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Just wanted to let you know I found out how protective this 17 week old Fila
can be! Scott left yesterday morning to go fishing for a few days
so it's the first time I've been home alone with the dogs since we got Tater.
He takes guarding me very seriously. Any noise at all (the cat getting
on the porch, horses making noise in the barn, truck too loud on the road,
etc..) and he barks a few times, starts growling and glues himself to my leg.
I took him outside so he could see that there wasn't anything there.
Didn't help that the neighbor came home right then and slowed down and honked
at us - you wouldn't think a truck 100 feet away could make a Fila go nuts but
Tater was growling and looking mean! Took a little while for him to
decide the crisis was over. Kate (our Aussie mix) was facinated with
this - she is a good watch dog but she knew there was no threat. After
all this - he had to watch my every move and go out every 1/2 hour to patrol
the yard (and growl at the neighbors yard). I had forgotten what it
means to be owned by a Fila.
Oh - he absolutley HATES the rain! Won't willingly go off the porch to
pee if it's raining. This morning he walked out the door and before I
could catch him - he peed on the porch so he wouldn't have to go in the rain.
Never seen a dog like him. Oh well - odor remover for pet smells and
soap & water will take care of it.
Talk to you later,
Ange
Hi Dawna
Hope all is well there. How are all the puppies doing?
Tater (poor guy) had starting getting diahrea last Thrusday - put him on
Imodium but late Firday night we could see it wasn't going to be enough so Sat
Am I took him to the vet. He is so good about riding in the car and
truck. He behaved so well at the vets - laying down on my feet and being
a good boy - at least until some foolish girl brought in a baby in a carrier
and set it down about a foot from Taters nose! He did not like that.
Started growling - I asked her to please move her baby as Tater is a puppy and
I didn't want him to accidently hurt the baby (not like the office was
crowded!). She glared at me and moved it about 6 inches. Tater was
still growling (I don't really blame him - the baby did smell bad!).
Luckily the receptionist (my vets wife) saw what was happening and told the
gal to get the baby off the floor for health reasons. Poor Tater.
When it came our turn - Dr Tony opened the exam room and in a booming voice
starts yelling "Where's my Tater" "I need to see my
Tater". Tater jumped up and trotted in to see Dr Tony - like this
happens everyday! Dr Tony gets on the floor and lays down with Tater so
Tater was pretty happy about that. Just as we thought - too much horse
poop and maybe a bacteria problem. Antibiotics and anti diahrea meds
will clear it up. Oh - another weigh in - at 4 1/2 months Tater now
weighs in at 78 lbs. Dr Tony says he is fine - not over weight at all -
in fact he looks skinny but figures it's cause he is growing taller. He
was about 2 inches shorter than Katie when we got him - now he's about 1-2
inches taller. My God - are you sure he's not part horse!? He is
really growing!
He is trying to run but ends up tripping over those enormous feet alot.
He is fine during the day but every evening he decides he's a guard dog and
walks around growling and barking off and on. We have resorted to
yelling "Tater - Shut up" every 1/2 hour. Nice.
He is so good humored - always happy. He is doing fine with strangers as
long as they leave him alone until he decides to make the first move. He
sure can give that Fila stare if they make the first move.
All in all - we are crazy about this guy. What a funny boy. He
will steal a plastic hanger in a heartbeat - doesn't seem to care if your best
clothes are hanging on it. He will also climb in the dryer when you take
out the clothes if you don't watch him! AND - with all the toys I
have bought - he loves his oyster shell he found best - will carry it around
for hours.
I will try to get some pictures to you soon.
I know - oh no I sold this great dog to a crazy person!
Thanks,
Ange
hi dawna, the new baby is now 48 lbs.....she
has developed a very up and happy personality....still very calm(and very
aloof) in the vets office, and any place she is taken.....thank you for
this little gem, she is a great dog
peter and carol
Maybe age, maybe Percocet (and Renee ain't here to give me the answer).
Who are Haggis's parents? can't remember for the life of me. Went to the
website and even that didn't jog the memory. Anyway, he is doing fine.
Brings up sticks and rocks all the time. Finding small pea gravel in his
stools from time to time. Hope he grows outta THAT :-). Last I weighed him
he was 68# (about last Wednesday). Will have vet appt. this week and we will
see. He is very assertive and rarely backs down from Boudica. Drives her
CRAZY with his constant playing. But at least she is young enough and a
player herself (Rosco was not a player). He is already 'humping' her,
dislikes a hand on his head, but tolerates it. His obedience is very good
except for 'come'. That alpha thing will soon meet pinch collar. Very
protective of Renee and has a deep bark already. Renee came home the other
day and he went nuts as she put the key in the front door, which we seldom
use. GOOD BOY! Remind us next time that male dogs can walk and piddle
at the same time :-))). He is a real 'huggy bear' but usually only when HE
wants it. Once again I am extremely grateful for your outstanding breeding
of these dogs. Don't know that we would ever own another breed and don't
know that we would trust anybody else to breed as fine a Fila as you do.
Thanks a million.
Hi Dawna,
Sorry I haven't written you until now but I have been really busy.
Bentley is doing great and is very spoiled. I love him more than I
could have ever imagined loving a dog. He goes to work with me and gets
a chance to play outside in the sand while I am doing my plumbing. He
sleeps right next to me and he loves his doggie cookies. He is fully
housebroken, and now weighs 127lbs. I follow all of your rules and feed
him the right food and read all the labels when buying his doggie
treats. I love him so much, I can't begin to thank you for such a
wonderful gift you have given me with this dog. I will write to you
again as soon as I have some time. Have a wonderful Christmas and a
good New Year and by the way Bentley has his own stocking and already
has it full of gifts and I think I am going to get him one of those
snuggle ball to sleep on. They look like a huge bean bag chair for
dogs. Take care.
Heather
Have a story I had to share. Dave says it's just coincidence, but... I saw
what I saw. I have told you about Dime and his dementia. Well last night I had
let the dogs out for a while. Karma came to the back door & barked when she was
done. I went to let them in & she & Dumpling came right in, but Dime was about
30 feet awat walking in circles. He does that sometimes because of the dimentia.
I assume he is not sure how to get back & can't tell the direction of my voice
when he does this. Anyway, I was standing at the back door calling him, trying
to get him to walk towards me in the right direction. Karma came to the door &
stood next to me. As I was calling him (over & over), she would look up at me &
then over at him, then back up at me. I guess she thought this had gone on long
enough cause she went over to him & bumped him with her nose, then did a 180 &
took about 4 steps towards me. Stopped & looked to see if he was following her &
when she saw he was, she came back to me, then in the house. When I told Dave he
just stared at me for a moment, then said it was just coincidence & I am reading
more into it then could be possible. Well, since I'm the one that saw it I would
say she is one VERY smart little girl. I have already noticed she can sense
there is something not quite right with him. So, just had to share this cute
little story with you. |
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