OJERIZA (distrust towards strangers)
Fila doesn’t require classes or dog training to protect its owners because it is her natural instinct. Fila will defend its owner with zero hesitation. With purebred Fila Brasileiro dogs this instinct has become a reliable temperament and character trait, but not with the mixbreeds. With the purebred dogs ojeriza is in their genes, it doesn’t need stimulation nor testing. Some dogs start displaying it at the earlier age while another show it somewhat later. This has something to do with hereditory factors but is also dependable of the owners habits and living conditions. Remember that no pure Fila will loose its ojeriza even if the dog lives in the city centre or surrounded by lots of people. On the other hand if your Fila lives outside the city, and surrounded by few people its ojeriza shall look more fierce. And this is very logical.
Another important thing regarding ojeriza that needs to be mentioned is that Fila Brasileiro owner is not supposed to be distrustful towards people himself. I have met a significant number of people who wanted to acquire a Fila dog for showing off and to misuse the dog for treating the inferiority / superiority and other similar personal issues. Fila Brasileiro asks for a reliable, mature person who in addition to is able to spend a significant time with the dog during its growing period.
Fila can adapt its ojeriza if you have some relatives or friends coming often to your house. But not instantly, you need to be patient and educative with the people because they have to learn what they should and shouldn’t do during their visit. There are some people that Fila will hardly ever accept even if they come often – from our personal experience such individuals were eagerly ignorant and failed to understand that no stranger can boss around Fila, and you cannot deceive Fila with „the friendly attitude“. Some people failed to aknowledge that they were afraid of such a big and determined dog, mostly men and they kept staring at the dog, approached the dog perpetually or tried to cuddle Fila even after being advised not to do so. Again be aware that Fila will never relate to other people as it relates to you – Fila can learn to obtain calm disposition while guests are in the house, but never leave your guests alone with Fila.
