Monday 23 August 2010

Pubescent Boot Camp

Tiesto is an awesome dog. I’ve said and typed that like a million times! I also expounded on his first pubescent episode with the dead hog. From there it continued to escalate. What most people don’t realize is that from 6-9 months in most dogs (Corsos go until 17 months) there is a puppy puberty! In fact, it is during this time that most puppies are rehomed, according to Gwen Bailey, author of How to Raise the Perfect Puppy. This book should be standard issue for those considering a puppy.



Tiesto went into puberty with a strong obedience and socialization program. And so I was surprised at how strongly testosterone affected him. He began with trying to get between my son and I. He started this by cutting Joshua off in route to me. This didn’t work because I got up and got my son. However, once my son was in my lap Tiesto would try to pinch him. At this point, most moms would panic and believe me I fought the urge. However, my training both in the military and after has taught me to assess the situation, get as much information as possible and then make a standard operating procedure.

First, I contacted my friends and Tiesto’s breeders, the Ballards. They originally wanted to show him but he had a few issues that wouldn’t bode well for him in the ring. They had mentioned to me on several occasions that if I wanted to neuter him they would be fine with that. I called to confirm this and once confirmation was received I made an appt for the next day. The newly neutered Tiesto returned home to his family a touch lighter and groggy. It is important to realize that a pet Corso does not require his testicles and unless you’ve decided to put a lot of time and money into showing and breeding, it is best to neuter. This is not a way to make money, so please spay and neuter your pets. If you need some incentive to leave the breeding to those like the Ballards watch Last Chance Highway or Pit Boss on Animal Planet. I could almost immediately tell the difference in Tiesto’s attitude toward myself and my son in light of his neutering.

Second, was to implement the pubescent training program. Just like teenagers who wake up one day not listening to a thing and you feel like you have to make a million rules to keep them safe, that is what you do with a dog. I rewound everything! Once he gets excited or pushy he is sent from the room and out of the circle, Corsos hate this! If at anytime he becomes too focused on Joshua he is sent out of the room and away from Joshua. I also start and stop all interactions with Tiesto. He is not allowed to ask for a petting, he gets it when I call him to me and only walks away when I tell him “All done.” All of these actions drive home to this pubescent Corso that I am in charge, that Joshua is alpha to him and that certain behaviors are expected. He is a puppy still so even though he is pubescent and stubborn, as alpha it is my job to deal with that and continue to train him up in the way I would have him behave as an adult. Consistency, no matter how many times, is the key! I reinstituted daily obedience work and I feed him after all of our meals. This really emphasizes our alpha status. For Tiesto, I will maintain this training program until the end of puberty, at that point I will relax because he will relax into his place in the pack. Please note, at NO TIME is hitting, screaming, punching or anything like that required to correct your Corso. They are dogs, so deal with them using dog-language, abuse is not in their vocabulary. If you don’t believe me, watch “It’s Me or the Dog,” on Animal Planet, Victoria would stanchly agree with me!

Thirdly, I have had to start crate training again. He gets out after Joshua gets up. He is crated when Joshua is asleep and when we are out of the house. This is very little time of the day as I have the privilege of being a homemaker. When this regime resumed he would scream to get out. The first couple of days were really hard to get through and to get him to understand that he does not come out until he is quiet. He is much better now. Another training technique I had to start was making him lay down inside the crate before I opened the door. With him in the down position and focusing on me I can control his excitement level. Before I started this he would dive out of the crate at 100 miles an hour. Weighing 100 plus pounds, this action could be very dangerous to those outside the crate. He now has to focus on standing and stepping out of the crate, thus slowing the charge. I ignore him completely once he is out until he has calmed down. He is calming down quicker and quicker each morning.

Finally, I have continued the socialization regime I started before all my road trips. We go out in public at least once a day and work. This may be the front yard by the road and in sight of the neighbors or to PetSmart(or any other area pet store) or a public park. We have company on a regular basis to help him understand that people in the house is also okay. He understands that once properly introduced that he can relax. Socialization must continue.

Yeah, it is very hard work. He is just nine months old but in the end I will have a very stable and loving Corso that I can continue to road trip with and can trust around family and friends. I will also have a Corso I can trust to defend my family if the need ever arises. Raising a seriously huge dog is serious business and I’ve a doggy boot camp approach.

Wednesday 18 August 2010

Puberty and the fight through . . .

It always amazes me how much we limit people and animals in our life. We say about ourselves,


“Oh, I could never do that . . .” what ever that is and then we add the excuse,

“because I am too old, because I am too skinny, fat, ugly, tall, silly . . .” whatever we feel is the excuse. One of the things I’ve heard people say about pets is, I don’t want one because they hinder your ability to travel and do things. I would have to say that objectively I agree with you in as much as I agree with the person(which I used to be one of) that says, I would never want children, they hinder your ability to travel and see things.



So to the group who doesn’t want a dog because they are inconvenient, I whole heartedly agree, for some people they are inconvenient but they can do what ever it is you ask of them, if you work at it. To those who feel the same about kids, ditto. However, I’ve had the pleasure of a change of heart . . .



As you know I’ve done two things in the past month, I started using a Gentle Leader on Tiesto and we took another wild road trip of 2200 miles. Tiesto had already been on one road trip that was over 3000. At this time I would like to point out to both groups that my pup and my baby were with me for all of it and we had a blast.



Tiesto did great with the Gentle Leader and I will use this when I am in class at Petsmart because they don’t allow prong collars. The reason for this is that many people do not take the time to learn how to use them properly and then misuse them out of ignorance and/or laziness. There have been many horrible stories and pictures floating around the media. To avoid this, they don’t allow them. However, the Ballards have been in Corsos for 10 years and thank God that they share their knowledge! They taught me the proper use of a prong collar. They explained how it would help Tiesto and I have a better working relationship because he would really be learning the stuff I was having him do. I can tell you that once again they proved themselves geniuses! Tiesto is in his prong collar only when I am actively working with him on his obedience. (I am hoping to get his Canine Good Citizen) He understands as soon as it is on that he is working, it is only on when there is a lead attached and so he is beginning to associate the lead with work time and focusing on me wonderfully. I am very excited about being able to dispense with it entirely in the future. As James explained to me, T is going to weigh 150 pounds and Joshua is a mere 26 pounds, I have them both with me all the time, it is imperative that Tiesto responds immediately to me. Tiesto has already begun doing that!



So between the prong collar and the Gentle Leader his training is coming along beautifully and he is the coolest. While we were in New York, he stayed at his first kennel and did a fab job! Then he rode on a paddle boat with me and a big swing and he loved both. He loved the free access to the wild water in the lake, he is hilarious! Give him a bucket of tap water and a bucket of rain/lake water and he’ll stick his face in the rain/lake bucket every time! He had to get used to people walking past his cage all the time and he had to get used to different and strange people in the house all the time. He really settled in and did a great job!

He is a thinker. He kept getting in trouble for getting in my Mother-in-law’s trash can. So he decided that he would just try to take off with it and have a look in side. My 90 pound pup running through the kitchen with a 40 gallon trash can dangling from his teeth was a sight to behold. So that was put to a halt and he seemed to understand from that point that no matter the location of the trash can, he wasn’t allowed into it.



Another thing that has occurred is that while most of the time Tiesto comes to a screeching halt when he thinks he is going to run into his little BIG brother, Joshua, there have been some bumps. Nothing serious but reminded me that I really need to drive home the point that a baby is a baby and a dog is a dog and an adult should always have a watchful eye on both, no matter the breed but ESPECIALLY when the size is so great!



Also, watching the little one! Joshua has decided to try to see if he can kick and punch Tiesto. These efforts are met with consequences, however, if someone saw my son’s perfectly cute and adorable face they might be tempted to not believe that he would, in fact, make such attempts. I have seen it with my own two eyes! So, to add to the watch the dog, watch the kiddie-wink too!



Another thing to note is your children will get attached to your puppy no matter their age(unless they are an infant then maybe not). When we had to leave Tiesto at the kennel, Joshua screamed and screamed until I could distract him long enough to take his mind off of it. I think next time he will understand that we are going to get him back. Joshua and Tiesto had a huge party when they were reunited! Tough to imagine, an 18 month old 26 pound baby boy and a 100ish pound puppy giving kisses and hugs. It was a sight to behold.



Finally, to those who find dogs inconvenient. Tiesto is a GREAT travel buddy. He keeps us safe and he rides along so patiently and then hangs out with us where ever we are. To those who find kids inconvenient, Joshua is a great travel buddy, he laughs and tells me stories and sings to me! He provides a reason for me to stop and rest and laugh some more. Both of them rise to meet my expectations and are just happy that we are all together. Essentially, I don’t know how I ever road tripped without them!



Tiesto starts his intermediate training the end of this month so stay tuned!