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Motorcycles

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Lettie, my 11 month old Cane Corso is TERRIFIED of motorcycle engines. We got her at 8 weeks old, and since then she has never had interaction with a motorcycle. We tried to introduce her to everything and she is ok with a motorcycle that isn’t running. But if we are in the backyard and she hears one she runs for the door whining with her tail between her legs and she jumps on the door wanting inside.

This summer she is bound to hear a lot of them and I just don’t know what to do. We can’t think of a way to desensitize her to them. We don’t have any family with a motorcycle, maybe I could reach out to Facebook friends? But I still wouldn’t know how to slowly introduce her to one. Any ideas or advice?
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
Mastiff training 101 noise training, most mastiffs need this, also dark area training like empty warehouses, some are afraid believe it or not. Take her in car washes, empty bottles inside bins and make her run through it several times, lawn mowers run them near her, construction sites walking, rifle range ect ect ect. Mastiffs without this training tend to get spooked on the 4th or New Years with fireworks and even run away.

She may be young enough to still get this done.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Jarena, you can do this. Do not flood her and force her to stay by the things that are frightening her. Don't drag her to them either. I think this is very important. Contrary to what many people believe, you can't reinforce fear, so it's okay to tell her that it's okay and give her comfort. Just don't go over the top. Be matter of fact and calm. I use YouTube for sound clips. I don't have any links handy, but do a search for desensitization and counterconditioning for noise phobia in dogs. Most of the articles will mention flooding as an option, simply because it has been used. Please don't do this. Going slow, like you are doing with the muzzle is the best option.
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
A fearless protector so especially with a CC to not do this training puts the dog in a fearful situation and be doing you and the dog a disservice, these dogs were not bred to get kissed and go slowly with training. Get the empty bottles and bin ready, start the lawn mower daily, my lawn mower guy actually knew that I needed to do that and ran it close to us everytime he mowed the area 2 times weekly, the states has construction everywhere now, good idea to walk her near construction sites, especially loud ones, car washes helped tremdously and basically any loud obnoxious noises that would normally scare her. This is an important part of training don't take it lightly.

The Cane Corso description:

The Cane Corso Italiano is great with children in the family. Docile and affectionate with the owner, they are protective yet gentle. The Cane Corso has a very stable temperament. It makes an excellent guard dog and watchdog. It will not wander from the home. They stick close to their masters. If necessary he becomes a terribly brave protector of people, house and property. The Cane Corso is not a fighting dog. They were bred as powerful working dogs for hundreds of years. Therefore they will not go out "looking" for a fight, but on the other hand they will not back down from other dogs who try to dominate them. The Cane Corso requires an experienced owner who knows how to display a natural authority over the dog. It can be aggressive with strangers and other dogs if not socialiized or if it sees itself above humans in the pecking order. It should be carefully socialized when it is a pup. It is highly recommended that these dogs become fully obeidience trained. If a Cane Corso is fully trained with an owner who is firm, confident and consistent, setting rules the dog must follow and placing clear limits to what he can and cannot do, along with providing the proper daily mental and physical work, the Cane Corso will be an amenable companion. Learn what makes the Cane Corso tick and treat his breed accordingly. Suspicious of strangers, but wonderful with the family, a well-balanced Corso will put up with strangers if the owners are present. When raised correctly, the dog should be submissive to all members of the family. Corso ears were originally cropped to help them ward off wolves while protecting livestock. Their ears are much more sensitive than the rest of their bodies. Generally, they're practically impervious to pain otherwise, so many Corso owners are often disappointed to find that electric "invisible fence" containment systems don't deter their dogs.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Are you suggesting that flooding is a good idea then, Steven? Even with humans, counterconditioning and desensitization is the method of choice. It has nothing to do with kissing the dog.

Jarena, I strongly suggest you discuss this with your trainer and see what his suggestions are.
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
Are you suggesting that flooding is a good idea then, Steven? Even with humans, counterconditioning and desensitization is the method of choice. It has nothing to do with kissing the dog.

Jarena, I strongly suggest you discuss this with your trainer and see what his suggestions are.

I am suggesting that she is running out of time. I actually had a similar situation with my DDB and it became a problem with dark warehouses so I learned from that how important it was to get fundamental training out of the way early. We actually had to go into dark warehouses all the time and my DDB was scared to death and I couldn't believe it. It took a lot of getting used to by me forcing him to go in as we had no choice.

I think 11 months is kind of getting old for this type of noise training so I would start tonight to be honest.

Nobody wants a Cane Corso that is scared of anything, its counter productive.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I am suggesting that she is running out of time. I actually had a similar situation with my DDB and it became a problem with dark warehouses so I learned from that how important it was to get fundamental training out of the way early. We actually had to go into dark warehouses all the time and my DDB was scared to death and I couldn't believe it. It took a lot of getting used to by me forcing him to go in as we had no choice.

I think 11 months is kind of getting old for this type of noise training so I would start tonight to be honest.

Nobody wants a Cane Corso that is scared of anything, its counter productive.

I don't disagree with you, but the method used is highly dependent on the individual dog and their level of fear. Eleven months is also often a fear period. It's really important to handle it in the right way so that any issues that are presenting now don't become worse rather than better.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
She is in a fear period right now so I’m not going to push her too far.

I know the Corso description well, I read it several times while deciding what breed of mastiff I wanted. While she was young we socialized her like it was our jobs. And it’s paid off, she is fine around the things you mention, Steven. The only thing (so far) we have found that scares her is the sound of a motorcycle. And we did all the socializing and desensitizing in a gentle and slow way. Because of that, she trusts us so much. I believe that if we pushed her too far it could backfire on us. Maybe it won’t, maybe it works well for others but what we have been doing is working.

As for the YouTube clips. I already tried it tonight and she doesn’t care lol. I was afraid that would happen. She can tell the difference between real life and YouTube recordings. But when I played the clip, we were in the living room. It might be different if we are in the backyard. So I will be trying that tomorrow. If I can’t get any clips to trigger her, I will be making a very odd Facebook request lol. I’ll find someone to help me with this. Someone who’s willing to sit at the end of the block revving the engine for us :p
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
She is in a fear period right now so I’m not going to push her too far.

I know the Corso description well, I read it several times while deciding what breed of mastiff I wanted. While she was young we socialized her like it was our jobs. And it’s paid off, she is fine around the things you mention, Steven. The only thing (so far) we have found that scares her is the sound of a motorcycle. And we did all the socializing and desensitizing in a gentle and slow way. Because of that, she trusts us so much. I believe that if we pushed her too far it could backfire on us. Maybe it won’t, maybe it works well for others but what we have been doing is working.

As for the YouTube clips. I already tried it tonight and she doesn’t care lol. I was afraid that would happen. She can tell the difference between real life and YouTube recordings. But when I played the clip, we were in the living room. It might be different if we are in the backyard. So I will be trying that tomorrow. If I can’t get any clips to trigger her, I will be making a very odd Facebook request lol. I’ll find someone to help me with this. Someone who’s willing to sit at the end of the block revving the engine for us :p

Darn it, I was hoping the sound clips would work. I have no doubt that you'll work through this in a way that is best for Lettie. Please give us progress reports.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Is there anyone you know with a motorcycle that would sit and you approach him first and let him see that your ok with it then try, i agree its a fear stage i remember them well, slow and gradual is always the best way forward.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
Is there anyone you know with a motorcycle that would sit and you approach him first and let him see that your ok with it then try, i agree its a fear stage i remember them well, slow and gradual is always the best way forward.

I’m going to discuss this with our trainer. He is very good at going at Lettie’s pace so I’m not worried about him pushing her too much. I know he has a lot of resources. If he doesn’t know anyone with a motorcycle, I’ll reach out to Facebook and see if I can find an animal loving motorcycle owner. Thank you.
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Lettie, my 11 month old Cane Corso is TERRIFIED of motorcycle engines. We got her at 8 weeks old, and since then she has never had interaction with a motorcycle. We tried to introduce her to everything and she is ok with a motorcycle that isn’t running. But if we are in the backyard and she hears one she runs for the door whining with her tail between her legs and she jumps on the door wanting inside.

This summer she is bound to hear a lot of them and I just don’t know what to do. We can’t think of a way to desensitize her to them. We don’t have any family with a motorcycle, maybe I could reach out to Facebook friends? But I still wouldn’t know how to slowly introduce her to one. Any ideas or advice?
Hi Jarena, I guess, try to get her around them. I have a Harley & I just started it up this past weekend & Zeela was not happy but she will get use to it. Plus when we walk, too many mc's around for her to be scared. I just think to get them use to the noise and noises...I always tell Zeela, it's okay, just ignore & she basically does. Try to see if there is some kind of mc event around you and take her there and introduce it to her slowly...I think that is all would take. Most Biker's would love to help you introduce her to the noise & help her not be scared.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
I contacted my trainer and he has some plans and ideas that we will discuss at our next appointment in 2 weeks. For now he said when she freaks out in the back yard let her into the garage but not in the house. Then have her do a command and treat. It’s interesting, she is fine in my car and she hears one, she is also fine at her “grandparents” house and she hears one. It’s only at home in the back yard where she gets so afraid. Thanks for all the replies!
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
That's good, I hope the help helps her get over it. I mentioned lawn mowers as that was the closest thing to a motorcycle sound I could think of that was easy. Maybe the yard echos and she cant see and it sounds as if it was coming towards her.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
That's good, I hope the help helps her get over it. I mentioned lawn mowers as that was the closest thing to a motorcycle sound I could think of that was easy. Maybe the yard echos and she cant see and it sounds as if it was coming towards her.

That’s a good point, we do have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence. At her “grandparents” house, the yard is much bigger and they only have a 4 foot chain type fence.

And she has been around lawn mowers but not since last summer. Her breeder made sure he had the pups outside while he mowed the lawn. It’s possible that she will suddenly be afraid of them this year. Also, she was just a pup last 4th of July. She was afraid of the first couple of “booms” but then calmed down throughout the night. I will be looking for signs of fear this summer, I’m sure she has changed a bit since she was a pup. Thanks!
 

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
Glad you've hooked up with your Trainer. If you go down the counter conditioning path, here is a short video from Tyler Muto on an important part of the process.

 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
Great video, thanks for sharing :)

I watched the video and just curious as to how this would pertain to a fearful dog with motorcycle sounds? Rev the bike and give a treat, rev the bike and give a treat? I'm having a hard time understanding how one could treat a motorcycle noise in the back yard.

On the other hand I do see treating a dog after they have ran through a bin of empty loud bottles but the backyard seems different. Hopefully the trainer can get creative and figure out a way.
 

Jarena

Well-Known Member
I watched the video and just curious as to how this would pertain to a fearful dog with motorcycle sounds? Rev the bike and give a treat, rev the bike and give a treat? I'm having a hard time understanding how one could treat a motorcycle noise in the back yard.

On the other hand I do see treating a dog after they have ran through a bin of empty loud bottles but the backyard seems different. Hopefully the trainer can get creative and figure out a way.

I just thought it was a good and informative video about how and when to reward properly. Our trainer is awesome and we really like him, I’m sure he will come up with something that will work :)