Is she scared or guarding?

[Misfit36]

Hey guys. Stella is our almost 4 mos old CC and she has been great. A few weeks ago I noticed her start low growl, barking at someone riding their noisy bicycle past the house. She did not run away but stood her ground I guess you could say. Since then she has done that with anything that makes a weird noise she hasn't heard often or if someone walks by the yard. It started out with people who were acting out of norm, like running or yelling but now it seems she does it with anyone. She has also started to do it when I have her at work, whether we are inside the room I keep her in or are outside where she goes potty. I socialize her a lot by taking her to Home Depot and any other public places I can and she is usually fine in those places. Is this a fear issue or her " guarding" instinct kicking in? I've heard this is too young of an age for guarding. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[Geisthexe]

Puppies have development stages
- Neonatal Period (birth to 12 days) This is when they are out of mom and eyes are still closed
- Transitional period (13 to 20 days)
When they are opening their eyes to learning what vision is.
- Awareness Period (21 to 23 days) Primary Socialization starts to begin
- Canine Socialization (24 to 49 days)
This period is especially important for the development of a stable emotional temperament and affective tone. This is where puppy is still with mother and siblings learning to socialize among one another.
- Human Socialization (7 to 12 weeks) pup has been separated from mom, and now begins the socialization between dog and human ((Fear Imprint Period
8 to 11 weeks, a stage in socialization period that pups go into fear))
- Flight Instinct Period (4 to 8 months) this is when all new becomes scary, it is a time you need to just ride out and ignore.
- Second Fear Period (6 to 14 months) Many dogs will show a rise in their level of reactivity (aggressive displays when startled or frightened) during this time. They may become protective and territorial. Incidents of teenage flakiness may recur.
- Maturity (1 to 4 years) Are you done socializing? NO! Like your training efforts, which continue on into adulthood and throughout your dog’s entire life, you are never done with socialization. He still needs to meet and greet people, go places with you, and continue to share your world and your experiences, if you want him to continue to be the happy, friendly dog he/she is today.

Hope this helps

 

[levans2012]

No answer here. I'm in the same boat...Took him to the vet today and he was like the Big Bad Wolf with everybody and he is only 4 months 26#. He has been going to training for the past 3 weeks and it all went out the door today???? Awaiting comments from Cane Corso owners

 

[Geisthexe]

No answer here. I'm in the same boat...Took him to the vet today and he was like the Big Bad Wolf with everybody and he is only 4 months 26#. He has been going to training for the past 3 weeks and it all went out the door today???? Awaiting comments from Cane Corso owners

The dogs are in these stages
Flight Instinct Period
Second Fear Period
Please w
Read what I wrote

 

[levans2012]

Thanks so much!

 

[Geisthexe]

Thanks so much!

You are so welcome

 

[Cody]

I dunno Deb, you forgot the "Corso Idiot" phase that spans from 1-2.5 years of age. That is officially when their heads are still full of buzzing flies , most common in males.

 

[Misfit36]

Thanks Deb. Great help as always! I thought I knew about the fear stages but was always under the impression they were not till later. I do not praise her for any of this activity, but I am trying to get her to understand the "quiet" command so when my neighbor is walking out of her house she doesn't have to listen to my Stella bark at her till she drives away lol. Any advice on teaching the quiet command? Or should I not try to correct/give attention? At first I would just try to distract her with something. Should I go back to this? Can't thank you enough, and I'm sure the many people you have helped on here feel the same

 

[tb44]

Lmao Cody!

I dunno Deb, you forgot the "Corso Idiot" phase that spans from 1-2.5 years of age. That is officially when their heads are still full of buzzing flies , most common in males.

 

[Rugers-Kris]

For stopping the barking/alerting, I taught Ruger "It's ok". He is very guardy and has never been an extreme barker (He ignores things unless he thinks they are a threat) but when he started alerting and guarding, As soon as he barked, I would say "Good Boy, It's ok" and it was just a repeat training until he got it. As soon as he would stop and sit, I would praise like crazy and when he saw how it pleased me he was thrilled so now when he sees something beyond the fence or something he thinks might be a threat, I look in the general direction and say "Good Boy, It's ok" and he quiets right down. There is a rare occasion with a "bump in the night" noise that he considers very serious that it take a little more prompting and on once occasion we had to go outside and check before he would calm down but otherwise we have it under control and my neighbors can come and go in normal fashion with 170+ pounds of dog shaking the earth with his obnoxious bark. LOL

Thanks Deb. Great help as always! I thought I knew about the fear stages but was always under the impression they were not till later. I do not praise her for any of this activity, but I am trying to get her to understand the "quiet" command so when my neighbor is walking out of her house she doesn't have to listen to my Stella bark at her till she drives away lol. Any advice on teaching the quiet command? Or should I not try to correct/give attention? At first I would just try to distract her with something. Should I go back to this? Can't thank you enough, and I'm sure the many people you have helped on here feel the same

 

[BradA1878]

I dunno Deb, you forgot the "Corso Idiot" phase that spans from 1-2.5 years of age. That is officially when their heads are still full of buzzing flies , most common in males.

LOL

Thanks Deb. Great help as always! I thought I knew about the fear stages but was always under the impression they were not till later. I do not praise her for any of this activity, but I am trying to get her to understand the "quiet" command so when my neighbor is walking out of her house she doesn't have to listen to my Stella bark at her till she drives away lol. Any advice on teaching the quiet command? Or should I not try to correct/give attention? At first I would just try to distract her with something. Should I go back to this? Can't thank you enough, and I'm sure the many people you have helped on here feel the same

I would ignore it. I wouldn't praise or correct the behavior, just ignore it. Even if you redirect you run the risk of reinforcing the behavior simply because you are acknowledging it.

This is what I have done with the CCs I have owned (as well as COs, BBs, and others...).

 

[Misfit36]

Thanks Kris but like Deb said, I dont think this guarding like I thought it was. It is a much different bark than her normal "i want this dog to play with me " bark. Sometimes I dont think it could even be the same dog lol. And Brad, I think thats what I will do, ignore and see how that goes

 

[ruthcatrin]

Keep in mind that Fear does NOT have to equal Flight. Many of these guardian breeds are much more likely react to Fear with Fight than Flight.

Edit: there is infact discussion that what makes the guardian breeds guardians is a carefully chosen genetic predisposition to the FIGHT fear response over FLIGHT. I don't know enough about the subject to really be able to discuss it, but it makes sense.

 

[Geisthexe]

Thanks Deb. Great help as always! I thought I knew about the fear stages but was always under the impression they were not till later. I do not praise her for any of this activity, but I am trying to get her to understand the "quiet" command so when my neighbor is walking out of her house she doesn't have to listen to my Stella bark at her till she drives away lol. Any advice on teaching the quiet command? Or should I not try to correct/give attention? At first I would just try to distract her with something. Should I go back to this? Can't thank you enough, and I'm sure the many people you have helped on here feel the same

Misfit .. Thanks you so much for your kind words
Start by teaching the quite command in the home, house leash inch is always best for this so you can give a little pop of the leash (more of I want attention please) but in the pop say your command. When she looks at you call her over or tug her over and praise for doing the NEXT command.
Then start by being outside with her when your neighbor is out on a leash and say quite when she goes to bark / growl .. Tug her to you kind of behind her so that it makes her have to turn around and again praise for coming to you.
Also once she knows the command and you are good enough friends with the neighbor, you can introduce (if you haven't already) make sure she knows the neighbor is a friend not a foe.

 

[Geisthexe]

I dunno Deb, you forgot the "Corso Idiot" phase that spans from 1-2.5 years of age. That is officially when their heads are still full of buzzing flies , most common in males.

Ya know Cody I did forget the 12 to 15 month stage of Fear. This is where the dog is truly coming into themselves and not sure of there dominance or protective stage.

Thanks for pointing out .. I'm at work