curious how people's dogs react to groups of people. If mine sees a large group she does not want to go there at all. I have been exposing her daily to human activity outside and inside country store but that is no "crowd".
mine would react as if I actually begged for the sure to come law suit...she would bite anyone within reach which is why we stick to walking in the middle of the street where there are no people within reach. When I want to take a dog to a crowded area I bring my certified therapy mixed bred rottieXshep..no lawsuits and even better no blood spilled by anyone.
I'm sorry I forget. How old is your Fila? We avoid crowds. I would not even want to get Cane close to a group of people. If you still have a pup under 2 I would not worry to much. Cane has never been afraid of people, he hated people and is quick to show it. On the other hand, we did go through a couple of stages, when a bag blowing across the yard would have him taking a couple of steps backwards. Usually, he would get back out in front but he sure was scared of that bag. Cane is now 25 months and I think I am seeing the confidence that I kept hearing about. He is not as quick to fly off the handle but I have little doubt of what he would do. Hell, when he flares up at the window or when we are in our yard, I think I have seen him smile back at me as if to say "lets have a little fun" but knowing where the limit is.
Bottom line it takes a long time for these dogs to mature.
Good Luck,
Robin and the gang.
only 13 months. A routine walk is accompanied by alert scanning of the immediate vicinity...the other day we walked towards the local school and they unexpectedly were having an outdoor function...it was interesting to see the reaction when her attention moved from a dog on a lawn and landed on her very first large group of people in one place. She did not want to go that direction at all and immediately wanted to go back the direction we approached from (she doesn't have this reaction with an occasional person). I was wondering if this reaction to a new experience would be apart of the aversion to strangers as typical or more of an unusual fearful reaction. sitting outside the store entrance with me she generally is reserved to people and occassionally will growl and bark at someone that I guess she perceived as being threatening by their speech or approach (or sixth sense). I have had on a couple of occasions individuals swiftly march right up and try to pet her...scared the crap out of me because it was unexpected, one time the guy stopped short hearing a growl, 2 other times the people did actually pet her head and she retracted but did not growl or aggressively react....this did scare me as being irresponsible on my part and I am more careful and aware to instructing people to please not touch her unless she comes over to their space....I am assuming that learning healthy socialization as to what is a threat compared to normal behavior is a gradual and ongoing learning process but as a novice I do not yet know her exact temperament or if this socialization is helping to formulate it to make her less scared of people or potentially aggressive when we do happen to go places (which is not very often).
I have been thinking about trying to find someone now to finally test her reaction to a menacing person or aggressive behavior from a stranger to know if she will show proper guarding behavior to challenge the threat, or retreat/cowardice since she is now over a year old (I am confident she will not show indifference from what I have seen so far from a the few strangers that have come by our farm). I have a sturdy leash but only have a regular collar (not sure if that matters). I wasn't planning on having someone get so close to see if she would bite them (maybe just swing a broom at me/her instead??).
Both my dogs are only exposed to crowds while they are in the vehicle. While both let everyone know they are not welcome, the male is especially vocal.Originally Posted by fj45lvr
I'm no expert, hopefully, a couple will chime in. I don't think I would test her, yet. You don't want to put too much pressure on her. Keep socializing her, that doesn't mean let everyone pet her, just let her experience as many different things as possible. Never forget that you have a Fila.
fj45lvr,
I have a high exposure with all my Filas. By reading their skin 'tells' and vocal measures I know it. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week I assume they would maul or die for us. The training is what works with us. Constant verbal communication when in a crowd works with us. The Filas are soooo SMART that I've seen them learn to take cues. I know that even if I gave a misinformed cue and someone did something threatening, they would protect. That is just my experience and training with my dogs. I recognize the opinions that are out there about my dogs and my methods in this answer. I feel very fortunate that I found a training school that has helped me expose the brain and body power of my family. Hope this helps.
Best,
Dianna
de la Luna
just be careful guys...the op's fila doesnt seem to have "come in" yet and may never but temperament testing at this time does not seem like a good idea as it could "break" the dog. I have heard time and time again from experienced owners..."I swear she always listened to me before" and "I always had such great control"...dont be "That guy". I was "that guy" several times because of my background w/ canines and dogs in general...I am not that guy anymore. Yes a fila is a dog but not every dog is a fila just remember that. take your filas into crowds at your own risk and dont cry later when you are signing over your house. And no filas dont run away from crowds they should be very confident but should never be withing lunging distance of anyone they dont know.
Please don't take offense to this. But a 13 month old pure bred Fila that has not had EXTREME socialization training should never let a stranger within 20 feet of it much less touch it, especially if the dog has never met that person. A good Fila will get just plain pissed off that person has the nerve to come near it and you, and this should happen by 9 months at the latest under most circumstances. It might be a great dog and pet, but I would not breed it if it were me. Again just my opinion.
no offense taken at all. That's why I frequent the forum for advice and information. Having more detailed advice on "socialization" would be great to hear and have as educational for forum and potential owners or new owners)
Yeah, I agree with the not "come in" if she ever does "come in" or ever lunge at people. I do not understand "breaking" the dog (is this a very stressful event that could affect them??) but I will avoid testing her yet I guess until I understand more about this subject. Maybe I will meet up with another owner more experienced to give me their opinions.
Not sure what to do about being around people or within 20 feet?? I do have a hunch that either she is OR she will not finally become the desirable/typical/proper temperament (potentially poor nerves and not desirable breeding material) ) but with no exposure to any other fila or fila-x dogs I only have writings on the subject to refer to and this forum advice of other fila owners in comparison to seeing her actual behavior. I guess I do/did not fully understand what "socialization" or "extreme socialization" means? I am assuming it meant: exposure, being within vicinity of human activity (particularly away from home territory to gain experience, hopefully experience by which to differentiate between threats and non-threats and confident behavior)?? I did not ever read where anyone specified how close of proximity or whether strangers should touch the dog or not?? (if the dog would even allow that or not).
I am aware of the potential dangers of aggressive behavior inherent in breed even without consideration of how well the dog is or isn't trained in obedience. outside of the home she is has not appeared aggressive but rather by tail position appears to be more cowardly as she tends to tuck it down if coming near strangers. it seems the more exposure she has been getting the more relaxed she is becoming/confident and has only growled or barked when we are stationary and people were approaching us (and not every person that walks by).
I also assume from some others writings on fila temperament that not all dogs behave the same even if they are "pure-bred" (people have said from my reading that genetic make-up is very important as well as early treatment/experiences as a pup as to the dogs development and "end" behavior (if there is such a thing as a "finished" temperament).
I should post new pics for evaluation of physical appearance in comparison to standard but she is black with a brown/black brindle father and black with white chest mother (she has a brown hue to the coat in a somewhat uneven distribution seen in sunlight but not striped in appearance) from my inexperienced analysis I do not see traits from the body form that lead me to suspect a clearly obvious mix breed with dane or mastiff (although I am confused as to the proper head form, I think she has a little bit too short muzzle and not as smooth of a sloping "stop" (not sure on the width, shape or crevice of skull as written descriptions of these in standard are like foreign language to me!!! I would like to see some diagrams or photo examples)...ears are proper shape and set correctly), I have no idea whether her puppy treatment was good or not (she was kept with other pups from litter within a fenced yard of the elderly Brazilian owners who had both parents on site and I think pups stayed primarily in a detached garage)
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