FILATLAN KENNEL

I am Cassio Caturegli, breeder of the exceptional Fila Brasileiro. My kennel is located in a small coastal town called Yelapa, near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco in Mexico. Here we are surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains and a thick tropical jungle. In these surroundings my 10 Fila Brasileiros thrive in their natural environment as they did in the large fazendas in Brazil.

Everyday I take my 10 Fila Brasileiros to work. I ride up on mules through trails in the mountains (Cerro del Huinduri - a small ocelot-) from 1 to 3 hours away, looking for wood to construct thatch houses. At least twice a week we also go herding for cows. This activity is their preferred one, since instinctively the Fila Brasileiro will chase a cow that has strayed from the herd and bring it back. In case the cow does not come back,  they'll chase and jump up to the cows ear and wrestle it down to the ground until someone arrives with a lasso. We also go hunting for dear and badgers; their excellent sense of smell tracks the game; and in the case of the badger the dog will force it to climb a tree. A couple times they've been confronted by the badger and killed it. I keep my dogs loose inside my property, which is only fenced by barbed wire. Although they can get out they don't. They know their territory and respect the people that pass by on the trail. They will bark but won't go out. When someone wants to enter they'll bark more intensely and this tells me someone wants to come in. All I do is tell the dog that its "OK", and he or she or all will inspect the person and even accompany them to where I am.

This kind of temperament is what I look for. My dogs are very confident so they allow this kind of encounters with strangers. They are neither friendly nor frightened; they’ll let the person know that they are there and that they’re watching. Other times, when no one is home, I have been told they defend their land fiercely and are not intimidated by anyone, not even by machetes or sticks. This defines one very important quality in their temperaments, that they identify different situations including dangerous ones. However, not all Fila Brasileiros will be able to be kept loose. My Fila’s character is a result of spending all day with them, socializing and training. If you’re unable to spend this amount of time with your dog it should have proper fencing.

For Fila Brasileiros to be effective land keepers and cow herders, they must be able to identify all situations and react upon them. When herding cows many times the dogs will be around people they don't know and must be able to work with them. Also in ranches or farms it will be among workers that are strangers to the dog. For this reason an actual working Fila Brasileiro must distinguish good strangers from bad strangers. Other Fila Brasileiro that I’ve sold to city homes or even warehouses have adapted successfully to being excellent guard dogs and family companions. In these cases the Fila must be socialized and obedience trained. Your socialization skills will determine the Fila’s ability to perform as the "best guard dog in the world" and yet be a profusely loving dog with its family.

In general terms, the Fila Brasileiro is " hard working, courageous and a fierce protector, with a strong aversion towards strangers; loving and loyal to  its own family and children; obedient and devoted and always passionate for attention. These traits make the Fila the ideal dog for a serious dog lover in need of a true guardian and family friend."  Clearly as an owner of a dog with these particular characteristics you are obligated to certain responsibilities such as: socializing the Fila Brasileiro with family members that dont live in the same house; and most important of all, having your Fila in an obedience training program. This will assure that you will have a stable, confident and obedient dog that will love you and protect you.

Please contact us: filaranch@hotmail.com