Comment to 'question about socialization with a fila'
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    There is a fine balance between socialization and ultimate guarding abilities.  Ultimate socialization results in minimal guardian abilities simply because to "trust" strangers is anathema to guarding. Balance is the best case.

     Well, lets kick this topic up a notch. I see that we are heavily split on the socialization side of this argument.  This is not surprising because most of us live in an urban or suburban environment where liabilities caused by dog ownership weighs heavily on the mind.  It is my thought that most of us who owns a "guardian" breed is fearful of the dog actually harming someone either on or off property. The litigious world we live in today forces us to be more considerate of our neighbor and the criminals than our own protection.  Crazy.

    So, here is my thought on socialization, dog selection and living condition.

    If you live in an apartment or a development where there are many people around you everyday and you basically have no fear of burglars, muggers, carjackers, thieves, rapists, and livestock predation - Any normal mundane breed of dog will do fine.  If you bring a true Guardian Breed into that situation them you have the responsibility to change the dog to fit into that situation - and the method is socialization.

    If you live out in suburbia and have a single family home on a small piece of land and neighbors close by your fear of burglars, muggers, carjackers, thieves, rapists, coyotes and other perils are probably at a higher level.  You can probably bring a true guardian in this situation but you must have a good containment system (fence) from the property and a method to secure the dog when you have visitors. In my opinion socialization is not necessary but can be used to dull the sharpness of a true guardian who is by nature aggressive to strangers and deadly to predators.

    Lets say  you live out in the country on 10 or more acres or on a farm - you absolutely should not socialize your guardians because you want them to guard and protect your property and livestock if you have them.  They will be protecting from burglars and predators. 

    On a practical level - our Caucasian - met two of our neighbors from across the street when they were pups.  I would take them off property over to the neighbors property and keep then on leash as the learn that these two neighbors are not to be feared. In total as pups they made 6 trips to the neighbors property.  The neighbors made visits to our property - now as the dogs have matured those two male neighbors (not their wives) can enter the property but cannot pet the dogs.  The dogs will bark but not approach them to be petted.  The will sniff, investigate, and retreat to an over-watch position to observe. As pups - they would rush to them for attention - but not anymore.  So in this situation there is enough familiarization with them so that if we have to go out of town we have two options of who can feed and take care of them in a limited sense.

    At night when the coyotes are howling and yelping as they kill a fawn, deer, or other peoples livestock - our goats move closer to the house and the protection of the dogs. There are lots of coyote action in this area and then can be heard every night signalling their kill.  

    So - your dog is to be chosen, trained, and desensitized according to your situation. Keep in mind that some breeds are better suited for some situation then others. While we talk about our dogs in general you will see most breeders talk and write about "preserving the breed" but most do not know what they are preserving. It is the breed as it is today, the way it will be tomorrow, or the true temperament and function that gave us the form of the dog we so love and admire.  

    If the breed is formed by function then it is worthy of preserving.  Different breeds for different situation - choose wisely.