Cane Corso Help Needed from anyone with experience

[JBurd3]

I have a female corso that will be 1 year old tomorrow. She is a fun loving dog no signs of any type off aggression toward me or my family, and she does really well with my 5 year old son. My question is when should I anticipate her to assume a more protective role? Now, she is VERY alert. If she things shes heard or saw something, she immediately starts to bark and growl. But not in an investigative fashion. She acts more scared that protective. Shes been adequately socialized around other dogs/people/kids since I first got her at 8 weeks. I just don't know if I'm expecting too much so soon, or if i have just have an "oddball". Another thing that really bothers me is that she lets my in-laws' dogs punk her in her own house lol. Shes about 85 lbs now and my in-laws' might be 45 lbs. They will take her bed, her toys, or whatever else they want. Not that I want her to rip their heads off or anything, but feel like she shouldn't be so submissive or such a push-over. If one of them takes a toy from her and I take it back from them to give to her, she wont even look at it. Just hoping to see if anyone can shine some light on this or give me some hope that she will grow out of it. If not, I'll love her anyway lol. Thanks for any info in advance

 

[glen]

Your girl is still very young, her protection to her family will come naturally, my eldest cc budcuss used to be a right wimp but one day he stopped backing away when Barking. All 3 have been the same. Now I feel sorry for anyone who tried to enter our property without permission. And the submissive side of your girl with other dogs in your home is her just enjoying the fun it's not a threat to her. Believe me it's better that way than a aggressive dog. Your girl sounds spot on. When she does start her gaurding make sure you train her how you want her to handle the situations our boys are trained to freeze leave it, hold it, and to come back to my side.

 

[Courtney H]

It took my female about a year and a half to become more protective. She would hear something while she was laying in her bed and her head would pop up and she would curl her lips and start growling and wooing. And if she thought she saw something outside in the dark, she would bark and back up. But one day we put up new solar lights along our pathway and I took her outside and she started barking very aggressively and leaped off my porch and after the lights (lol). Once she realized the lights were not a threat and she heard my command, she calmed down. She is a pretty submissive dog, but she is still protective. Our dogs are trained the same way as Glen's; leave it, wait, come, etc. I find one word commands work better for my pups. I would just give her some time and training.

 

[DennasMom]

As a 1 yr old, being a little scared is not unusual... that's about when these pups can go through another fear stage. Don't let her stew in it, try and get her more curious than afraid... encourage her to "check it out" when she hears or sees something new.

As for being "punked"... Naw, she's just smart enough to know those little pups aren't worth the trouble.
She'll save her protective stances for REAL dangers. I'm guessing you aren't afraid of the little dogs, so she's probably taking her cue from you that they're fine with "whatever".

Denna also defers toys and beds to my sister's dog (a border collie/blue heeler mix). They've known each other since they were both about 40lbs (the heeler mix is about 6 months older than Denna).
I have been successful a few times in getting them each to take the end of a tug rope and play tug together... but it never lasts long. Denna normally lets go first. I'm just glad they can be in the same room together peacefully! I know Denna would never keep up with the heeler on an energy level, so it's probably better she's not interested in competing with her for anything.

This was a few years ago, when Denna was just over one-year old:

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Our girl is a lover, not a fighter. She too is very submissive and lets visiting dogs take advantage of her. Not sure what "punk" means. Here it means that her cousin dog rifles through all her toys and squeaks and chews on everything and then goes and annoys her on the couch, the translation would be something like: Play with me, play with me...I'm going to get you...I'm going to bark until you play. I'm going to chew up everything...Play With Me!" Her response is something like, "You are annoying, go away." She sits on the couch brooding about the abuse of her toys and if I take one away from Huddy and give it to her, she will refuse it, just like your girl. Literally, her nose is out of joint.

A while back she started stashing her prize possessions in my bed and pushing the covers up over them or at least trying (funniest thing you've ever seen.) If another dog comes in for a visit, she'll dash upstairs to make sure her stash is safe and she never really settles down until I close the bedroom door keeping the visitor out entirely.

As for protective instincts, I have often wondered myself. She doesn't like to bite on anything except her chew toys or her food, so I'm not sure she'd like the "feel of biting", but I do think she would come to my aid. And, as you have found out, at the door, at the window, in the yard, they are imposing and can sound quite threatening. But they are sweet lovable lumps and are best at basking in the love of their family. It is no mistake that they have been called "gentle giants."

 

[Vantage]

My question is when should I anticipate her to assume a more protective role

This seems rather subjective, in what is protective to you? Do you mean, standing up against the in-law's dog? Or do you mean protective in a real-threat situation?

The dog-to-dog interaction with your in-laws I feel is your dog's temperament. Just like people - dogs have feelings and preferences. Maybe she doesn't like a crazy over-the-top dog yapping at her? Maybe she is being submissive? Maybe she simple can't be bothered and ignores her?

If your pup is very food or toy driven you can try to take her a fair distance from whatever is triggering her to be anxious/afraid, keeping her attention on you and reward her as long as she is not exhibiting undesired behaviour. (out of control barking, lunging, etc.) Then slowly work your way closer and closer to car or other dog or kid that is bother your girl. (Maybe during the same session, maybe over a couple days, maybe months.)

If you mean from a protection point of view, I feel this needs to be shaped and taught. A dog may bark or look aggressive from a distance, but when an actual confrontation takes place (Hopefully that case never occurs) is when you really realize their true capabilities, and most pet dogs won't bite.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

I differ with Vantage's point that "most pet dogs won't bite." I don't believe statistics would bear this out. I'm sure your insurance agent would disabuse you of that notion. (They actually have a hit list of top biting dogs.) Dogs are pack animals, and we are members of their pack, it is the nature of the pack to protect each other and serve each other's needs. Push comes to shove, your girl will rise to the occasion. As long as you have the basic commands to call her off, to stand down, to come to your side, she will do what is required. Some people believe they have to have their dogs attack trained or guard trained, I differ in this, I believe that a good basic foundation creates a balanced dog that won't bite without cause and won't be a liability. It is a litigious society, a calm thoughtful, well trained dog is an asset, and not a liability...not a lawsuit waiting to happen. It sounds to me like you have a well-balanced family dog who is growing into herself. Don't worry about the "punked" issue, she's just like mine, resents sharing her toys and treats with the visiting dogs, but is putting up with the nonsense because her leader, YOU, invited them into your home. That's a smart dog.

I am reminded about a story from a year or two ago, one of our members were out for a family walk with their new baby in a carriage, a deranged GSD attacked them and their "gentle giant" went from dreamy family pet into deadly force. Their mastiff so severely damaged the GSD that it had to euthanized. It happened in an instant. They never knew their girl had it in her, but she was her family's salvation. She protected her family, her pack.

 

[Vantage]

I suppose I am looking at it from a more theoretical point of view, if you are the pack leader you are the defender. In that situation it is a lower pack member (dog) protecting an even lower pack member (baby) from another canine. Would the same dog exhibit the same defensive mechanisms when there is a 6ft tall man screaming and hitting him back with a stick? (I don't really know, I'm not actually debating whether he will or will not.) I also sometimes wonder if our dogs know that "it is a Baby", and to be extra careful and delicate around them and to be extra protective over them? I've also seen similar situations where a cat fends off a stranger's pitbull from a child's leg.

Insurance is just out there for the money haha. I'm sure a Chihuahua would make it somewhere on that list to . It's funny though, the other day I was on my phone and my sister says "look the mastiff made it first on this list of dogs most likely to bite" (or something like that) and literally a minute later, I scroll on my phone and see "Best dog with children ...number one the Mastiff" lol. (granted the source of each article could have been anyone.)

I do agree it is important to have a well balanced dog, otherwise they can't do much locked in a crate or muzzled.