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"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."
-Chinese Proverb

New Puppy Care
Bringing Home an About Time Cane Corso!

This page is written to help answer many of the questions that frequently come up about bringing a new puppy into your lives. It covers many things from feeding to training, socialization to housebreaking, vaccinations, supplements, and more! If you are bringing a new "About Time" puppy into your lives, please take the time to read this whole page before your puppy arrives - there is a wealth of information here, you will be glad you did! If you are looking for additional information on a certain topic, please be sure to browse our Cane Corso Care and Information main page.



 

Feeding your new puppy:

   Our dogs are fed a combination of a natural raw diet, home cooked meals, and dry kibble. After the recent issues and deaths caused by dog food recalls, we have transitioned our our dogs and pups to "Flint River Ranch", and "Innova's Large Breed Puppy" kibble. (Flint River Ranch kibble can be ordered direct from the distributor, and will be dropped at your door. Innova info and dealer locations provided on our links page). We feed primarily Flint River Ranch, mixing in Innova and some supplements based on our preference for ideal dietary needs of each dog. Your new puppy will be eating 100% Flint River Ranch kibble about a week before they go home to you. Regardless of what you plan to feed long term, start with a bag of Flint River Ranch Original Oven-Baked Puppy/Adult formula, and then you will be able to change them gradually to your preferred brand of food if you choose to switch. Don't make sudden changes in your pup's diet - you can easily cause an upset stomach for days with sudden changes - the best way to change is gradually.

Changing your pup's food type:
   Start your pup on their accustomed food for the first day, then the second day mix 1/4 of the new food with 3/4 of the original food. The third day you will mix 1/2 new food with 1/2 original food, and the fourth day mix 3/4 new food with 1/4 old food. In this manner you can change the pups completely over to your preferred food type in just 5 days, without bothering their stomachs.

Protein Content & Quality:
   Regardless of the brand of food you prefer, Protein and Calcium content play a key factor in the growth of your Cane Corso puppy. As a large breed puppy your Cane Corso has the potential to grow too fast and put additional stress and strain on still maturing joints and hips if fed a diet that is too high in protien and calcium. Growing pups up to two years of age will do best on a lower protein diet designed for large breed puppies. The protein level you feed can be reached thru a combination of kibble, raw feeding, and supplements (Supplements are detailed below on this page).
   
Quality is extremely important in your dog food decision - a cheap food that has lots of "fillers" (corn, etc) will not be digestible or nutritional, and can actually be detrimental to your puppy's health. Many commercial foods are full of cheap fillers, by-products, and artificial preservatives. Taking corn alone out of your dogs diet will keep your dog much happier and healthier in the long run, and likely increase his life span as well. Corn is completely indigestible to dogs, has no nutritional value whatsoever, many dogs are allergic to it, and a corn based diet has been linked to the cause of many canine health issues. As if that is not enough, the corn in our country is loaded with growth hormones to mass produce it for the demand and variety of corn based products - the quality has been sacrificed for the quantity. If your dog, cat, or even yourself, have a predisposition to cancer, those growth hormones will feed that gene, increasing the risk of the growth of cancer. Frightening when you think about it!
    Feed your dog Well - it isn't worth saving a couple bucks on the cheap brand of kibble when you consider the loss of years to your dogs life and health.
    Feed your dog Carefully - many of the premium labels and brands are not what they appear, and are not even manufactured by the company marketing the product.

Dog Food Quality Rating System
   If you are curious about the quality of the kibble you are feeding, or simply struggling to decipher which of the many brands available would be the best quality for your dog, use this Dog Food Rating System. This is a simple way to judge the quality of kibble brands - and compare how different dog foods measure up.

Pet Food Recalls & Choosing What You Feed:
   Your choice of kibble for your Cane Corso is very important, especially in light of yet another pet food recall, and the scale of
brands, families, and pets affected. Many families were shocked by the unexpected loss of their beloved pets ... many families who thought they were feeding good quality food.

   Co-Packing: Most people are surprised, and appalled, to learn that all the Iams/Eukanuba canned foods are not made by the Iams Company at all. In fact, in 2003 Iams signed an exclusive 10-year contract for the production of 100% of its canned foods by Menu. This type of deal is called co-packing. One company makes the food, but puts another company’s label on it. Co-packing is a very common arrangement in the pet food industry. While not commonly known, it is often brought to light when a recall is issued, and surprisingly when dozens of "premium" private labels are involved. This practice of co-packing is used by many large and “reputable” labels such as Iams, Eukanuba, Hills, Purina, Nutro, Doanes, Diamond, and other high-end, so-called “premium” foods.
    The big question raised by the co-packing arrangement is whether or not there is any real difference between the expensive premium brands and the low quality generic brands. The recalled brands in the latest recall run from the cheap walmart Ol'Roy brand, up to the high-end premium labels. Whatever the differences are between cheap and high-end food, one thing is clear. The purchase price, brand, and label of commercial pet food does not always determine whether the food is good, bad, or even safe.

Here are Dog Food Recall Lists, from the Food and Drug Administration, and the American Veterinary Medical Association:
   FDA Dog Food Recall List  •  AVMA Dog Food Recall List

Flint River Ranch Dog Food:
   We have fed and recommended the Diamond Super Premium dog food line until recently. In light of the health issues and deaths caused by extensive recent dog food recalls, Diamond's own recall two years ago that caused the sickness and deaths of many dogs on the east coast, and our own dogs suddenly going "off their feed" and refusing to eat Diamond kibble, we have transitioned into a new feeding program with Flint River Ranch. This is one of the best foods we have found to feed in our program. It is twice baked with all natural human-food grade quality premium ingredients, and no corn or fillers. As you read you'll understand why we spend so much time and investment on excellent food for our dogs, it's because we know that your dog's future health and quality of life will be shaped by your choice in food!

We feed and recommend Flint River Ranch dog food.
Flint River Ranch, Premium Natural Oven Baked Dog Food!

A high quality, all natural, oven baked dog food made with premium healthy ingredients and no corn and fillers.
Order FRR dog food easily and quickly online. Each order is filled directly from the manufacturer, and it will be promptly dropped at your door with no additional shipping charge!

   Flint River Ranch Super Premium foods contain only high-quality, all-natural, human food grade ingredients without fillers, by-products or chemical preservatives. To aid your sensitive pup's digestion, formulas also contain probiotic and digestive enzymes to aid in food digestion and nutrient absorption. A tasty nutritious diet for your dogs, FRR's protein source is high-quality chicken meal and lamb meal, neither of which contains by-products. All kibble is Twice Oven-Baked, making it highly palatable and easily digestible. Your dogs will LOVE the taste of this kibble, and because Flint River Ranch dog food products are high-density, you will find you need to feed 20-25% less than other foods. Each serving delivers the maximum nutrition without fillers, resulting in easier digestion and less stool volume and cleanup.

Cooking for your dogs:
   One or two times per week we feed all our dogs a "home-cooked" meal. I will boil a whole chicken until tender, pull all the meat from the bones, and then drop some scrambled raw eggs into the boiling broth (with the chicken pieces) before finishing up with a kettle-full of rice. The end result is rice boiled in chicken broth, with wispy pieces of egg throughout, and shreds of chicken mixed in. A little oil can be added as it is cooking as well. Your dogs will love it!

   We supplement all our dogs diets with Satin Balls (recipe below) a healthy and tempting recipe you can mix together and freeze for easy daily use.

Feeding Raw:
   If you start researching raw diets, you'll hear a vast difference of opinions. Personally, we have found that a natural raw diet has been nothing but beneficial to our dogs. Raw bones and food are what dogs are naturally suited to eat. Commercially prepared cooked foods & kibble lack enzymes and other essential dietary components and contain some ingredients that promote allergies and are otherwise harmful for dogs. The conventional canned and kibble dog foods are convenient and practical to handle, that's why they are so popular. After a couple of years of feeding though, they can be harmful for your dog's liver - especially the super premium types.

If you decide to feed raw to your Cane Corso, your options range from packaged medallions of raw food, to simply picking up a couple ribs at the grocery store (and explaining to the family why the dog gets ribs while dinner is spaghetti!). We have a . We stop by a small privatly owned meat processing company near us once a week and pick up fresh raw beef for all our dogs, and store it in a 14 cubic foot freezer to so their feedings stay fresh all week long.
   * Raw bones are healthy for your dog. Raw bones are digestible, natural, softer, and nutritional, while cooked bones will become hard, brittle and lose much of their nutritional value.
   * NEVER feed cooked chicken bones to your dog. They will splinter into fatally sharp slivers and pieces and can KILL your dog. Raw chicken bones are fine.

Supplements ~ A couple little extra things I do:
   We use, and highly recommend, a wonderful natural supplement for all our dogs and puppies - "Pets Alive". We wouldn't be without it for our dogs - it works that well!
This supplement will help to fill in the missing ingredients that most dog foods do not have, and will give your dog a wonderfully soft and glossy coat, healthy skin with minimal shedding, protection for their eyes, joints, bones, and immune systems!

PetsAlive! Natural canine suppliment

You can find additional information by clicking the link above. As I am an affiliate with Gardens Alive, when you order their "Pets Alive" supplement (or any other products from their website) by clicking through from this link on my site, you will receive $20 off any $40 purchase! Try it for a couple weeks ... and see the difference for yourself!

   We use a dab of mayonnaise (often thinned 50% with oil) over my dog's food each day, and then sprinkle on the "Pets Alive" supplement powder and stir it all up. The mayonnaise or oil will conveniently make the powder stick to the kibble. Also, mayonnaise/oil will produce an amazingly healthy shiny coat as both provide extra fat. Interestingly enough, mayonnaise makes their poop not smell as much too! We recommend either corn* oil or fish oil.
*While dogs can not digest corn, they can assimilate linoleic acid and linocleic from the corn oil.
   We often supplement with a raw egg a day also for individual dogs as well - again the added protein and fat will help if you need to add weight, and will also produce a wonderful shiny coat!

*Please read the information below on Feeding Raw Eggs before giving raw eggs to your young puppy.

   The above mayoniase, oil and egg suppliments are high in protein and fat. Used correctly they will producing a shiny healthy coat, and they will help prevent dry/flaky skin and hair problems as well. Do keep in mind though, an overweight fat puppy is not a healthy puppy and is going to be more prone to hip/joint problems. When used with moderation to feed the average active pup that this is never really a problem, but pay attention. If your pup starts to get chunky, you need to slow down on the extras.

Satin Balls:
   Satin Balls are a total canine diet. They can be feed by by themselves or as a supplement, used to build up a show dog, or develop a healthy appetite for a picky eater.
They will increase weight on thin dogs, build healthy soft skin and glossy coats, alleviate itching and chewing at dry coats/skin, and maintain a bright-eyed look and healthy energy level.
   Again, Satin Balls are high in protien and are well used as treats and to suppliment to a puppy's diet. Care must be taken not to cause the pup to become overweight by feeding too much Satin Balls to a young and growing pup.

"Satin Balls" Recipe and Instructions
Small Recipe Ingredients Full Recipe Ingredients
  • 1 lb cheap hamburger (for high fat %)
  • 1 and 1/3 cups Total cereal
  • 1 and 1/2 cups uncooked oatmeal
  • 1 egg (*boiled in the shell for 30 seconds)
  • 6 Tablespoons wheat germ
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 Tablespoons unsulphered molasses
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 package Knox Joint gelatin
     (unflavored gelatin can be used instead)
  • 10 lbs cheap hamburger (high fat %)
  • 1 large box Total cereal (about 12 cups cereal)
  • 1 large box uncooked oatmeal (about 15 cups oats)
  • 10 eggs (*boiled in the shell for 30 seconds)
  • 1 15oz jar wheat germ
  • 1 and 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 and 1/4 cup unsulphered molasses
  • A pinch of salt
  • 10 packages Knox Joint gelatin
     (unflavored gelatin can be used instead)

Directions: Mix all ingredients together, much like you would a meatloaf. Include entire eggs, shells and all.
DO NOT COOK. This recipe is fed fresh and raw.
*(Boiling the eggs for 30 seconds denatures the whites, while leaving the benefits of the uncooked yolks intact.)
Mix completely, then roll into "meatballs" or "patties", store in quart freezer bags or tupperware, and freeze.
Thaw as needed, and feed raw!

Feeding Raw Eggs:
We feed raw eggs to all the adult dogs at various times. Eggs are very good for dogs. In fact, they are the most concentrated, valuable form of protein that a dog can get. HOWEVER, with young puppies you never want to feed them uncooked egg whites. Raw egg yolks are just fine for pups, but pups are unable to digest raw/uncooked egg whites.

Egg whites contain an enzyme inhibitor which can make them difficult to digest for very young puppies, sick dogs, old dogs, or dogs with pancreatitis. Apart from that, unless a dog has an allergy to eggs, there should be no problem. Egg whites contain a substance called avidin, which binds with the vitamin biotin (a member of the B Complex group), making it unavailable for your dog. This has been shown in studies to not be a problem when a dog is fed a balanced healthy diet - only when a dog was fed no biotin for weeks while being fed large amounts of eggs did it begin to cause a deficiency. Also, egg yolks contain a high amount of bioten so when whole eggs are fed it is not a problem.

The yolks are healthier for the dog uncooked, but in the instances listed above, the whites are better cooked than raw. This is the reason for dropping the eggs for just 30 seconds in boiling water. It gives the best benifit from both the whites (partially cooked) and the yolk (still uncooked).

The reason you include the entire egg - shells and all - is because the shells are high in calcium, phosphorous and other minerals. You can always throw the whole egg, shell and all, in the blender before mixing with the recipe to avoid shell pieces.

 


 

Collars / Harnesses:

   Choosing a proper collar for your Cane Corso is an important step in beginning your pup's training. You want to start your pup with a collar that is wide enough to be gentle thru the learning process (not a choke chain), but also that is strong enough to be well fuctional. We recommend a flat leather or nylon collar that is an inch wide to begin with.
   Some people prefer to use harnesses. These are not usually benificial to your dog. A harness will tend to encourage your puppy to pull while you are training them to walk on the lead. Most pups can also pull back and manage to contort themselves to the point where they get a leg half through the harness strap and end up getting hung up in it. Again, not a good situation.
   We use and recommend a simple flat leather collar on all our young pups. When fit correctly, it *Will Not* slip over your dog's head in any situation. They are Safe, clean and classy looking, inexpensive, last forever, do not damage your Corso's coat, and are available in a variety of colors (natural, red, brown, black, etc).

   Do not be fooled into thinking that a choke chain, a prong collar, or a shock collar are going to instantly fix any training difficulties you are having with yoru pup. These are training tools that can be benificial *when used properly as a part of a specific training program*. Too many people use them simply as instant and easy "fixes" to compensate for their lack of actual training. They should never be used as a long term or regular part of your pup's activities, only for a limited time as a training aid in part of a program designed to properly train to correct the issue you are experiencing.


 

Beds / Blankets / Toys / Chews & More:

   There is nothing a Corso puppy loves more than soft beds and fluffy blankets! Leave a couple pet-beds in various rooms, or toss a fluffy blanket on the corner of the couch (bonus points if it is in a sunny spot!) and your Corso will think they've reached heaven.

   A variety of chew toys, and fun toys should always be available, especially for young energetic puppies. They provide hours of entertainment, help get through the teething process, (and are much cheaper to replace than your couch & shoes). "Fuzzy/Squeaky" toys are always a big hit with pups here, but won't last long in unsupervised competition with your pup's sharp teeth and powerful jaws. They will spend a couple hours chewing and shaking their new "victim" ... then bring it to me with a quizzical look when it stops squeaking. Hard chew toys/treats will help scrape their teeth, and will reduce plaque buildup. We offer a variety of chew treats, including Raw Bones, Bully Sticks, Braided Pizzle Sticks, Toobles, Deer Antler Chews, rope bones, and more.

We Use & Recommend Flint River Ranch Treats
Flint River Ranch, Premium Natural Dog Treats!
A Natural and Healthy Treat Selection for your IG!

All natural and 100% digestable, Bully Sticks, Braided Pizzle Sticks, Toobles, and Deer Antler Chews
Click here to order Flint River Ranch Treats

A couple notes on the subject of treats:
   "Greenies" have been linked to the deaths of a number of dogs due to the fact that they shatter in large chunks, get lodged in the digestive system, and do not soften/dissolve.
   Rawhide strips are fun treats, but are often laced with harsh chemicals and unhealthy for your dog. If natural chemical free versions are fed, they should be limited and ingested in moderation. If your dog ingests a large amount of rawhide at a time, it will swell in their stomachs and can lead to bloat or blockages.


 

Vaccinations & Worming:

   All our puppies are current on their vaccinations & worming before leaving. You will receive a your puppy's immunization records when your puppy arrives home to you. We de-worm pups bi-weekly with Earliworm, and vaccinate with FortDodge Duramune vaccine. Pups receive their first vaccine at 6 weeks of age, and boosters at three-week intervals after that. If your pup goes home to you before vaccinations are complete, it is vitally important that you take him/her to your vet to receive the remaining boosters. Your puppy *will not* be protected (against parvo, distemper etc.) until he/she has received the full set of vaccinations and booster shots.

FULLY Vaccinate ~ BEFORE taking your pup out:
   I can't stress this one enough. Until your puppy is COMPLETLY vaccinated, do not take the chance of your new little one being exposed to Parvo/Distemper. This means, until fully vaccinated, your pup stays in your home, in a controlled environment. Trips to the vet are held/crated - not allowed to walk on the floor, sniff noses with other dogs, or be petted by strangers. Don't let your unprotected puppy run on the grass, stroll down the sidewalk, or play with the neighbors dog. Parvo lurks everywhere. At best, you will rack up a vet bill in the thousands in a matter of days trying to save your puppy ... At worst, your puppy will suffer and die despite anything your vet can do.
Do Not Take That Chance.


 

Other Dogs, Cats, Pets, & Kids:

   Yes, your Cane Corso can get along with other dogs, toy breed dogs, cats, other pets, and children. Our Corsos co-exist peacefully with our birds, indoor housecats, toy breed Italian Greyhounds, and our new baby girl. It all comes down to a matter of training ("it is not 'OK' to chase the cat") and raising them with the other dogs ("even though it is 'snack-size' you are not allowed to eat the little dog").

Introductions:
   Introducing your new Cane Corso to your other pets should be closely supervised. Often having your larger pet on a leash, or letting them get acquainted through the crate door is a good way to start. Introductions take time. Don't expect everything to be perfect instantly. Be sure to provide plenty of supervised interaction and bonding time between your new puppy and current pets. Once they have gotten to know each other you will usually find your Cane Corso curled up sleeping on your other dog, or napping in the sun with your cat.

A couple notes on the subject of Large Dogs:
   Your Cane Corso can co-exist just fine with small toy breed dogs. Our Italian Greyhounds use our Cane Corsos for portable beds! There are a few of our Corsos that I trust unsupervised with the IGs, however, the rest have separate yards and are only allowed together while supervised. Every Corso is trained not to "chase" the IGs, to allow an IG to take food directly from under their nose or from their mouth, and would never hurt them intentionally. *BUT* always keep in mind the damage that a playful 100+lb dog could accidentally do to a tiny dog. All it would take is one playful swipe of a huge paw to squish a pup like a bug! There is no cut and dried answer as to whether your large dog will be fine unsupervised with a small dog, it all depends on the dog's temperament, personality, and training.

The Cane Corso & Children:
   Some breeders feel strongly that a large dog and small children do not mix. I personally come from a family of 12 kids, and my younger siblings love the Corsos! Like the notes about small dogs above, it all comes down to your child, is he/she well behaved and respectful of animals? Or will he/she grab the dog by a leg and drag it around? A child that raised well and taught to respect animals and show proper care for a dog will enjoy hours of fun & love with their puppy. An irresponsible un-disciplined child with a large dog is simply asking for trouble down the road. Before considering a mastiff with children, carefully consider your child's respect for animals. Be sure that your child understands they can pet and touch the dog, but can not grab and carry it. Be sure your child will respect the dog. Again, there is no cut and dried answer that applies to everyone. A poorly behaved child can easily goad or corner a dog into defending itself... and it will happen in a split second. On the other hand, there is no sweeter picture than a respectful child curled up napping or playing with their Corso.
   No matter how much you trust your child and your dog, alwasy remember that they need to be supervised together. Never leave your young children unsupervised with any dog - no matter how well you think you know them.


 

Socializing your puppy:

A well-socialized Cane Corsois a Confident, Outgoing, and Fun Loving dog! He is well trained, accepting of new situations, people, and things - both in and out of your home, and is a pleasure to live with.

  NEW SECTION COMING!
This page is a work in progress - constantly growing! Please be patient with us while we write this section.


 

Housetraining:

   "About Time" puppies are started with housetraining basics already established, and the groundwork laid, to make housebreaking as simple as possible when your new pup arrives home. At 4 weeks of age when the pups start becoming mobile and eating, they are placed in a 5ft square exercise pen in our kitchen. They have a bed, food and water in the front, and paper down to cover the rest of the area. As dogs have a natural instinct to keep their sleeping and eating areas clean, they prefer to eliminate in a different area. At this young (and not totally mobile yet) age, anywhere the pup chooses to go outside of his bed is on paper. As they grow over the next week they will progress naturally to choosing the back corner of their area to eliminate - as far as possible from their food and bed area. Over the next couple weeks, the size of the exercise pen is increased, and the paper is decreased from covering the floor to just an area in the back corner.
   By using this method we use the pup's own natural instincts to not soil their bed/food areas to allow them to paper-train themselves naturally! By the time they are 8 weeks old, they have run of the kitchen, with a determined paper area in the corner, and we have only an occasional "oops" somewhere else. They are also already introduced to beginning to eliminate outside.

   Your pup will arrive with the basic foundation for paper-training already established. From that point on, you just need to build on it. To start, when your pup first arrives home in a new and unfamiliar place, go back to the basics by limiting your pup to a restricted area when feeding and for 30 minutes after meals: food and bed on one side, paper or pee-pad in the back. The pup should pick up right away to go on the paper. Then, once he knows where it is, start increasing the area, but be sure to feed close to the paper so he won't have to go far after eating. Once he clearly knows where the paper is, he will easily begin returning to it on his own.

   Paper training is your foundation. Changing from paper to going outside is just a matter of steps. Remember, always make changes gradually, and build your new training on your original foundation.
 
   To train to go outside, leave the paper down in the house for a backup option, and begin taking your pup out after meals and/or when you notice him starting to circle and sniff for a place to go. When he eliminates outside, praise him heavily, and take him back in. In this manner you can make him understand that you are pleased when he goes outside, and soon he should start looking to go out when he has to eliminate. By leaving paper down inside as well though, you provide a backup in the event that you do not get there fast enough to let him out. At least he can still go on the paper (good puppy) rather than messing on the floor (bad puppy).

   Positive reinforcement and consistency are your best tools in training your dog. If you forget to watch him, and find a mess on the floor, DO NOT punish your pup after the fact for your inattention. He will not know what you are angry for. Instead, clean it up, and watch more closely the next time. If you catch him "in the act", make a sharp noise of displeasure, and simply pick him up, carry him to the paper or out the door, and then praise him when he finishes there. Praise and treats every time he does right will go much further than yelling when he doesn't. Soon enough you'll end up with a Corso that will come running to find you and show you he made a mess where he was suppost to, just because he wants his reward and treat!

   The best training tip I've ever heard when it comes to housebreaking...
Keep a rolled up newspaper handy, and when you find the little pile or puddle on your rug, take the rolled up paper and hit yourself over the head numerous times and repeat "I forgot to watch my dog, I forgot to watch my dog, I forgot to watch my dog". It may not correct the dog, but it will certainly get your attention!


 

Crate Training / Exercise Pens:

   Crate-Training is recommended. You don't want to keep your Cane Corso in a crate all day, but if you are in a situation where you need to crate your dog (while traveling, at a show, temporary confinement, etc), you want a well-mannered accepting pup. The crate should be established as a good place, a safe place, the pups "den". You can place a soft bed in the crate, and always make it pleasant with treats and chew toys as well. Don't leave your pup too long while starting training - reward them for short periods of behaving with a treat and a hug! Soon you will be able to leave the crate door open and your Corso will retreat there when he/she is tired or just wants some quiet rest. When started right, confinement will never be a big issue.
   A word of warning. If you do not bother to crate train your pup while he is young and small, you will soon be faced with the prospect of a 100+ lb dog that DOES NOT want to go in or be locked in a crate. A young pup will fuss then settle down and learn. An adult Corso has the full potential to fuss and break out of almost any average crate you buy, teaching himself that he does not have to stay in, and can destroy one and escape at any time. This is a very dangerous and expensive situation to have to deal with, but is easily and simply avoidable with proper training of your young pup.

Exercise Pens - Limiting Areas:
   New puppies are always easier to train when they are safely restricted to a limited area while not being directly supervised. A pup that is locked in a closed room will start to feel isolated and become bored/upset/destructive. A pup locked in a crate for long periods will be too confined, and develop bad habits. An exercise pen is one of the greatest inventions to have with new puppies! I use the wire type (pictured here) for a variety of reasons. The pen is light and easy for your pup to see thru - they don't feel isolated. Made of 8 hinged panels, they are extremely adaptable to almost any size, shape, space imaginable. You can even stretch them out across a room/entryway to simply restrict a pup to half the kitchen etc. While a 3ft tall one is tempting for a young pup, plan ahead and get a 5ft tall pen so your growing pup doesn't start flying over it!

   Immediante Correction and Positive Reinforcement are two of the biggest tools for training your Cane Corso puppy. Yelling at your pup after the fact when you find a chewed up shoe won't teach him anything except to hide it better next time. Correcting your pup immediantly when he starts to show intrest in an unacceptable object, then replacing it immediantly with an acceptable toy and positive praise will go a lot farther. Remember, if you are not watching and available to supervise, restricting your puppy to a "puppy-safe" area will make both your lives easier and more pleasant.


 

Health Care:

We Recommend Hartville Pet Insurance.
Free Instant Quote for Pet Insurance from Hartville

With the rising cost of vet care, a good pet insurance plan is a simple and low cost way to give yourself the peace of mind knowing you will never have to make the call between getting your pet needed care ... and not being able to afford a big vet bill if something goes wrong.
We breed very carefully with every possible effort to produce a healthy pup, however sometimes even with the best of intentions things go wrong. As one of the families approved to take home one of our pups we are confident you are going to take wonderful care of them, but even with the best of care accidents do happen. We cover every one of our pups with a full guarantee, providing for a refund or replacement in the event that our pup turns out to not be the healthy happy dog we tried to provide you, however, our guarantee does not cover any vet expenses you may incur for your pup - this is where pet insurance comes in. In the event that something goes wrong, or an accident happens, make sure you won’t have to choose between your pet’s health and your finances.
See how simple it can be to have peace of mind for your Cane Corso - Click here to get a Free Instant Quote for Pet Insurance from Hartville, a reliable company we recommend with reasonable rates, great coverage, and a low deductable.



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Richard & Laura  [Contact Us]
505.281.5536 H / 505.304.9322 C
Mail@CorsoPups.com
Los Lunas, NM, USA