recommendation on socialization

[fj45lvr]

I did get a male 4.5 month old that seems to have much more traditional temperament than the female I have. I have taken him to the small country store here and he is full of growl and some lunging at strangers to bite while on short leash....I want to know how other fila owners react with this behavior that I think is completely normal? what do you say or do when your dog growls? when they lunge to bite? I had been accustomed to sitting outside store on a bench with my female to let her be around people outside of her home environment (we don't have many people come over). female only rarely growls and has never lunged to bite....this young male growls at probably half or more people coming to store and essentially all that walk directly in front of bench.

thanks for any advice (besides obviously not going to very close proximity to people and always warning people to keep their distance as he "doesn't like strangers"). A friend did come over and sat in our house for a half an hour with the male growling on and off at him....we decided to leave for a walk and while on leash walking out of house he did get a glancing bite on the friends pant and leg...we walked and let the dogs play in water and then the young pup was friendly approaching and playing with the friend....even ended up laying by him on couch when we arrived back at the house after the hour-plus walk.

I am OK with things if it will just be that people within a certain proximity are always percieved as and treated as threats (even if they are not)....Just am uncertain whether or not there are things which should be done to properly train myself and the dog for everyones benefit.

thanks,

Jeff

[fj45lvr]

nevermind......found some good info.....Looks like I will avoid going near people pretty much to just avoid the problems (pretty easy to do in town with less than 100 people and not getting visitors much). Love this dog!! a ton of fun.