? Do they show them? Will they
send you copies of their OFA/PennHIP/TT/Championship titles? Do they
micro-chip them? What are their dogs like? Can they take them out in
public? Do they socialize them? What is the difference between a
show
puppy and a pet puppy? Do they require that a show puppy be shown
and
bred? Will they openly give out references? What are their
requirements
of a puppy buyer? Do they stay active in their pup’s life after it
has gone on
to its new home? Do you feel that they will be there for you, when
ever you
need them? Or will you feel like you are annoying them? There are no
right
answers, and each breeder will tell you something different. It is
how you
feel about the answers that you get that will help you decide if
this breeder
may be producing your next family member. A big kennel is not
better, but
small is no guarantee either. Most people go to the breeders in the
middle -
the ones that have a litter or two a year and are able to spend lots
of time
with their puppies to assure that they are well kept and well
started for
their new homes. It is smart to go to a breeder that offers a
written
guarantee and does the genetic testing on their breeding stock. It
is even
smarter still to find someone who is involved with showing and
TT-ing their
dogs, as these are the folks who are probably breeding for
improvement of
the breed and not to see a large yearly income. If they are
neglecting to put
time and effort into their dogs, they make excuses about health
testing, and
they have several litters a year, they are likely in it for the
money.
Are you familiar with the breed? Have you ever seen one in person?
What
are your expectations of a Fila? Do you have a fenced yard? Where
will this
dog live, indoors or outdoors? Do you live in an apartment? Do you
own your
own home or are you renting? Who else lives in your home? Are you
married? Do you have any children? Do you have any other pets? Do
you
entertain often? Do you want a show quality or a pet quality pup?
Are you
willing to alter a pet quality pup? What are you looking for as far
as
temperament goes? Male or female? Why? Is size an important factor
to
you? What color do you like? Is it that important to you that you
get the
right color if all other needs are met with a pup? Do you plan to
train and
socialize this pup? How? Are you OK with the idea of crate-training?
What
other breeds of dogs have you had? What happened to them?
On the outside, is your new puppy active and playful, or listless
and limping?
Does it have a healthy, shiny coat? Does it smell clean and fresh?
Are its
bowels functioning normally? (Keep in mind that the stress of being
shipped
via airplane or the sickness that often comes with car-travel at
this age, may
reflect on its GI health for a day or two.) Are its eyes clear and
clean? Is
its nose free of crust and chapping? Are its ears healthy looking to
the eye
and non-offensive to the nose? Is it lean and strong, or potbellied?
A
healthy puppy will look vibrant and act like it is full of vinegar.
An un-well
puppy will look scraggly and out of proportion, and be lethargic and
solemn.
On the inside, if you made sure that the parents of your puppy were
tested
AND certified for normal hips and elbows, that your puppy was fed
properly
at its breeders, and that it was raised as naturally as possible
from birth,
you have greatly increased the chances that the inside will be as
strong and
healthy as the outside looks!
The Fila is NOT an AKC breed, nor is it able to be registered with
the UKC.
It is registered with the FCI, and its papers are issued through one
of two
clubs, either the CBKC in Brazil (the country of the breed’s
origin), or with
the FCPR in Puerto Rico.
The Fila can be exhibited through several clubs here in the USA. One
is the
American Rare Breed Association (ARBA). Others are: the
International All
Breed Canine Association (IABCA), the Canine Kennel Club (CKC),
Federation
Of Rare Breeds (FORB), various specialty shows (FBCA and FBA), and
regional rarebreed shows (like the Eastern Rare Breed Dog Club -
ERBDC).
They are welcome at International shows like the Asociacion Canofila
Costarricense (ACC), Federacion Canofila De Puerto Rico (FCPR), as
well as in
Mexico, and Canadian Rare Breed shows.
27. How much would one
cost?
Depending on who you go to, you can expect to pay from $300 to $2500
for
a Fila puppy. The more expensive dogs are not necessarily worth that
much,
nor are the cheaper dogs necessarily a good deal. Average prices for
pet
pups is $600 - $1000 and for show pups is $1000 - $1500.
There are several books written on the Fila which were authored by
Fila
breeder, Clelia Kruel. For the most part they are discussions of her
kennel
and her dogs, but they are good sources for information on the breed
none
the less. There is also a book that was written by Brazilian,
Precopio De
Villa, but it is in Portuguese, and is no longer available for
purchase. There
are other books that have the Fila included within their pages,
grouped
together with other rare molossers. For the most part, information
will
need to be gathered from breeders, and then that information will
need to
be sorted into several groups: Most Likely True, Maybe True, Most
Likely
NOT True.
If you have Internet access, you can go to eGroups (at
http://www.egroups.com ) and subscribe to the Fila-List. This is a
great forum
where Fila people discuss concerns that they have with the breed,
different
lines, and wonderful things that their own Filas have done, amongst
other
things! This is a great place to start, as there are a lot of
friendly people on
there that are more than happy to help you in your research. There
are also
other places that you can go to gather information, such as message
boards,
and web pages such as this one, that are dedicated to the Fila.
Filas have a tendency to have an odor. The intensity of this odor
seems
highly related to the dog’s diet. Part of this is the fact that some
are a bit
oily, which they presumably get from the hound in their background.
On the
other hand, this oil also makes for an exceptionally healthy, glossy
coat, that
is resistant to most skin disorders. Some Filas will suffer from
over-active
anal glands as pups and young adults. This is not necessarily a
health issue,
but more of a bathing issue! They seem to grow out of this problem
for the
most part. They are large and strong, and are not a suitable pet for
the
geriatric, and they are easily able to knock down children. For this
same
reason, petite women must take extra-care to train their Fila
properly.
They can clear a table of its valuables in a split second with one
swoop of
their tail. They are not suitable for the meek, as they need a
person to lead
their life, and like any other dog they will fulfill this role if
their owner is
unable. The Fila is a very obedient dog, but it will over-rule the
decision
made by its owner if it feels that there is a real threat. For this
reason a
Fila owner must be at all times aware of their surroundings, and
they must
have the dog under absolute control. The Fila is a fantastic
protection dog,
and because of this they are more likely to alert (by barking) to
strange
noises. They can be vocal in this regard, although they are still
not generally
thought of as problem barkers. If there were words to describe the
perfect Fila owner, they would be: aware, vigilant, loving,
dominant,
intelligent, strong, and stable.
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