Source: www.raadvanbeheer.nl

RAD

Despite the withdrawal on July 9, 2008 of the RAD by the Ministry of Agriculture, the rule remains between passing the MAG test and provide pedigrees for the breeds American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dog, Fila Brasileiro, Mastino Napoletano and Rottweiler.

This means that for applications for pedigrees for a litter of pups of these varieties, the parents would have to have succsesfully passed the MAG test (behavioral test). For more information and any additional requirements please contact the recognized club of one of these specific breeds. 

New system bite incidents LNV

The withdrawal of the rule for Aggressive Animals (RAD) and the new rules for bite incidents that came in its place, appears to lead to much unrest with dog owners, even within the cynology.

The Board has also discussed with the Ministry of Agriculture on the impact of the lifting of the RAD system and introduction of the new regime.

The fear that many dogs at once will be seen as aggressive and as the ultimate consequence will be put down in advance seems not justified. The Minister of Agriculture write in its letter of September 10 this year again explicitly in what circumstances dogs must be subject to a risk assessment. The minister writes on "Behavior will be seen as aggressive when physical injury is caused to humans or animals. This is obviously not for any bite, but for which conduct serious injury. Aggressive behavior is also when we fear that when there is a big change the dog will escalate into a behavior where he can cause serious injury. An important role in determining this is hereby reserved for the investigating officer and supervisor. most of the time this will only determined in the "heat of the moment".  

Given the reaction of the Minister, the Dutch Kennel Club thinks that there is as yet no cause for great concern, or actions. Within the Platform Preventing Dog Bites, the Dutch Kennel Club asked for a careful implementation of the new law, as the Minister in her letter also promises. Obviously, the Dutch Kennel Club will monitor closely the futher developments from the Ministery and will give her recommendations if neccesary. 

The Dutch Kennel Club also points out the importance of breeders and dog owners take their responsibilities when it comes to the (aggressive) behavior of dogs.
When it comes to breeders not to breed with anxious and aggressive dogs, and promoting puppy buyers to do well with their new puppy and go to a puppy training and education courses to go any further.
When the dog owners when it comes to their own dog  to educate them properly and also to go to puppy training etc.

The Dutch Kennel Club will support this responsibility by informing breeders and dogowners about the various forms of education courses approved by the regional dogtraining clubs.

From MAG-test to TOP-behavior test

MAG-test
Since 2001, the Dutch Kennel Club uses the MAG (Socially Acceptable Behavior) - Test.
The MAG-test selects on 2 undesirable behaviors in breeding pet dogs, namely excessive fear and excessive aggression. The test contains 16 test items, including 8 with and 8 without the guide, and is held outside in a fenced area.

The MAG-test was presented to the Ministry of Agriculture as an alternative to the then controversial Aggression Test, which consisted of 43 test items (Netto & Planta, 1997). The MAG-test was still in development at the time of introduction and had yet to be validated with aggressive biting and anxiety.

Research has proved that the test is useful for measuring aggressive biting to unknown people in a non-territorial context outside (Planta & De Meester, 2007). Also showed that pedigree Rottweilers anxiety and aggression-related behaviors, which in the MAG-test is selected, show significantly less often than Rottweiler look-alikes whose parents are not screened by the MAG test (from Wageningen University study of the prevalence of anxiety and aggression in the Dutch population Rottweilers, Van der Borg & Graat, 2008, report in preparation).

TOP-Behavior test

The Dutch Kennel Club, in collaboration with Wageningen University and Utrecht University, has spent the past 2 years with the further development of the MAG-test to TOP-behavior test (TOP =  Assessment on Personality). This test has been expanded with three test components, formed of 19 test items.

Besides the scores for excessive fear and excessive aggression (MAG-current test results) received the participants in the TOP conduct a test result on other aspects of the personality of the dog, such as recovery time after an exiting moment, selfassurance, responsiveness, friendlyness and temperament .

This TOP-behavior can, in a reliable and valid way, make a good estimate of a number of behavioral characteristics of the dog.

This information is of value not only for private dog owners (to prevent unwanted aggressive behavior), but also for breeders (genetic counseling), behavioral therapists and veterinarians.

In preparation for the TOP-behavioral test training of behavior judges of the Dutch Kennel Club to have jurisdiction to judge a TOP-behavioral test.

What this means for the Fila Brasileiro.

In the Netherlands you can only breed with the Fila, that means with pedigree papers, if the bitch succesfully passed the MAG-test and in the future or the Top-Behavior Test. If for the bitch a dutch males is used, then also the male must have passed succesfully these tests. Is a foreign male being used then none of these tests are needed. Foreign males should only be in possession of a recognized FCI pedigree and meet the requirements of the country where he is registered.

As you can read above, they have studied pedigree Rottweilers and because a select breeding policy it resulted in less aggressive behavior. The question is what kind of breeding policy do we need for a Fila and  is possible the preserve its natural behavior in our busy society, which for some people is aggressive.

With a select breeding policy you can go very far but the question is by doing that don't you destroy it is  the unique nature and character of the Fila? Many fans choose the Fila for their special character, extremely sweet and submissive to their own, and distrusting and not wanting to be touched by strangers.

Will Holland breed Fila's with the appearance of a Fila but the character of a labrador?

A Fila that will pass the MAG-test or the TOP-behavioral test is a Fila with Fila appearance but for sure its not a Fila with the Fila character and temperament and that's excactly what makes him so special.

We believe that breeding policy is one thing but that it is in the hands of the owner to be wise and responsible with his dog. From a sweet labrador you can create a monster.

Its also a very important job for the breeder to choose his buyers wisely and not to sell to just anybody. He must check the personal situation of the new owner, how he lives, his experience with dogs in the past, what he expects from the dog etc etc. You can of course never know if your dog goes to the right owner but that should be the goal of the breeder.

Unfortunately there are always black sheeps who will sell anyone and do not take their responsibility. In the Fila Forum section of this page, you can always get information from other owners about their experiences with the different breeders.