Who IS this dog?

[khplaw]

OK, so Sophie is 9 days short of being 10 months old. She is doing really well in OB class (which I am just using to proof my own training) with the exception of having the instructor brush her. Yikes! I also asked the instructor, and licenses AKC judge, if she would evaluate her for conformation, which she gladly agreed to do. Sophie did a reverse bite when she tried to open her mouth; mouth opened, she pulled her head and snapped her mouth shut. After that she didn't want this woman to touch her at all. Instructor said she would put our a question on the AKC judges forum asking if there is a different manner in which to evaluate corso. I think she needs a little more time under her belt at this point. CGC test is tomorrow night which should be interesting. I think she should pass just fine unless she has top open her mouth!

AND she is back to growling at people she doesnt know and backing away. The backing away part is OK, but the growlies have to go. She has even growled in her sleep! When at people, I correct her immediately; first vocally then with a quick tug. I am thinking because she is in her fear stage, and possibly hormonal is why I am seeing all this? Other than with strangers, she is perfect!

Nothing in the nether regions seems different, so I am at a loss!

 

[kguitarchic18]

Our girl is about 8.5 months and has started to back away from new people as well. But after we sat outside and chatted with our neighbor for about 10-15 mins, she slowly started to shake her but and get closer to him. Not sure about the growling? has she been well socialized? Maybe have a few people over and let her come to them on her terms so she can see that its ok?

 

[cinnamon roll]

Mystic def hit a fear stage around that time.

I would just suggest extra socializing for the next few months. As you are about to hit the teenage stage next! Gulp

ALCOHOL, Dooney's, and more alcohol lol

 

[musicdeb]

Yes, Sophie appears to be in the fear stage.

Know her 'strike zone'. Bring her closer to the fear thing and when she enters the strike zone, turn around and go the other way. Try again, as she gets closer and closer, praise and reward her. When she hits the strike zone, turn around. Repeat until she stops being afraid.

This requires consistency in training and LOTS of patience.

If you become frustrated, stop the exercise. Take a break and take some deep breaths. Return when you have decompressed. Frustration can be felt by Sophie and this will cause her to shut down.

 

[TWW]

Ouch, coming into the teenage stage just as your doing all your testing.
Could some of the fear stage be, being amplified by, your anxiety as all the testing is coming to a head after all your hard work, to get her to this point?

 

[khplaw]

All good questions. I am using this OB class to proof my training and she is doing most things without my holding her leash while others are trying to keep their dogs on the ground and not being airborne whirling dervishes. My training is very sound in other words and I have been at this since she was 3 months old, every day, 45 mins a day 6 days a week.

This dog goes EVERYWHERE and meets EVERYONE.She is known by people I don't even know but I don't plan on changing that routine any so if that isn't enough socialization I don;t know what else to do in that area. She is not dog aggressive, and actually deals really well with other dog aggressive dogs like the seems like 200 pound rottweiller in our OB class that tried to bite me last week. Sophie was in the truck and didn;t see that thankfully. The instructor was at a loss as to what to do with the rott (see thread rott behaving badly).

Generally other people up until now have not elicited growls and it appears to be just men, including my 30 year old son who she doesn;t see all that frequently. She was Fabulous with my 3 year old grandson, even licked frosting off his ear! She is sweet with other dogs. and even lays down for small dogs to be more approachable.

I guess as long as this is manageable, and fits into a general timeline so as not to be alarming to other corso owners, I will stock up on the Glenfiddich and look for another purse. Although, my purse budget seems to be consumed by a rather large loveable doggie.

 

[DDSK]

Alcohol is not the answer!
Alcohol is the question.
"Yes" is the answer!

 

[KristinandCianna]

Hope the CGC evaluation went well!! I would just keep doing what your doing, keep her out, keep socializing her, keep exposing her to as many situations as humanly possible!!! I would also not make her accept petting from every person who wants to pet her, sometimes it is good for a dog to know that people are part of the environment, but won't always try to pet them. This can really help them relax. Good luck!!