Fila Brasileiro
The Fila Brasileiro is a protective breed and needs a responsible owner. They are devoted to their families and are gentle and tolerant of children. Because of their loyalty to their family they do not like strangers. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about the possibility of owning a Fila Brasileiro.
Are they good with kids
They are excellent with kids. They are very tolerant and gentle with them. You could never ask for a better companion for your children.
Will they accept kids other than my own
Unless they have spent time growing up with the puppy the answer is no. My father-in-law has two Filas and my kids have spent countless hours with those dogs so they do view them as an extended part of his family. An example is if you are a grandparent and you want your grandkids to be able to come over later when the dog is older then you must have them spend time with the puppy while growing up. That does not mean walking in and petting the pup and leaving. They have to spend time with the puppy. That goes for the adults that will frequent your home also. You cannot have your teenager call you up and say hey mom kevin is going to come home with me to study and expect that the Fila is going to welcome him into the home because he will not. If you have a busy home than the Fila is not the breed for you. We all have company over at one time or another and it is that time that we must be responsible and secure the dog away from them. That could be a crate in another room or a kennel set up outdoors.
What do I need to do as a responsible Fila Brasileiro owner
You need to know what the Fila Brasileiro is about and what it takes to own one. That means deciding if your lifestyle will allow a protective breed. If you have a lot of friends and relatives coming in and out of your home you may want to consider another breed. You also need a good solid fence of correct height with secure locks to keep strangers out and the Fila in.
If I socialize my Fila Brasileiro as a puppy will that make him like strangers
No it will not make your Fila like people. What it will do is show your Fila that not everything is a threat. It will make him more confident and more stable in the world around him. When I first got into Filas most owners chose to have their Fila Brasileiro unsocialized and basically lunging maniacs at the end of the leash. Some people seem to need an initimadating dog at the end of a leash or behind a fence to make them feel superior. A Fila does not have to be like that to be protective of you. With good common sense and obedience training you can have a Fila by your side that will behave himself while in public but not want to kill everything that moves.
What will my Fila Brasileiro do if he encounters a stranger
I tell people your Fila when approached by a stranger will do one of three things. He will either bark, growl or bite. I cannot tell you what your 8 week old puppy is going to do and neither can any other breeder. You learn that by watching your Fila and learning his signals. You must think ahead of your Fila Brasileiro and know what can happen in a situation before placing you and your Fila into it.
When will I see the Fila Brasileiro temperament in my Fila
I believe in socializing a fila pup. Not to make them like people but to introduce them to the world around them. Ever notice older people at the vet with their little dogs. "Don't touch my little dog dear because he doesn't like people" is what they always say. Why is that? Because they are usually alone and have no visitors in and out of their home so their dogs do not know anyone other than them. The Fila is already going to have that temperament as he gets older so why make it worse by keeping the outside world away from him ? A Fila Brasileiro puppy is just that A PUPPY. Let him be a puppy and enjoy playing with other people and pets. Usually around 4 months of age you will see that your pup does not want the attention of strangers as much as he did when he was younger. That is your cue that socializing is over. No more puppy classes, no more letting people just walk in your home and no more going to petsmart. Of course all pups mature differently so you cannot set a date as to when this will happen. And no you do not force your Fila pup to accept people once he is coming into his temperament. That will only get you a confused and unstable Fila. You own a Fila because they are a protective breed and that is what you are going to get no matter how much socializing you do.
Of course there are many more questions that need asked and you are more than welcome to call anytime. A Fila Brasileiro makes a great family pet/companion/protector and once you own one you will never own another breed. You need to insure that this is the correct breed for you and your household. To do otherwise is not fair to you, the dog or the breeder.
Harley Acre Filas
724-446-4039
