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Is it OK to take my
Fila Brasileiro out in public?
The main thing you have to remember when you own a Fila Brasileiro
is that The
TRUE Fila Brasileiro is a very unique breed, different
to any of the other 400 FCI breeds: it has
OJERIZA, a natural, built in AVERSION
TO STRANGERS. Ojeriza can't be trained into or out of the Fila. A well bred, TRUE FILA BRASILIERO doesn't like
or want strangers
near them and WILL bite!
Many people are under the misguided impression that socializing your puppy
means having strangers hug and pet him. This is
totally INCORRECT. You will hear about people taking their puppy with them to places like doggie parks
or pets stores, etc. The only
time you should be taking your puppy to the pet store is if you
need to fit him with a collar or a harness. Taking a
TRUE Fila Brasileiro to a doggie park or a pet store is a
tragedy looking for a place to happen.
A safer way
to socialize your FILA is to take your puppy out for rides in
the car and walks out in the woods, where he can see people
from a safe distance, and to expose him to as many different and
unusual stimuli as possible.
You should also regularly take your
puppy to the vet of your choice even if its just to have him
weighed every week, so that your pup will get used to the
vet and make future visits a lot less stressful.
You shouldn't take your puppy out mingling among large
groups of strange people. You want to avoid giving your puppy mixed signals that
strange people are always friendly. As your puppy gets older you have to learn how to read his body
language, for example, if your Fila's tail is wagging, that is
NOT necessarily a friendly signal.
The
FCI and CAFIB breed
standards both state that "AVERSION
TO STRANGERS" or "DISLIKE OF STRANGERS" is a main
characteristic.
It can be very confusing to people attending the rare breed shows here in
the USA, to see other people with Filas standing close to
strange people or standing ringside with their Fila close
by other people.
Sometimes you will see people handing their Fila over to someone
else to hold while they leave the area. If you have a
TRUE Fila Brasileiro this a major NO NO. This can't be done with a TRUE FILA BRASILIERO.
In CAFIB shows in Brasil you dont see strangers standing
close to other Fila owers or an owner handing their Fila over to
anyone else.
There are a couple of Fila organizations here in the USA that
are developing tests (similar to a Canine Good Citizen test) which go against the
grain of what a TRUE FILA is. A segment of the these tests
requires
that a stranger is to go over (examine hands on) your fila. When
you have a
TRUE Fila Brasileiro in no way shape or form
would your
TRUE Fila Brasileiro accept this. All that these tests
establish is that you
have a friendly Fila, which is contrary to the breed standard. If your
Fila can pass this portion of
these tests, you do NOT have a
TRUE Fila Brasileiro.
In closing, when you decide to own a
TRUE Fila Brasileiro you decide to own
this breed for its protective nature, to guard your home and
protect your family and maybe work on your farm, or all of the
above. If you chose a Fila for anything else, please
seek another breed of dog to suit your and your family needs.
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What do I do when I
have company over?
If the persons you have over to your home are family members, are
frequent visitors and are people who you want your fila puppy to get
used to, then it is ok to have your puppy out to get used to them.
If you have people over that are very infrequent visitors it is
highly recommended that you either put your puppy up in its crate or
in your bedroom or outside. YOU DO NOT want your puppy to assume
that everyone that walks through your front door is automatically a
friend.
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What registries recognize
the Fila Brasileiro?
THERE ARE ONLY 2 REGISTRIES FOR THE FILA!
The fila brasileiro is an FCI breed. The only registries that the
fila is registered with is CBKC & FCPR. Many unscrupulous breeders
out there are registering the fila puppies with CKC , NKC, and other
small registeries. Some breeders do this when they have pups of
questionable origin or out of a crossbred mating. When looking for a
Fila puppy, stay away from breeders whose pups are registered with
any organization other than FCPR and CBKC. Many breeders say that
there pups are dual registered..that's hogwash! The only way your
pup can be dual registered is by having your pup registered at the
same time is with FCPR and CBKC. If the breeder says that the pups
are dual registered with FCPR and CKC, that's a lie. You can
not breed a male who has either CBKC or FCPR papers to a dam
who has CKC papers...the pups from such a breeding can not be
registered.
SO REMEMBER: FCI & CBKC ARE THE ONLY TRUE REGISTRY OPTIONS FOR THE
FILA BRASILEIRO.
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What colors do Fila
Brasileiro come in?
All shades of Fawn and Brindle only.
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Character, Temperament and
Nervous System of the Fila - from an article in O'Fila
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MORE
TO FOLLOW AS TIME ALLOWS:
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Why do your
dogs look different to those I've seen on many other sites?
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What is the difference between CAFIB dogs and dogs registered elsewhere?
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Is there any difference in temperament between these types?
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How do I get an older pup to adjust to me once it's temp has started to
kick in? Will it be safe around my children?
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What about other family members who don't live with us? Will my fila
accept them after a while?
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What sort of kennels do you recommend?
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If a pup I get from you doesn't work out, will you take it back?
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How do I get vet care for my adult fila once the temp has kicked in?
Should it be muzzled?
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Can I keep a fila outdoors on a chain with a dog house/porch for shelter?
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Do you recommend training classes for a fila pup?
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Would a fila be a good guard dog for my factory/ business premises at
night?
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Are fila high energy dogs? Do they need a lot of exercise every day?
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Are there any sports/ activities I can get involved in with my fila?
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How big do fila
get male/ female
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How big of a fence/ yard do i need to contane a fila
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Are fila good with children
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What do I do when I have company over
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What type of food do I feed my fila
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Are fila prone to skin problems?
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Are Fila prone to bloat?
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When does the temperament kick in? at what age?
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How will my fila get along with other dogs in my home?
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What registry reconizes the fila?
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Should I let PPL pet/play with my fila puppy
