Posted by Robert_eptx on 5/5/2008, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Just frustrating"
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I apologize for the length of this post but its been building up for some time.
I'm probably going to regret posting this but here goes anyway because I’m older and beyond caring what anybody thinks of me
I happen to agree with most of what that person said. Over the last 14 years that I've owned and worked with filas I've had 6 that were what they should be all around
working dogs. They were trained and utilized as Security Patrol dogs, 2 were my own personal protection dogs. Due to the nature of the business these dogs were in
the public eye day after day and had to be able to function civilly on somebody’s’ property. You can't stand there and talk to a business owner with your dog going
manic like he wants to bite them. Or guarding a populated site with people coming and going and have your dog lunging at their customers. My personal dogs were taught from day one what was acceptable behavior and what wasn't when they were with me. They also learned the appropriate behavior when unattended. This means on the ranch, in the house, guarding my truck, etc be as nasty as you want to be. When you’re with me Stay means Stay, Out means Out, and be nice means DON'T BE STUPID and embarrass me.
I consider myself a very lucky individual to have enjoyed my filas in ways a lot of you haven't and quite possibly never will. I've attended events where I've got one of the most impressive dogs there, I've been able to take my dogs into places other folks couldn't get theirs into ie patio restaurants, hardware stores etc. I've used them in my training classes for one thing or another and still had a dog that was able and more than willing to guard, defend, protect when the situation arose. Even had one that could go donate blood
for other dogs that needed a transfusion. Knew of another that was a trained narcotics dog used in schools with kids present that would kick your butt in the right scenarios.
Maybe my views are different because of my profession and because I didn't have a breeder whispering in my ear what I should be doing.(Not that I would have
listened anyway.
The above are personal notes. What follows is my professional view. My background is 20+ years of training. Security, Personal Protection, Narcotics and just general run of the mill obedience. What I specialize in now are the "difficult dogs". More problems than you can shake a stick at. Some are rescues some are owned.
The things from his post I agree with:
1. The Fila is not like any other dog. I've heard that one applied to any number of breeds. Their special, their different. they need different training methods because they
aren't like any other dog. Everybody wants to think their breed is pecial and unique Canine behavior is generally the same across the board. The methods and techniques used should be based on the dog in front of you. The only canines that doesn’t apply to are the true ferals’ wolfs, coyotes etc. The dog is essentially a divergent subspecies now with its own footprint.
2. He didn't word it this way but: Anytime you have a dog that is in non-compliance mode you have a serious problem. No dog regardless of breed should have the
ability to do what it wants in direct conflict to your instruction/command. This does not apply to un-attended behavior obviously. And yes, a trained Fila has an on/off switch. Its called whatever the command words are to attack and to break off the attack.
3. Folks need to start thinking for themselves and understanding canine behavior and not blindly following what a breeder says. So much of what I read these days are carbon copies of what somebody else has already said. I have a saying I use " Just because they say you can't do it, Doesn't mean it can't be done.
4. People have over the top, out of control filas because they buy into the keep it away from everybody, put it up or in the yard scenario. Guess what folks do that with any breed and the same thing will happen. A dog that does not know how to behave. Its not a well rounded dog but a dog that thinks everything on the planet is a threat. I work with dogs like that everyday because their personal situation changed and suddenly they need a better-behaved dog. I'm not saying your dog has to like anybody or be petted by anyone just that it knows what its supposed to do and does it when you tell it and not if it feels like it.
5 Personal notes: I've noticed that things are disappearing, being changed or added to from the general description of the breed. In the mid to late 90's came the fat filas 175 lbs plus. Now the history is being rewritten. Have to wonder why? Have my thoughts on that one. I'll save it for another day.
When somebody comes up with original breeder notes that the fila was meant to be a straight in your face defense dog I will rethink my views until then I will beleive what I always have. That they set out achieve a multipurpose, all around working dog that can almost anything you train it for. The only thing they suck at so far is being a lap dog(not that they don't try).
Now as the man said Its your dog raise it the way you want. Me I'll continue to have my filas with me everyday, doing things with me everyday because I don't have a dog to leave it at home and not enjoy it. Please don't come back calling me an irresponsible owner either. I have another saying " Believe in your dogs ability to do what you trained it to do, Just never trust it 100%. I watch my dogs like a hawk when we're out. This applies to the Filas, the Dane or any other dog with me.. And yes performance wise I would have stacked up my last two filas against anybody’s, anywhere. Only time will tell what happens with my latest additions.
The Fila is destined to be the next Pitbull and when it happens you’ll only have yourselves to blame. Oh wait its already happening filas are getting added to BSLs all the time..
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