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A Personal Guardian by Mr. John Quy
The hugh variety displayed in human personalities is reflected in dog breeds and types, each to his or her own. Owning a Fila requires a high level of passion within ourselves. Few dog will love us and guard us with all their hearts as a good Fila will. Whatever the reason, there will always be a Fila laying at our hearthfire, and if you come to visit, do not ignore the sign over our driveway that reads, "PREPARE TO MEET OUR FILA" A BRIEF WORD ON SOCIALIZATION If you are of the school of thought that the only good Fila is one that ferociously attacks every person or canine that crosses it’s path, then read no further. Junkyard dogs do not make good off-leash companions. Not to say that to have an off-leash hiking buddy, your dog needs to be a "wag-at-the-world-wuss", but it does need to have enough confidence around strange people and dogs that it doesn’t feel the need to attack out of fear of attack. A socialized Fila off its own turf is usually quite peaceful unless provoked. In conclusion, Fila’s are wonderful, exceptional dogs. Teach your Fila and learn from your Fila. Don’t lock your Fila away in a kennel or crate for life, get out and enjoy the world together. Life is better when you stroll through it with your Fila by your side. Unless you have spent time in the woods and fields with your Fila, free from the bonds of leash and fence, you will never understand and appreciate your dog fully, nor he or she, you. Yours in Dogdom,

OFF LEASH with the Fila by Mr. John Quy
There may not be an easier breed of dog to take on your Appalachian trail hike or for poking about in your local patch of woods. Fila’s are so ultimately bonded to we, their pack leaders, that chasing off after wild animals or just wandering out of sight is seldom a problem. When my wife Earle and I hike our local fields, forests, and swamps, all seven of our Fila’s accompany us. Collars and leashes are usually left at home as are all worries of the day. Our hikes are pure relaxation and rambling fun. There are certain risks involved when hiking with your dog, or dogs, off-lead, but by letting your Fila stretch out in one of those beautiful Fila-runs, where they flow with the wind across the landscape, you will make for a much happier and healthier Fila. LET'S START WITH THE BASICS by Mr. John Quy
Obedience training and socialization are a must. The training need not be fancy competition style work but a good "COME" is essential and a "NO" command should really mean "NO". "SIT," "DOWN," and "STAY", are important and polite, non-pulling leash manners are a must. If you do not have on-leash control, then off-leash control is out of the question. A few other commands that help on a hike or walk are; "close, back, freeze, and drop it." "CLOSE", means just what it sounds like, by using a long rope or leash, you teach the dog to walk not at "heel", but say within 20 feet or so. Using a loose lead, walk with the dog and give a snap of the leash correction and command "CLOSE" when he wanders to far away. Praise the dog for correct behavior, again using the "CLOSE" command. For most Fila’s this command makes more sense than "HEEL" and they readily learn it. As with all training, this needs to be practiced on-leash under various circumstances with assorted distractions before moving to off-leash work. "BACK" is a very important command for designated hiking trail use and where one may encounter wildlife one may want to observe, photograph, or avoid. In our part of the world when we might be out hiking a narrow, winding trail on a windy day, around any corner we may encounter 1200 pound Bullwinkle the Moose, or a Mrs. Yogi Bear with cubs in tow, or say a wolf pack feeding on fresh-caught venison. The "BACK" command keeps our dogs from stepping into the proverbial "hornet’s nest". On heavily human trafficked trails, keeping your dogs behind you eliminates the likelihood of Fido or Fidette scaring some hominid off the trail and perhaps over the scenic waterfall. Teaching "BACK" involves tugging the dog into a position directly behind you, on-leash, while giving the verbal command "BACK", followed by praise. Practice is required, but it is not difficult to teach. Please remember positive reinforcement is considerably more effective in training Fila’s than negative reinforcement. "FREEZE" sounds a bit like something Elliot Ness might teach his Fila, but we use it all the time. Actually it is not a verbal command, but is just an act of ceasing movement, perhaps to watch or listen to a bird. When a canine pack hunts they will occasionally freeze in order to listen, smell, and feel for danger or food. The first training of this command begins with you stopping suddenly and uttering a low growl or a soft bark with an accompanying stay hand signal. Invariably, even a puppy will remain still for a short while. With practice your dog will stop whenever you stop and stay still until you move. This being a basic, inherent, genetic hunting instinct, teaching it is simple, you are just awakening and reinforcing a behavior pattern your Fila was born with. By observing, listening to, and feeling your surrounding while completely still and silent with your dog, you will be developing a better communication with your Fila and perhaps between you and nature itself. That may be one of the reasons we have this urge to be with dogs in the first place. "DROP-IT" is another command that must be addressed for safe off-leash hiking. It is not unlikely that despicable objects, decrepit fodder and decaying morsels of all descriptions will at some time or another make their way into your dogs mouth (no matter how good their pedigree is.). Not only is this just plain "yuckie", it can be dangerous. Teaching "DROP-IT" is best done on a leash and is most effective when set up as a specific training exercise. By leaving a few bits of old food on the path you are about to walk, you give your dog the opportunity to grab a quick foul snack on the way by, which you will manually extricate with your fingers from her mouth (Oh Joy!), while giving the command "DROP-IT". While not difficult to teach, from time to time reinforcement may be required if a messy morsel is putrid enough to be absolutely irresistible. This is however a command, not a request, so persevere. "DROP-IT" is often preceded by a firm "No". Praise for an effective evacuation of the oral cavity (like when they spit it out), is called for.

FILAS AND GOATS by Paul Schuetz, editor of FILATALK MAGAZINE
My friend that has English mastiffs had two goats, which he no longer wanted. They had long pointed horns and he was afraid they would ram his 4 year old daughter. He asked me if I wanted them and I said yes. I have had goats some years ago and they are great for cleaning out thickets and wooded areas which we have all around our home. He also mentioned I wouldn’t have to worry about my dogs catching them them. He said although his dogs chase them the goats were to fast for his dogs, and could jump and make very quick side moves. He also said the goats have no fear of dogs whatsoever. He brought them over and I left them out side my fenced dog areas. They kept my Filas barking on and off all day long. They would come right up to the fence and stare the dogs right in the face. Gabrial, my 180 pound male had no use for them and couldn’t wait to get out and get one. I usually take Gab to the store with me which I did about four days later. The second I opened the gate and said come on Gabrial, he was off and running full speed after the male goat with the long pointed horns. He immediately singled this one out, and I yelled for him to stop. I was afraid if he did catch it or got to close, he might get gored. The goat did make some quick moves and was going full speed,leaping and turning sideways, but before I knew what happened he had the goat by the back of the neck (in less the 15 seconds), picked it up, and was ran up to the door of the truck with it. I quickly ran around the side, only to find Gab had put the goat down. I check the goat and it was scared but unharmed, without even a tooth mark on it. In a minute or so it got its composure back and ran off. Gab then nonchalantly jumped in the truck and we left for the store. When we returned the goats no longer came near the fence, and the dogs didn’t need to bark any longer. After this experience, the Goats stayed away from the fences and kept to the woods .

A FILA CATCHING A DEER?? Come On Now
I recently spoke to a well known Fila breeder from Georgia. He does quite a bit of deer hunting, and told me he once witnessed his Fila catch a deer that was going up the side of a mountain. He said he couldn’t believe his eyes, but it did happen. Again the Fila got him by the back of the neck. He commented “I don't know how they would do in an open field, but it sure shocked me”. This is quite a feat for a large animal that looks so docile and laid back most of the time. Filas are unbelievably fast and have the ability to turn instantly while running at full speed. I speak with many Fila owners through the Fila Talk Magazine, Last month I talked to a woman who said a close friend of hers was driving through New York City and had two Filas in the car with him. When he pulled up to a stop sign two men came running up to the car with guns and ordered him out. They were planing to rob him. The two Filas came out along with him, and immediately attacked the gunmen. Someone did call the police and when they arrived they ask him what happened. He told them his dogs had attacked the gunmen. The officers then wanted to know where the corpses were. They said they had never seen so much blood without finding a corpse. Not only was there blood all around the crime scene, but the two officers followed a trail of blood for two blocks in search of the two gunmen. They never did find the crooks, but thank God for the Filas. The man would surely have been robbed, and could have been beaten or even killed if it wasn't for his Filas.

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