Sisko hits adolescence big time!

First of all, let me say that Sisko is a very good dog. He wants to please me and tries very hard to do so. He’s not a destructive chewer, doesn’t dig in the yard, never gets in to the trash can, won’t steal food, and won’t dash out open doors or gates. He sits for his meals and is not a problem barker. He’s affectionate and loves to cuddle. He’s a very good dog.

But he has hit adolescence big time. Not that he’s challenging me; for the most part he’s not. But he has definitely hit that stage where he’s pushing the older dogs, trying to see how much he can get away with and how far he can go.  He may not be challenging me but he is being a pain in the tail towards Riker and Bashir as well as the other trainers’ dogs at Kindred Spirits. He’s annoying them big time.

Riker is aging; he’ll be 13 in April and when I brought Sisko home over a year ago Riker made it very plain he’d already helped raise several puppies and he wasn’t going to raise another one. Since Riker basically ignored Sisko and never asserted himself with the puppy, Sisko has been pushing Riker from the beginning and it’s gotten worse as Sisko hit this teenage stage. Sisko has been downright obnoxious with Riker – growling at him, guarding toys, and pushing the old dog around. As long as Riker is okay, comfortable, and is not acting stressed I’m not interfering too much.

However, sometimes I will tell Sisko to knock it off when he gets too obnoxious with Riker just for my own comfort. I don’t like to see anyone bother old dogs; especially Riker.

Thankfully Bashir took on the job of raising Sisko right from the beginning and he’s a very good teacher. Bashir has never let Sisko get away with anything and when Sisko pushes too much Bashir will get taller, swell so that he looks twenty pounds bigger, and he’ll lift his lips showing his canines. Sisko usually lowers himself immediately baring his neck. But since he’s hit adolescence, he’ll often continue pushing, usually by trying to take the toy Bashir has, and Bashir will grab Sisko’s muzzle and force Sisko to the floor. Sisko will roll over, bare his belly, and peace will again reign. At least for a little while.

I knew exactly when Sisko hit adolescence because Bashir became the enforcer more often. Bashir is still patience personified but he’s reacting to the puppy more often. When the two dogs are playing Sisko will body block Bashir more, bark loudly in Bashir’s ear, try to steal a toy, and Bashir will take the puppy down. Again.

I love watching Bashir teach the puppy. Bashir is very patient and puts up with an awful lot. However, he apparently has a mental line in the sand and knows when to tell Sisko to knock it off and when to ignore the puppy. When he does correct the puppy he does so quickly – very quickly! – firmly and yet he’s never too forceful. He does just enough to stop the behavior, make an impression on the puppy, and then when Sisko acknowledges Bashir, the correction is over. Bashir never holds a grudge and Sisko never acts afraid of Bashir. It’s fascinating to watch them.

Photo: Bashir and Sisko playing in the ocean in central California. Photo by Liz Palika.