Welcome to Outrageous Shadow Filas! About Us

Katrina and Shea

Welcome to all who have come to explore the depths of the wonderful breed known as the Fila Brasileiro!!

First, allow me introduce to you our kennel, its origin, and its purpose.

We have chosen to name our kennel after our first fila, Jaybird's Outrageous Shadow. It was through this tremendous dog that we have become so enamored of this breed. Shea has taken our family on a journey that has become one of the foundation cornerstones of our lives. During this time she has served as a beloved family member, unsurpassed guardian, teacher, and friend.

Take a glimpse with me into her story. Caroline and Gray, a much loved family friend, owned 3 filas who were all quite impressive in their individual talents and capacity. The leader of the fila family was Barkley. Now Barkley may not be the consummate picture of a "show quality" fila, however, he possessed all the fierce love/loyalty this breed is known for and excelled in the working capacity for which they were bred. It was Barkley's job to protect his family's large estate, keep the cattle safe, move cattle when necessary, and on occasion track. On more than one occasion this gallant dog kept his family safe from an irate bull or cow!

On arriving for one of our many visits, we saw a delightful litter of puppies at play. This would prove to be Barkley's first and only prodigy. One pup stood out more than the rest. This pup was quite audacious for her age, clearly the top puppy in the litter, and already seeking the constant companionship of her family. Not long after, this sweet couple decided to give me the opportunity to own that little female since they knew I would work hard to ensure that she was always well cared for, well trained, and competed in shows. We ran to their home the next available opportunity that arose, paid for our precious girl, and proudly carried her home. The name chosen was in honor of Barkley whom she most represented by attitude, character, and temperament! Thus, Jaybird's Outrageous Shadow came to live with us and is called by the loving name of Shea.

Shea as a puppy

Merry Christmas, Shea!

Although I had general information concerning the breed, their temperament, and their ability....that was not enough to satisfy my thirst for in depth knowledge concerning this breed, how best to pursue training, and the daily issues of care. It was at this time that I began to scour all possible sources for learning opportunities and information on the Fila Brasileiro. The more I searched the more frustrated I became. There were very few sources from which I could obtain factual information. Opinions abounded but sound information that had been proven and/or tested by owners/breeders was sadly lacking in one uniform format which those seeking information could easily access. Information was needed in areas such as the every day care, growth, health, and the temperament of the fila.

As a result, I decided to begin to research and gather as much information as I could. This has now been a 2 year ongoing project. To gather information and do my best to insure that this was not just hearsay but sound factual information was a chore. It was a chore that taught me more than I could have ever learned just watching my own dog grow. The search took me to more shows than I can remember, working weekends, a breed club, and involvement with many ethical breeders.

In participating in many fila chat groups we found a distinct lack of respect for those who were new to the breed as well as those who might have differing opinions. This led to our founding a chat group known as Faithful Fila. Faithful Fila is a chat group open to all who wish to learn about the Fila Brasileiro, promote responsible ownership, share the joys of loving this great breed, and support one another. This is done through the avenue of respect. This respect allows us to discuss issues, disagree, and still continue to gain new knowledge.

We have developed a great respect and love for this wonderful breed and long to help promote sound dogs with proper temperament which will align greatly with the FCI breed standard. It is our desire and goal at Outrageous Shadow Filas to one day breed just such filas. Filas who will combine both the structure, temperament, and bone needed to carry out the breeds original working abilities as well as the conformation to make them formidable opponents in the show ring.

Shea poses

Our intent was to wait until we had the knowledge, experience, and foundation stock for our intended limited breeding program to compile and present a website. However, we soon made the decision to help promote responsible fila ownership by doing our best to make as much information as possible available and accessible to the average interested person. The more reliable information that a person can have before purchasing one of these wonderful dogs, the more informed a decision a potential owner can make.

So we offer this website for your enjoyment and learning. Wander around, review the information offered .and enjoy the pictures of our own precious family members. It is our hope that you find the information you need. If you have need of further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are not experts, just fellow travelers on the road of responsible fila ownership.

We give special thanks to God for giving us these wonderful, unique dogs to share our lives with.

Shawn & Katrina Waldrip
Outrageous Shadow Filas