Breeder Ethics....

ORIGINAL: hdkutz

If the Fila's popularity starts to take off, do you think that the good breeders should then try to mellow the temperment a bit, in order to help keep the breed out of trouble?

Hell no look what breeders did to other breeds. Gun shy gun dogs, hunters that can`t hunt, herding dogs that can`t herd and guard dogs with lap dog temperments etc.

 
I'm not saying that they should completely change the dog at all, but maybe go in the not attacking any stranger it sees direction.
 
There are working German Shepards who are exellant guard dogs, but can still go into public without being a safety hazard.
 
I do not wish to pick on this breed, but they are getting to be more popular and there are some in rescue, which means that breeders are not doing their job.  I think that with BSL as popular as it is, these things must be looked at.
 
Anne--you are absolutely right.  Authorites in London have found this out the hard way--gang members are starting to use Presos to fight and guard.

It's pretty sad, when you think about it.  Ban Pit Bulls and people that want dog aggressive dogs will get Tosas, Filas, Cane Corsos, Dogos and Neos. 

One of my friends who works with Virginia GSD Rescue fostered a GSD that took a bullet in the head from a police officer during the execution of a search warrant.  The dog was "guarding" the premises and the officer shot him. He recovered but still has the bullet in his head but he's also one of the nicest, sweetest dogs.  I'm guessing that the "owner" was unable to turn him into a mean dog.  Thank goodness.  And by the way, he was successfully adopted!

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I actually have a 9 month old fila male. He was socialized since very early, he is friendly to strangers outdies the house, and he is friendly and relaxed with strangers inside the house once he "reads" out reactions. We have yet to see him not-like someone, regardless, when he is outside with us he is ALWAYS leashed, and we constantly work on his obedience. Would I recommend a fila for just about anyone? absolutely not, but this is because that there is no such thing as a breed that "fits all owners". Every breed has it's needs and a kind of owner that he/she is best matched with.

As for the "mean and vicious" statement, well, the fact that you can't stop them once they decide you're the enemy does NOT make them mean nor vicious. Mean and vicious is a dog that attacks for no reason.

Judging the breed, the dog is disqualified if the judge can touch the dog. I would say going out in public wouldn't be where this breed of dog should be

I was under the impression that the dog is not requiered to allow the judge to touch him/her, not that is was disqualified if he/she did allow that judge to touch, I may be wrong though. I make it a point to take him outside as much as possible, and to make myself or my wife the center of his attention. At the most I've seen him stare at something/someone new, but it was attentive, not aggressive.

As for the "True" temperament, as far as I understand a lot of the breeders are toning down the "ojeriza", of course, this creates some controversy within the breed fanatics, some say that if you can't handle a dog with ojeriza, then don't get a Fila. Others, like myself, think that that kind of temperament in a dog had its use, and while it's desirable to a certain degree, it's impractical to have the full blown ojeriza that the original true filas had.

These are the guidelines for the temperament testing of the Fila.

http://www.filabrasilassn.com/temperament_test.shtml

again... I fail to see where the "mean and vicious" part is.

ORIGINAL: eley

I actually have a 9 month old fila male. He was socialized since very early, he is friendly to strangers outdies the house, and he is friendly and relaxed with strangers inside the house once he "reads" out reactions. We have yet to see him not-like someone, regardless, when he is outside with us he is ALWAYS leashed, and we constantly work on his obedience. Would I recommend a fila for just about anyone? absolutely not, but this is because that there is no such thing as a breed that "fits all owners". Every breed has it's needs and a kind of owner that he/she is best matched with.

As for the "mean and vicious" statement, well, the fact that you can't stop them once they decide you're the enemy does NOT make them mean nor vicious. Mean and vicious is a dog that attacks for no reason.

Judging the breed, the dog is disqualified if the judge can touch the dog. I would say going out in public wouldn't be where this breed of dog should be

I was under the impression that the dog is not requiered to allow the judge to touch him/her, not that is was disqualified if he/she did allow that judge to touch, I may be wrong though. I make it a point to take him outside as much as possible, and to make myself or my wife the center of his attention. At the most I've seen him stare at something/someone new, but it was attentive, not aggressive.

As for the "True" temperament, as far as I understand a lot of the breeders are toning down the "ojeriza", of course, this creates some controversy within the breed fanatics, some say that if you can't handle a dog with ojeriza, then don't get a Fila. Others, like myself, think that that kind of temperament in a dog had its use, and while it's desirable to a certain degree, it's impractical to have the full blown ojeriza that the original true filas had.

 
Please understand that I was not trying to insult your breed.  I was merely quoting what a breeder had said.  I'm glad there is someone on here with a Fila to add some perspective.
 
Just out of curiosity, what attracted you to Filas as a breed (please don't read this as a "why would you want one of those dogs" question, because that's not how I mean it)?

I never took it as an attack at all. I've always been a Mastiff fan, I used to have a Spanish mastiff when I lived with my parents. Then I moved to a much warmer climate (texas) and once I got a house I figured it was time for a dog. At first I wanted to go the spanish mastiff route again, but several factors made me decide agaisnt it, first off, there are no breeders that I'm aware of in the US, so the next option was to import one from spain. Second, the weather, the spanish mastiff is a cold weather dog, they do not do well in 100+ degree weather.

A relative of mine (also a mastiff fanatic) had a Pyrenees mastiff (NOT to be confused with a great Pyrenees) and a Fila, and he had a lot of good things to say about the breed. So I started reading and researching like anybody and I decided that the fila was the dog for me, or.. that I would make a good fila owner (either/or). I was aware of all the work that has to be done, I have experience handling/dealing with/training them, I have the space, so it was a pretty natural descision for me. One thing is true, a fila is NOT a dog for a novice dog owner.

Here's a pic of my guy at six months

http://hallucination-fx.com/paulo/DSC_0005.jpg

I work in a place where I see some people make money in a less than leagal fashon,so to speak.  I have talked to them about their dogs and they are still convinced that a pit is the only way to go.  They have only only ever seen one person that has something other than a pit, it was a tosa, and yes this is the reason breed bans will not work.  They just move on to another breed, or, I recently found out, they regester their pits as labs under some sham regestry such as APRI and ConKC.  Always a way around the law for those who are not following it inthe first place I guess.

ORIGINAL: eley

I never took it as an attack at all. I've always been a Mastiff fan, I used to have a Spanish mastiff when I lived with my parents. Then I moved to a much warmer climate (texas) and once I got a house I figured it was time for a dog. At first I wanted to go the spanish mastiff route again, but several factors made me decide agaisnt it, first off, there are no breeders that I'm aware of in the US, so the next option was to import one from spain. Second, the weather, the spanish mastiff is a cold weather dog, they do not do well in 100+ degree weather.

A relative of mine (also a mastiff fanatic) had a Pyrenees mastiff (NOT to be confused with a great Pyrenees) and a Fila, and he had a lot of good things to say about the breed. So I started reading and researching like anybody and I decided that the fila was the dog for me, or.. that I would make a good fila owner (either/or). I was aware of all the work that has to be done, I have experience handling/dealing with/training them, I have the space, so it was a pretty natural descision for me. One thing is true, a fila is NOT a dog for a novice dog owner.

Here's a pic of my guy at six months

[linkhttp://hallucination-fx.com/paulo/DSC_0005.jpg]http://hallucination-fx.com/paulo/DSC_0005.jpg[/link]

 
Have you run into any irresponsible Fila breeders?  I noticed that they do have some in rescue on petfinder[].  I just hope that the Fila community is paying close attention to what has happened with pits and rots, seeing as the breed is already banned in the UK.
 
Do most breeders seem to opt for a more toned down dog, or one of the old temperment?

The breeders I've run into I wouldn't necessarily call irresponsible, not in the "wreckless" sense of the word anyways. Though when i was looking for a breeder, the first one I called, was flat out rude to me, she is supposed to be one of the world authorities on filas, and I believe that either she worte, or she's quoted on the first article you posted. As far as the "type" of temperament being produced right now, I believe that while the hardcore "ojeriza" is one of the things that make a Fila, is not ALL there is to a fila, I personally believe that as with many other breeds there should be both types available. For example, as far as GSDs you can get the hardcore working lines OR show lines.

I think it was the Harley Acre Filas person the one who said that in the coming years we'll see a more mellow fila around, of course if you ask some people they'll tell you that if a Fila doesn't have full blown "ojeriza" then it's not a fila at all. I guess it's one of those cases that either the breed "evolves" into something more practical to own, or it will come to the brink of extintion because of the impracticality of ownership.