Steve & Discipline

When Steve was tiny

I mean this tiny:

(4.5 weeks vs. 35 pound Mackey)

Anyway . . . When he was tiny, Steve wasn't much of a problem. He was an itty-bitty boy and just needed love, food, water, and training. (and more love) Steve was taken from his dog mom much too early, but his litter was soon to be taken to the pound and we had to rescue him.

As the Baby Dog got bigger

Maybe like this:
(not even six months old with a flop-ear he couldn't control)

Anyway . . . as Steve started getting bigger, he was chewing EVERYTHING in sight - baseboards, pillows, window sills, Cole Haans, wallets, furniture, leather, credit cards, paper - you name it! We tried bitter apple, clickers, pennies in a coke can, newspaper swats to our hands, positive reinforcements through treats, a thousand firm "NOs", and anything else we could think of.

When he was about 8 months old, Stevie finally graduated from Obedience Training. He improved so much, and Daddy & Mommy were so proud!

But we still couldn't keep up with our growing boy. Steve had SO much energy & we couldn't provide him enough consistent activity. So . . .

Why not get a friend to play with?? We need three dogs, right?
(Steve 18 mos. with his girlfriend, Pippin.)
Then Steve kept growing. And growing. AND GROWING!

Let's say this big:
(age 2.5 maybe, about 100 lbs.)

We knew that we'd have to find something else that would work. Some kind of a discipline tool. You know, in the times where Steve was chasing Pippin and trying to chew the fur off her face. What would work that we hadn't tried before?

Enter:

Yep. That's right. Breath spray. Binaca, Sweet Breath, whatever. Steve HATES it!!! When I pull it out, you'd think I was preparing for battle by wielding a ten-foot saber. We've only sprayed it a couple of times and Steve runs off anytime he sees it. He's overly dramatic, so it's quite the presentation when he sees us pull it out. All I have to do is take off the lid and set the spray down. We don't even have to use it now. :)

Why this long, random post (full of CUTE pictures) about breath spray? Because Steve was just trying to remove Pipp's tail, chase Mackey, sit on me, and sniff the cat's butt. I got out the spray. He's presently outside pouting. Mom wins. For now!