Hi rome,
 
To my opinion it’s a great mistake, not that specifically your fila will spoil most, probably will guard very well.
 
Socialization to guard dog breeds is not for the benefit of the breed, long term wise.

 

What do I mean?
 
Let’s start from the beginning and what is logic.
 
Filas DID NOT obtain OZERIZA because they use to socialize them.
 
No guard dog breed in the world got the trait of been suspicious towards strangers because they use to socialize them (not logic right?)
 
Ask past generations which actively formed these guard dogs breeds character and they tell you the same.
 
Perhaps your puppy will guard well, but doing so (socializing) for some generations to come, the trait will be lost.
 
Difficult to gain it, easy to lose it remember!!
 
Is it logic a puppy learning to love and accept strangers to expect it later on to hate strangers?
 
For me NO.

 

Even if it gets suspicious, it will NOT perform like should have been perform with no socialization, which means we have already follow the WRONG PATH.

 

Possibilities have already started to count negative for a decent guard dog.

 

Perhaps pp dog but true guard dog?, perhaps a mediocre one?

 

Do you actually believe that Mr. Stefanitz (creator of GSD) and Mr. Doberman (creator of Dobby), both breeds destroyed today by FCI and businessmen breeders for the sake of money, used well socialized dogs to achieve a guard dog breed, suspicious against strangers and protective of their environment and loved ones?

 

Do you believe that Horan the first recognized GSD was well socialized puppy and playful with people?

 

Can you just imagine how many persons could get close to Horan property or close to his master?

 

Do you honestly believe that our ancestors, even few generations ago use to socialize their dogs and expect them to protect their homes, estates and livestock from 2 legged predators?

 

FOR GOD'S SAKE IS THIS LOGIC?
 
Do you "socialize" the hound with rabbits and a harse, wild boars and birds  AND THEN YOU EXPECT IT TO HUNT THEM??????????????
 
The analogy is even WORSE for guard dog breeds and socialization with strangers.
 
Socialization should be forbidden BY LAW for guard dog breeds for preserving and rescue the breed’s temperament and working abilities.
 
MAKE NO MISTAKE, SOCIALIZATION WAS THE "LEVER" THAT BUSINESSMEN AND FCI USED, IN ORDER TO COMMERCIALIZE GUARD DOG BREEDS AND MAKE MONEY, BY DEGENERATING OUT THE INSTICTS AND THE TRAIT OF THE BREED.
 
You want names for the record?
 
Have few: German Shepherd, Dobberman, Rotweiller, English Mastiff, English Bulldog, Mastino Napoletano, Dogue de Bordeaux
 
all excelent guard dogs once upon a time speaking for the average specimen, nowadays average specimen would invite a straner/intruder/robber for coffee, hugs, kisses and belly scratching.

 

What was the key to this happened? SOCIALIZATION!!!
 
DO NOT COMMIT THE SOCIALIZATION CRIME against of few breeds left with instincts in average specimen like Filas, Boerboels, Caucasian Ovcharkas, Central Asian Ovcharkas,Pressas Canarios and few others.
 
ASK A SERIOUS CAFIB BREEDER COMING FROM BRAZIL (COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR FILA) NOT AN FCI BUSSINESSMAN (NOT COMING FROM BRAZIL BUT FROM A COUNTRY IT IS NOT ORIGIN FOR FILA AND ASK YOURSELF WHO SHOULD HAVE KNOW BETTER?)

 

HOW OJERIZA (IMMAGINE A SPECIAL TERM TO DESCRIBE A DOG BREED'S HATE AGAINST STRANGERS) BECAME A TRAIT OF AVERAGE FILA CHARACTER,
 
 ...WITH EARLY SOCIALIZATION??

 

FOR GOD'S SAKE PEOPLE USE YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR LOGIC, ask your grandfathers that use to have flock guardians for their livestock and their homes and check what answers you will get, strangers hand is forbidden on the puppy's head, judge dogs with your own, socialized vs unsocialized ones and guarding results.
 
Of course is difficult to keep a real guard dog and only people who need it, or they love its abilities and have the mental stability and the proper fence should have it.
 
From the other side it is not logic to water down, degenerate, destroy breeds THROUGH THE SOCIALIZATION for everybody to have one, but they will not have the real one ANYWAY!
 
You know there are Staint Bernards and Newfoundlands out there, THERE IS NO NEED TO DESTROY THE REAL DEAL GUARD DOG BREEDS
 
(I am speaking in general ok?, please do not get me wrong) USING ....SOCIALIZATION, though the salesmen leads you to this direction.