FEEDING YOUR PUP
So you have made the investment and purchased a Fila. You made an excellent choice. Filas are rare breed in the United States and usually purchased as the result of many hours of studying breeds, talking to breeders, and checking out protection dogs. They are unbeatable natural protection and companion dogs. We sell only the finest of our litters, we don't hold back "GOOD ONES", and you will find as your pup grows, it will be a an eye stopper, not only at shows, but wherever you go. We breed for size and have large muscular dogs with massive heads and bones. and have traveled thousands of miles to personally hand-pick our breeding stock with this in mind. Money was not the object, you live with a dog for 10 to 12 years and we wanted and went after the best. One three ot four hundred dollar Vet bill on a bad pup can even up the price difference quick. When, or if you ever get into checking the pedigrees on your pup, you’ll find the finest Brazilian and International Champions in your Fila’s bloodlines. We did that part for you, to give you the best quality Fila money can buy. Gabrial, your pups father is an exceptional Fila. He weighed 165 pounds at one year, and none of it was fat. He was solid bone and muscle, and needed all the help we could give him while growing at that rapid rate. Now that you have a pup, the ball is in your hand, and the next thing that you need to do is feed properly, especially during the first year. This is when the pup does its growing. A growing Fila pup is a little bit like feeding a bear cub, and quality feeding is so important that it cannot be stress enough. Once your Fila reaches two years old it's about done growing, and a good maintenance program is fine, but each day before that especially during the first year, it just grows to fast for straight dog food. Start quality feeding right away and the more outstanding your dog will be. Feeding well will actually save you money in the long run, and give you a happier and healthier dog. More damage can be done to your dog from bad diet then by any other means. I have experienced this personally, when going back 6 weeks later to by a some litter mates of a great pup I had already purchase, only to find that my pup was nearly twice the size of the rest of the litter and full of energy, with a shiny coat, bright eyes and an outgoing personality. The balance of the litter went down hill. Some had bowed legs and all were dragging there rear ends after just a couple minutes of play. The reason for this was a lack of good nutrition in their diets. The owner had been traveling and the pups were being fed a low quality $7 a bag "garbage ground corn" dog food. It's a shame because these were expensive ($1200 without guarantees) from excellent World Class Stock. I drove 1200 miles to buy these pups, and just turned around and came home after seeing them, happy that I had purchased my pup 6 weeks earlier. Your dog will never reach its potential if it does not get the right start. The problem isn’t money to purchase quality food, but the lack of knowledge of what foods are needed.

THE FIRST 8 WEEKS
Fila pups start eating solid food at 3 weeks. They need it. If we woke up in the morning to a bowl of ground corn with vitamins and chicken parts (Feathers, chicken heads and feet, called meat by-products, everything but meat) along with a bowl of water, and that was all we had to eat day after day, it would not only get boring, and not good for our health, but imagine a child growing to 150 pounds in one year on that type of diet. NOTHING can replace quality feeding and care with pups, and you can’t go back and do it later. When walking through the supermarket keep your pup in mind. Some of the following foods are great supplements for your dog, and many are not costly. Oatmeal cookies, dry, can and whole milk, butter, eggs, cottage and regular cheese, yogurt, Durham wheat noodles, egg noodles, brown and white rice, carrots, cabbage, spinach, onions and all type of greens. Fresh garlic, sage, fennel seed and red pepper, all help with worms, flees, joints etc and can be mixed in with their food. Also try scraping a carrot on your pups teeth when your playing with him. As far as can meats go, mackerel is great if you don’t feel like cooking. Filas love it mixed with dry kibble, or add a little milk and melted butter, not margarine. We feed over 30 Filas and all of them get supplements. They get vitamin C, Cod Liver and Wheat Germ oil. Filas love Cod Liver oil, mix a little with some dry food and the will lick the bowl clean. DOG SOUP
Scale it down as I’m feeding around 30 dogs, but this is how to make it. You can use any fresh meat, beef, chicken, chicken necks, lamb, deer, livers are great. I simmer 40 pounds of fresh meat in water for 3 hours. I then add any of the following, a couple handfuls of lentils, some carrots, garlic, a couple chopped onions or greens. Adding these at the end of cooking, or even chop them in fresh. Then I mix in 40 pounds of kibble. Filas also hard boiled eggs with or with out the shell, (young pups don't digest the shell, so theirs get shelled or scrambled in butter) . One thing about the growing FILA, it doesn't cull food, but meat is essencial. As far as dry foods go, reasonably good quality dog food is around .50 cents a pound ($20 for 40 pounds). Dog foods have a shelf life, some a year or more. I’ve seen expensive foods out of date in pet shops, and I mean six months to a year out of date. So be careful. A friend of mine in the head of the meat department at a food chain. He said every so often a dog food company call and ask him to put a particular batch of dry dog food in the walk in freezer for a couple days before selling it. He said it has a worm or bacteria in it which freezing kills. Many pet stores, vets, and farm supplies don't have freezers, and I don't know what they do if this happens. Another thing, after feeding a certain brand food for a while, the dogs won't eat it. Perhaps this is the reason, it's wormy and gone bad. I give my Fila's the benefit of the doubt, if they turn their noses up at it, I return it. Fila's have a keen sense of smell and I've learned to totally trust there senses. BLOAT - SOY PROTEIN
Also, careful with Soy Protein. It's hard to digest and has been associated with bloat. A good test for dry foods is to soak a handful in water and see how much it swells. If it doubles in size, it will do the same in the dogs stomach. Remember, this pup in a few months will put his life on the line to protect you and your family. Feed it well, Cook up three or four pounds of ground chuck a couple times a week. It's not money down the drain, it will show up in your Fila. Don't buy pre-ground meats, buy chunks and have the butcher grind it, and don’t tell him it’s for your dog, or it may wind up all fat and gray meat. FILA'S ARE BECOMING POPULAR
Fila's are gaining a fast reputation, so keep in mind that a healthy quality Fila attracts breeders, and you'll "easily" recoup food cost in one one Vet bill. One International Handler told me when he was at a Dog Show in Europe, aome Europeans were laughing at people who fed dry kibble to their dogs. He said Europeans feed their dogs meat. Perhaps that's why U.S breeders pay dearly $5000 and up to bring over German breeding stock. and possibly the reason many of our U.S. Rotties, German Shepherds have went downhill. To much kibble. There are about 3000 Filas in America. You truly own a Rare and Outstanding breed, which will amaze you with its intelligence, power, speed and friendship. YOU MADE A GREAT CHOICE

MORE FILA INFO

PEAK PERFORMANCE, How to grow BIG PUPS

BUY A HOME IN PARADISE PARK

THE BRANCH MINISTRY

CHRISTIAN LETTER MINISTRY SHOO-ITS MOUNTAIN FILAS PO Box 60 Turtletown TN. 37391 423-496-1114 10 am to 11pm EST
pups@fila.org