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 If you are a Fila fan, look no further! Samurai is the embodiment of the saying : "Faithful as a Fila”. Sam is middle-aged Fila (approximately 5-7) who is a perfect gentleman and just loves to be loved. He is house trained, and even with the trauma of his owner passing away, guarding her body & having to be taken away from her with catch poles, going to an overcrowded city shelter, then being pulled and put into a strange home in the country, he NEVER had an accident in his foster home! He is crate trained, but prefers to be out on a comfy bed on the floor. However, he will go into the crate easily if you toss a small treat into it. He behaves perfectly out of the crate and can be trusted not to be destructive. He never goes on furniture or attempts to steal food, counter surf, or dumpster dive. He knows sit, stay, down, go lie down, come, paw, speak, and back. He takes treats VERY gently and will give you kisses if you allow it. He walks very nicely on the leash and stops when you stop. He is completely nonchalant about cats, horses, and outside critters. He will observe them, and may give a sniff if they allow it, but Sam is a very laid back guy who really would rather sit next to you than chase anything. He is completely unaffected by thunder, lightning, vacuums, floor cleaners, mops, spray bottles, lawn mowers, and loud noises in general. He is such an easy going gentleman!

Likes: His person! He wants to be loved. He loves pets and human company. He likes peanut butter treats too. He doesn’t love the crate, but will go in it. He will not seek it out as a safe place; he prefers a dog bed on the floor. He also enjoys a good roll in the grass!

Dislikes: He doesn’t love a bath, but tolerates it. So far that is the only real dislike he has shown.

Personality: laid back, sweet with his people, extremely well-behaved. He is a Fila, so he is not the type of dog who will happily approach people he doesn’t know. He will quietly watch them and needs time to warm up to people and get to know them. Then he will allow and even ask for pets, but if you tell him to go lie down he listens immediately and goes to his bed or will lie down at your feet if you are outside. He will alert bark if someone is approaching the door, or if the other dogs “alert” bark to something outside, he will also do so, but will stop when told it is ok.

Temperament: Sam takes meds with no issues, lets me handle his feet and ears, wipe his slingers, look in his mouth, & generally be handled. He is a Fila, so he needs time to warm up to people and needs to be able to approach them on his terms. Once he develops a bond with you, you are “ his”. He has behaved perfectly outdoors when meeting people, or when strangers are nearby. He will quietly watch and once he determines there is no threat, he will go back to sniffing or walking around. He is definitely more protective of his person indoors, but is easily re-directed and when told to go lie down will do so.

Energy level: Low. Samurai Enjoys walks outside, but is not interested in chasing sticks or balls at this point. He will gently take a toy from you, but will just carry it to his bed and drop it there. He will let you take it back without any issue. He is just happy to be with his person.

Favorite activities: Getting lots of pets, hanging out with his person on a leisurely walk, or just sitting nearby while his person works or relaxes on the couch.

Good with cats, dogs, and kids over 6?: Not really interested in cats, horses, or other critters. He will sniff if allowed, but will also just lie down and take a nap when they are nearby. Mildly interested in other dogs and will engage if they want to play, but will also ignore them if they aren’t interested or if redirected. He has not been around small children. He has been around children over 12. Again, slow introductions and allow Sam to approach on his terms and he is fine.

Not good with: He can be initially grumbly when someone who isn’t his person comes into the room with his person there . However, he is easily redirected. When told “ S/he’s fine, go lie down, he will do so, and as long as the person ignores him and allows him to approach on his own terms, Samurai is fine.

Housetrained: YES! Absolutely no accidents.

Crate trained: yes, and he will go in when told if a treat is tossed in.

Challenges: None as long as his adopter understands Filas. Sam is an exceptional dog!

Any Medical issues? His nails are still long; the quick has grown out, so they will need to be slowly trimmed back. He was just neutered and had his teeth cleaned and is UTD on all shots.

What would be the best kind of home?Fila knowledgeable. Sam is an amazing, sweet, loving dog. He is so easy-going and well-behaved! As a Fila, Sam would do best in a home without a lot of different people coming in and out, or he would need to be put in his own space/crate at that time so that he was comfortable and didn’t feel he needed to guard his people. His former owner that passed was a woman, and his foster is a woman. He developed a bond with her extremely quickly. He has also warmed up to his foster mom’s elderly father and teenage son, but his foster mom is “his” person.

Fostered in Newtown, PA. 

Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy: Please know that 100% of our funds are used for rescuing the dogs.

Our rescue policy requires the following:

• Adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina.
• Applications for giant breed dogs must be submitted by the property owner.
• Homes with children under 6 years of age will not be approved for adoption.
• Homes with children should have a fenced yard.
• Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care. Veterinary records will be checked.
• All references must be checked before any visitation of the dog is permitted at the foster home.
• All family members must be present during the home visit to the applicant's home.
• Any dog(s) in the applicant's home must have an introductory meeting with the rescue dog being considered, before any adoption can be completed.

For additional information please review our FAQs or contact: mastiffstomutts@gmail.com

Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy:

Please know that 100% of our fees and donations pay for the costs of rescuing dogs. These include but are not limited to pull fees from shelters, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, medications and care, microchips, neuter/spay surgeries, heartworm treatments, behavior evaluations, and foster care, as needed.

Important notes before applying.

• Approved adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina and Kentucky.

• You must be at least 21 years of age to apply and legally sign our contract for adoption.

• Applications must be completed by the homeowner. 

• We do not adopt giant breed dogs to renters.

  • If you are renting, and you are applying to adopt a dog that is not a giant breed, permission to adopt an animal must be obtained from the landlord or property owner.

• We do not adopt giant breed dogs to homes with children under 6 years of age.

  • Homes with children should have a fenced yard.

• Applications will be denied if anyone residing in the household has a record indicating drug/alcohol abuse, theft, or violence.

• Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care.
• Homes with intact dogs will not be approved for adoption.  Proof of any of the following exceptions is required:
  1. The intact dog is a working member of a law enforcement, or search and rescue/recovery team.
  2. The intact dog is registered under the auspices of the American Kennel Club and is actively being shown.
  3. A veterinarian has determined the sterilization procedure would harm the intact dog. 

• We believe in Force Free Training Methods and do not approve of methods or devices using pain or force to control the dog, or to deter undesirable behavior. 

• Homes with highly varnished steps must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface. **We encourage you to remediate potential safety issues while your application is under review, prior to the home visit.
  • ​Any inside steps to which the dog(s) have access, must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface.

  • Homes with highly varnished floors must have non-slip area rugs or mats wherever your animal walks or rests frequently. 

**Puppy Adoption Policy**

To ensure proper house training and socialization, puppies will only be adopted to homes where an adult will not be away more than an hour per day, per month of age of the puppy, up to 6 months.
Certain large-breed dogs should not be sterilized prior to 12 - 18 months of age.  If you adopt an intact puppy, you will sign an adoption contract agreeing to have the dog sterilized at your expense at the time your veterinarian recommends.
Proof of sterilization must be provided to Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue as soon as the procedure is completed.  If the puppy is not sterilized as required, Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to claim legal ownership of the dog. 

For additional information please review our FAQs or contact mastiffstomutts@gmail.com

**Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to approve or deny any adoption that occurs through this organization without disclosure.  We reserve the right to make exceptions for special circumstances.

**PA Kennel License: 05845

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