Hello From the PNW

[allsierra123]

Hi everyone I have been browsing this forum for about a week now. I was sent over here by a guy on the mastiff forum. Was kind of nervous about posting here due to the fact I have a mix. She is 13 weeks old now and 37#. Her name is delilah. We got her from a friend that had an accidental breeding with her dads English mastiff. The reason I started posting on the mastiff forum Is she started showing the fila Temp already. So I was looking for advice on how to proceed with her training and socialization. Im not looking to train her with anything more than obedience training. And want to socialize her as much as we can. Well thats pretty much it for now. she is a great pup we love her.


This is her at 11 weeks.


Here she is at 13 weeks with my 3 year old daughter.

[allsierra123]

Try this again

11 weeks





13 weeks

[allsierra123]

Some more of her 13 weeks.

[angelbears]

Hey there allsierra123

I'm the one from the mastiff forum. There are some very knowledgeable owner's here. Unfortunately, some nasty bickering goes back and forth, mainly about the standard and which group breeds the best Fila. However, they do know Fila and dealing with Fila temperament. I'm hoping they will chime in and give you a good ideal of what to expect and how to train. You are really trying to do the right thing by your girl. Sometimes replies take awhile.

[allsierra123]

thanks I appreciate we absolutely love her she is the best a big baby. Except with those she doesn't know. One thing I did not expect was the hound bellowing coming out of her.

[de la Luna]

Allsierra123,

Welcome!!! Happy New Year also, and I believe in train/train/train. I'm glad your little girl has a companion and friend. Fila and Fila mix will defend her to the end if something should happen so you are all lucky to have her. I hope you enjoy the forum.

Best,

[Paul]

Lovely pup. I have to agree. If this pup is showing some Fila spirit then you have a dog that will defend you. They can be angels with their famiy and strangers are just that, not family. Realize these dogs know their children. That means that some don't take to kids that are not family or will react when your kids are playing with other kids. You need to socialize this dog and you will see how this dog is around people. Tailor the training to that and you could have one of the best dogs ever. Good luck and enjoy the bellowing! May I ask, which parent was black? The Fila or the English mastiff? Thanks, just curious and that is all.

[allsierra123]

Neither. Was black The fila was tan she was the mother. The dad was a dark brindle. So I guess he may have been where the color cam from There was one black and one dark brindle and 13 tan some solid some with a black mask. We have already noticed it even with the kids my wifes cousin stopped by with her kids we dont see her really that often but she commented that is the weirdest puppy it doesnt want to play with my kids. She kind of just circled almost like a herding dog eying the other kids. And if they got to close she stepped in growling at them. And its basicly the same behavior on walks at the park. She Watches strangers from a distance and gets very I would call it watchful But you can see her ears go up and she tenses. If they get close she barks and if the come very close she yanks at the leash barking and growling at them.

[fj45lvr]

http://www.sombraultrajantefilas.com...wdyarticle.pdf

here's a link to one person's experience with different potential temperament types that is a good read (I can't say whether it is that accurate)...I have one full blooded dog that will attack any stranger and you cannot let anyone be around it outside of the "inner circle" of those that he was socialized around before 6 months and another mix-bred one that is wary of people and may bark at them and not want to be around them but does not have a instinct to defensively attack a strange person in normal situations .....as that article says the one that has proper fila temperament is easy cause you know it cannot be around strangers at all. the other one could potentially be problems if you just go along thinking it will be like any other average dog and then some day BAM they get defensive for some reason in a certain situation. I took that more friendly dog to an area where there was more human traffic and at first the dog was fearful with weak nerves but as time progressed she doesn't show signs of being fearful any longer....I took the other one to sit on the sidewalk and found out that it was not a good idea as it would go ballistic if someone stopped and stared or got too close (which gets you dirty looks from people, so I stopped sitting on public bench...on a walk it will ignore people until they get to a certain proximity and then its growling, barking, lunging (so you avoid walking near anyone, even if you have to cross street or head a different direction).http://www.sombraultrajantefilas.com...wdyarticle.pdf

[aceoutdoor]

Allsierra, Pretty girl! Her expression in the pics are all business. Judging by the temperament you described she has good drive and a decent amount of fila in her. Therefore always side with caution when trusting her around strangers. My dogs recognize the difference between kids, even "stranger kids" and stranger adults, other filas do not make that distinction. So as she grows and you feel her out it may be wise to isolate her in an extra room when the kids have playmates over. Welcome to the fila family so to speak, sometimes its a disfunctional family due to passion for the breed, but glad you made it. Post any questions, there are alot of people happy to help.