Care
The fila is always adapting to its environment. It can be kept in the garden, in a farm environment or even in the house. It will do well anywhere as long as it can be with its owner on a regular basis. It will not be a well-balanced filas and its character will not develop properly if, when it is a puppy, its owner only meets it when it is fed and constantly regulated. From a husbandry point of view, they are not particularly demanding, but it is very important to spend time with them, and of course, to spend time together as adults.
Keeping a fila is a responsibility. We need a secure fence so that the dog cannot leave its own territory under any circumstances. He is not a runaway breed, but the possibility of this happening should be completely eliminated.
The fila does not like and is not suitable for kennelling. It can be confined for short periods, but it has a very hard time being restricted from being near its owner.
The fila is a short-haired breed, not very fond of cold weather, and can get cold in winter, so the dog house should be insulated and large enough to accommodate it. It is best to line it with straw, which needs to be replaced every few weeks as it breaks down. Unfortunately, even when using a straw catcher slat, the dog will push it out of the house, which is not very aesthetically pleasing in the garden, but so far it has worked best for me. There are now heaters that can be built into the bottom of the dog house to keep the dog out, but it is important to watch the temperature so that it is not too hot in the dog house, as the heat difference can cause pneumonia. In this application, there is still the problem that the carpet or mattress is pushed around by the dog and the not soft enough bedding causes calluses to form on the pressure points.
Short hairs do not require any special care, it is enough to comb them with a combing glove from time to time, or to repeat the process several times during the moulting period. The ears should be cleaned occasionally, but not too often. The claws should also be trimmed from time to time.
As a puppy, you need to pay attention to its feeding and growth. He should not be kept fat, but should be kept thin, to protect his skeletal system and joints. His legs and movements should be monitored daily. If a limp is noticed, it should never be ignored. This "more dangerous" stage of development lasts until the dog is about one and a half years old. Feeding a joint protecting supplement is strongly recommended, but can be omitted in a steadily developing fila puppy. Exercise is very important for proper development, which does not mean running alongside the bike for miles. Move as much as he wants to move.
Very healthy breed, not susceptible to diseases, what is really very dangerous is stomach upset. Unfortunately the fila is badly affected and to this day it is not known exactly what causes it. The main cause could be a loose constitution, thus similar conditions could be present in the suspension of the digestive tract in the fila, and from my own observations other causes could be: diet, medication that alters the gut flora and stress. If it happens, we need to take the dog to hospital immediately for surgery and, luckily, he will survive. As a preventive measure, it is usually recommended to divide his daily food into several portions and to provide a calm environment after eating.
In older age, they need more care. At this age, you should definitely take a joint protection supplement, because sooner or later, all elderly fila will get arthritis. Choosing a product is not easy because not all of them give the expected effect. Unfortunately, at this age, cold weather is also harder on the dog's joints.
A fila is a great companion for everyday life and an excellent watchdog, but only choose this breed that you can care for for the rest of its life. It is not easy to find a new owner for an adult dog, and any prospective owner should be aware of this.