Puppies – 6 month old male and female Cane Corsos

This little gang of 6 month old Cane Corso puppies are currently in the care of Battersea London and the wonderful team there who are nursing them through kennel cough and getting them in tip top condition before they come to us for foster care.

They are VERY timid. Gentle, sweet, friendly to an extent (not outgoing but ready to try) scared of tennis balls, and generally none too socialized. They are looking for understanding but disciplined homes to give them the confidence and socialization they need before rehoming.

Puppy one is male, the largest of the group, suffering from malnutrition and possible dysplasia (we are awaiting X-rays). Good on the lead, quiet, likes to know where you are.

Puppy two is female (nicknamed ‘LOVEDOG!) and the most gregarious with humans, loves cuddles, scared of tennis balls. Good on the lead, very gentle.

Puppy three is male, very timid, won’t leave your side, excellent on the lead – will need experienced and calm handler.

Puppy four is male and was in quarantine on my visit but was much like the others, curious but timid.

These dogs are not used to a home environment, so understanding of positive house-training is a must, as is a genuine knowledge of positive reinforcement training and a willingness to socialize gradually.

Salvo – 8 year old male Cane Corso

Salvo is an 8 year old blue Cane Corso neutered male who came to us through Battersea London although we are aware of his old owners, Salvo did nothing wrong, but what happened to the family was so bad that he had to be rehomed. He is in foster care in Coventry, and apparently is so bombproof you’d have to put a firecracker under his bed to make him blink!

He’s great with kids of all ages, and dogs, loves the car, great on the lead, a proper gentleman, well trained, very healthy and no-one can believe he is 8. I know his provenance and he is from extremely good Italian lines. Salvo is neutered, vaccinated, wormed and de-flead and comes with 3 months free insurance and a clean bill of health.

*Update from foster family June 2010*

Salvo is gorgeous, whoever gets him for life is going to be the luckiest person! He is so loving and gentle and chilled! To give you an idea of size, I have a 34″ inside leg, he is as long as me from waist to bottom of foot. I’m 6’2″, when we are both sat down we are the same height. His front legs are the same thickness as my arms, and his paws are nearly as big as my hands. When I first saw him at Battersea though what made me think bloomin’ heck he’s big is his head, it’s absolutely massive, and wouldn’t be out of place on an adolescent elephant!

OK, I’m only used to boxer dogs, but there is a gorgeous DDB at the end of the road who was 10 stone at 10 months old, I’m sure Salvo’s head is bigger. I’m saving meeting that dog with Salvo ’til we all know each other better.

He really needs to go to someone with a stately home; he makes normal sized houses feel small! Kitchen worktops are nose height, dinner tables are chin height. He loves the fridge, and will try and put his head in as soon as any one opens the door. We’ve got it out to a respectful distance now.

He’s not keen on his crate now he’s in a home environment, which contrasts to wanting to jump straight into it when Nicola opened the backdoor to the van when we met at Battersea.

He is a 100lb, 8 year old puppy when he plays, yet when he goes out he ignores everything and anyone unless they come into his space, cute little red setter in heat walks passed within 4′ nothing, random people with random apparatus, nothing, cat with hackles raised 6′ away, Ok that got a second glance with a really cute face, then he just carried on. He readily accepts fuss from anyone.

He’s loves walking in long grass, given the option of the mowed bit or the unmowed bit, he takes the unmowed bit. Which leads to his – to me – most bizarre habit: using spikey things as lavatories. We’ve done brambles, blackthorn, hawthorn, holly, dog roses, nettles, thistles, pyracanthus, and berberis. Trying to pick up with a plastic bag out of a clump of nettles is right up there in the list of not fun things to do.

Salvo continues to be a star. Ok, he is a bit naughty, he’s got a bit of separation anxiety, if everyone is upstairs, you’ve got a minute before he’ll jump the stair gate and come up. He barks and whimpers in the car. We did a few journeys of different lengths and all were accompanied by Salvo’s soundtrack. If he’s got an idea where he is going and it’s home, he’s much more settled, and classical music helps calm him a bit.
He had his first chicken wing breakfast this morning, he loved them until they were put in front of him. Then he wasn’t sure if he was meant to eat them or not! He got the hang of it after the second one though.

He has now started to think of us as his pack. He growls and and goes to see when the letters are put through the door, but doesn’t attack them. He growls and goes meaningfully to the door when someone comes in unannounced. He met a squirrel for the first time with us today, nearly pulled Ruth’s arm off, but stopped. He is interested in rabbits and will probably try and chase one if he sees one before it gets to cover. Cats near our garden better be feeling lucky I think. A number of dogs have come up to him now, and he is friendly with them, and only growls back if they are aggressive.

Today, when he was left in his cage he forced his way out, but only curled up on his bed, not the furniture or anything else naughty. I have just discovered he doesn’t like the vacuum cleaner, but he’s very manly about it, he casually goes where the vacuum cleaner isn’t.

Edie – 8 month old female Cane Corso

Edie is an 8 month old female Cane Corso who came into our care as part of a cruelty case. Despite her start in life, she is determined to be happy, and since she has entered the system she’s been nothing but sweet and playful.

Edie is currently in foster care in Cornwall with a male Corso, a female Corso and a female Lab as well as kids and livestock. Nothing phases this girlie as her foster carer describes:

Well she survived her first night with us! She slept very soundly and quietly in her crate, no fussing. Ate her breakfast of puppy food and beef heart, loves it. Has had no toilet accidents, since one yesterday afternoon when she first arrived. She is a delight, so happy to see us all this morning full body wag! Loves playing with a Kong and Maude, keeps a respectful distance from Koo and Xeuno, really loves my youngest Max, follows him about wanting strokes.

She has met four new people who came to the house today, all greeted happily seems to be no hang ups with men or women or children, just wants to love and be loved and we are all happy to oblige!

Edie continues to amaze me. Took her for a little stroll around the village this evening, on a short lead she walks perfectly to heel. Every now and then you feel a little nose nuzzle your hand as she walks alongside you. Typical Corso in the dark, sticking to your side and doing the odd recky around her every now and then. She is just sooo happy and her tail wags every time she sees one of us. Here she is chilling out after her little stroll.

Edie went to Xueno’s ringcraft class this evening. She was great, interested and friendly with all dogs and even trotted around the hall with Becky tail up and wagging. There was a baby there that cried , her ears went up and she did look concerned. She has started to sit on command, aswell, clever girl

Edie has no formal training but her foster carers are working wonders with her and she’s very keen to learn.

*Update*

Here are some pics of Edie I took tonight on our field. She was racing around with the others and running shoulder to shoulder with Koo and Xueni it made my heart sing!

She is now on two meals a day 75 % raw 25% puppy food, still looks a bit skinny but I think she mustn’t gain weight too quickly. She plays beautifully with the other dogs not dominant in any way. She lets me brush her now, her ears are manky free. She takes treats gently, walks nicely on the lead. Enjoyed a visit to the local pub made herself very comfortable and made lots of friends.

The ONLY thing we are working on is she does like to barge out the door/ gate first however she is getting better and learning wait.

Edie is a sweetheart absolutely no trouble and is welcome to stay with us for as long as she needs.

Edie did really well today, someone left the gate open, the other side of the gate are the chickens! Mine know they must not go through the gate on their own, but Miss Edie could not resist the temptation of a flapping chicken to chase so off she went straight through the gate!
Closely followed by me in my calmest voice, yet a little panicy inside, Edieeeeee come good girl, and blow me she did! Could have been a complete fluke but its a good start to her recall training!

Edie is healing really well, we havent had any complications, she didnt lick her stitches which saved her from the dreaded helmet. She has a check up on Tuesday at the vets, then she is sorted. Her recall is really good on the field and she will leave her doggy friends to come when called. She sits and does down and is getting better at barging through the door or gate!Her appitite is healthy and she is full RAW now, really enjoying it, and she no longer drinks the gallons of water she did when she first arrived. She is a little angel.

Jimbob – 5 year old male Cane Corso

Jimbob is a fantastic 5 year old male Cane Corso. Jimbob is a slightly overweight Cane Corso Male who is coming to me for foster care after arriving at Battersea dogs home London when his owner passed away.

I actually spotted him being walked by Battersea staff whilst I was there to see another Corso, he’s very big, very affectionate and a bit of a looker too! Thus far he’s been fine with other dogs, but I will update when he comes to stay. He’s around 5 years old, neutered, and the shaved patch on his shoulder was a benign cyst that was removed when he arrived.

Jimbob would like an active home (as he is fat!) and was apparently fine with visiting children in his last home. I will update again when he’s met mine!

He was clearly much-loved, and I’m looking forward to updating you all during his stay.

*Update from foster family*

He’s used to coming back to go on his lead, will potter along beside you whatever you’re doing and has been doing the school run recently, he’s shown nothing but curiosity at the strange noisy kids. He’s a gentle giant who loves a cuddle, and likes his bed! He’s enjoyed being brushed, and has put up with having his ears cleaned.

The only things that seem to get him excited are games of fetch (we’re keeping that conrolled because of his weight), he’s been very curious of deer and horses but was easily distracted with food. He has some naughty habits, I just went downstairs after a crash and found him on the dining table drinking my coffee. He will steal things if presented with the chance but will give them up in exchange for a treat, don’t get into a tug of war with this dog!

He is housetrained and asks to go out. If he needs a poo he barks.

He seems to be happiest in a firm routine, he’s set in his ways and has a very funny quizzical expression when asked to do something he wasn’t expecting. He likes the vets and is very happy in a car. He doesn’t bark when strangers approach yet, but I think he’s still settling with us. He can get a little worried if left alone, but a well-stuffed Kong keeps him busy for short periods on his own. He is very solid with other dogs, nothing frightens him or gets him cross, he ignores badly behaved dogs on and off-leash. His recall is excellent. He walks to heel by the buggy.

He needs a routine and discipline (not punishment), the best way to correct him is to put him away from the family. He loves company and doesn’t jump up.

He is extremely strong and will use that strength to go where he wants to go if you’re not on top of it. Once he understands he has to walk to heel he is spot-on. He needs stimulation to stop him being bored, and would benefit from clicker training with older children, he takes treats very gently. He does drool after eating and drinking.

Please make sure when applying by phone that all members of the family are available to speak to me, I’ve now lost count of the amount of applicants whose other half didn’t know they’d applied for a dog!

Jimbob’s stay continues to provide hours of mirth. We have discovered over the past week that he is afraid of Bus-stop posters that move, and printers! Go figure. He has also turned out to be very female bonded, I was taking another dog to a foster home, looked in my wing mirror, looked again, and realised that yes, that was INDEED Jimbob running alongside the car after having opened a sliding door…

He has now gone from Hippo to Corso on a careful diet and exercise plan, and is looking the picture of health, he still has a little muscle to build, but I’m extremely pleased with the Corso we found under all the fat (I’m well aware that I can’t stack a dog for toffee – this is why I deal with the rehomes..)

Please don’t be put off by Jimbob’s age, my own dog is 4, and both of them enjoy exercise, playing, and are the picture of health. Jimbob had a full healthcheck before he left Battersea and passed with flying colours. I’m pleased to report that not only is he calm and lovely with children, he actively enjoys their company. We brought some extra kids back for a birthday party this week and he skipped, yes skipped, alongside them, possibly the happiest I’ve seen him so far.

Jimbob would also suit an older couple who have enjoyed big dogs all their life, but are not relishing the thought of training a puppy. He doesn’t bark unless he needs something (poo/cuddle/the dregs of your tea) and is one comical lump of dog.

He’s a dog ready to fit into a family, ready to give you as much love as you can handle and ready to stand by you wagging his tail as hard as he can at the mere mention of the word “bacon”…

He is settling fine; if he’s not at cricket field chasing ball, he’s having 2-3 times a day walks around nearby parks/fields/woods. We even got our mail on time and without postman having heartattack.

Within minutes he got friendly with a 3 years old boy and is OK with our neighbour’s children as well (6 and 10). One of today’s walks was near a primary school just after 3. Lots of children asked to pat him and he was majestically alright with that.
P.S. I’ve lost my couch. It’s somewhere down there, beneath a mountain of a dog. I had to wake him this morning at 8.30 to take him for a walk. When he saw me standing there with his lead, he sighed and looked at me like saying: “OK, pal, just because it’s you, I’ll take you out, but you owe me big time”.

This evening he’s been for a walk with my son, with no problem whatsoever; even my daughter is falling in love with him, although she says that, generally, she’s not partial to pets bigger than her.

We have homecheckers all over the UK, and many more dogs who need a home, so please get in touch.