CC posses. Some people in Schutzhund are biased towards the GSD or Malinois. Working a CC is physically demanding. Many trainers are not willing or physically can not catch the dog. When I first started in Schutzhund I went to a local club where a friend trained. The trainer told me he would not do bite work with my dog because he had a bad back and CCs were to big/strong. Although he would work GSDs and Mals. I respected his honesty and at least I knew where I stood. Then a lady who breeds and competes in IPO with GSDs told me, “CCs are bred to be viscous and it’s a liability to teach them to bite!” This coming from someone who has been in the sport for many years! I knew it was time to find a new place to train. Luckily I found K9Koncepts and their head trainer James Bay- nard. They are a teaching club, and James shares his knowledge openly with everyone. He understands the unique qualities and drives in the CC. CCs do not have the ball drive that a Mal has, but they have more defensive drive then a Mal. You can not train both dogs the same way. A good trainer needs to be able to tap into the dog’s specific drive. With my dog food or tug works best as rewards. His food drive way exceeds his desire to chase a tennis ball. It is a lot of work to teach your dog to heel properly. It is frus- trating when you have been working so hard on the heel and then you see a Mal puppy, with little training, heeling with his head high and eyes fixed on his owner. But… when you get that perfect heeling it is that much more rewarding. On the other hand, track- ing has been extremely easy to train. My dog loves to track and it seems to just come natural to him.
Bite work is another area where the differences between the CC and other herding breeds are apparent. The intensity and pow- er of the CC is impressive. by PAM DIXON (CH Blue Ridge’s In It To Win It CA DJ CGC) In 2004 I met my first Cane Corso. Before then my experience with working dogs was with Rottweilers and Akitas. I Champi- oned my Akitas and participated in obedience with my Rottwei- lers. I have found my true love is the Cane Corso, a very versatile breed. You can introduce a Cane Corso to any sport you would not typically think they would excel at and see their passion for pleas- ing and learning come alive. CH Blue Ridge’s In It To Win It CA DJ CGC aka Connie, is a great example of the Cane Corsos’s love for their humans and pleasing them. Connie started her water sports career when she was just 3 months old. She showed a love for the water, fetching her floating toys first and then submerged toys. She loved swimming in our pool and soon was diving in and then and fetching underwater. She was one of the first Cane Corsos to try out and excel at Dock Diving and today always has her own fan club that cheers her on at all her competitions. Connie also loves lure coursing and has earned one title and is on her way to more. Connie has also tried and been successful in Barn Hunting and we hope to title her this summer. Connie is willing to try anything we ask of her, she trusts us and is willing to practice until she gets the hang of it. I know with all of the large breeds I have worked with, consistency and practice helps to fine tune the canine athlete. Corsos should not be left in a yard or a crate all day with no mental stimulation. Connie understands my voice and hand commands, she knows I am the boss and never refuses to do what I ask of her. She is most happy when she is dock diving with my son Glenn, pull- ing him in a cart, running through an obstacle course or just lay- ing on the sofa with her head in his lap. She loves people and other dogs, but is still appropriately protective when she knows she needs to be. Cane Corsos are true working dogs. Connie loves to please and is most happy when she has a job to do. She now has 3 sons who are enjoying the water just as she did at 3 months old. Her boys are carrying on with her temperament and athletic abilities. by BRIAN MARINO (FireHorse Falcon NJP NAP NA NAJ OA OAJ AX AXJ NW1 CGC TDI TT) Many people think since the Cane Corso is a Mastiff, they are your typical big, lazy, unmotivated dog. Most Cane Corso are the complete opposite. They are very athletic and are quick learners with lots of drive. The main skill to learn when training with a Corso compared to more traditional agilty dog breeds is to learn how to jump properly. Not necessarily how to jump high, more about rear end awareness and how to slice and wrap the jump. Once your dog learns how to jump its faster and also safer for your dog. The focus and training that agility takes does not only help to create a strong bond between the dog and handler but also pays off during everyday life, not just in the ring. I usually get two different reactions when people see Glover competing in agility. Those who have never seen or worked with a Corso are surprised to see one doing agility, but people who know or have worked with a Corso before are surprised they don’t see more doing agility.
280 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2015
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