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Cane Corso War Stories

onward_to_dawn

Active Member
I'm looking for some war stories; when your dog went to bat for you or your loved ones. Does anyone have any war stories of the Cane Corso in its natural role as a protector of person and property? I'll start by sharing a story of Drago acting as a deterrent on our road trip through NM, CO, and AZ.

Life has been busy! My wife and I just welcomed our newborn son into the world this August, add that to a two year old and 13mo Cane Corso and as you can imagine we have a busy home! Now consider that I work nights and stay home with our kids in the day, my wife works days and we both do social work (she just wrapped up her accounting certificate and associates degree: you go girl!), in addition I'm starting a business and learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript and training for my ultra-marathon this spring, oh, we also hike every weekend.

Its a long story, but to keep it short we've outgrown our move to Austin, TX. Originally Yank's from New Hampshire we are longing for mountains and the unlimited outdoor sports they offer with our brood. So, with our newborn just 3 weeks we decided to hit the road (made the decision over coffee one morning) and check out the four corner states to find a new place to settle down. Since we were on maternity leave, it was an issue of 'Carpe Diem' so we left that night for AZ loading the kids into the car and Drago in the hatchback of the Prius and we pushed off at 2am! Zoom. Zoom.

Over the course of a couple days we visited Flagstaff, then through Oak Canyon to Sedona, and all the way through Camp Verde, over the Mingus Mountains (through Jerome) to Prescott Valley and eventually Prescott. We also saw the Grand Canyon then went back through Flagstaff down the (BEAUTIFUL!) drive to Phoenix and Scottsdale. We spend a night there and left through the eastern part of the state driving through southern NM and home through El Paso, TX allllllll the way to Austin, TX. (All night drive with coffee and audio books).

Well...

We were home about a week before we got the itch to compare CO and Northern NM to what we saw in AZ. We decided 'Carpe Diem' once again and left on a whim. We took the northern route through Amarillo TX and visited Trinidad, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Denver and finally Boulder CO. We drove all of '24' down through the state to NM and eventually Taos NM.

As you can imagine with a newborn we had to stop frequently for diaper changes and feedings, so we would stop at parks along the way and let our two year old stretch her legs and mom nurse the Baby. When we stopped in Taos Christine fed Charles (Mama and Baby) and I took Drago for a quick leg stretch, water and a pee. When I was walking him in the park adjacent to the car I noticed that the population on the play structure was not age appropriate. The types of people congregating were... sketchy. I made note of it and just kept an eye out.

Moments later I saw a man exchange items (drugs?) with another man then start to walk towards the parking lot, the other man left the opposite way. I saw from my perspective that he locked eyes with car where my wife (she's a beauty :D) was breast feeding. He abruptly changed direction and started to walk towards my car. His body language was concerning. ::Great I thought:: Well Drago and I need to head back to the car (all the doors were open and it was obvious that we were traveling). We walked over and I cut the guy off before he made it to my car. He looked at the car, then me, then Drago. He stopped. "Hey! I said how are ya?" he opened his mouth showing off his not so pearly whites that were evidence of a meth addiction. "Uh your not from around here huh?" the man said as he walked towards me. Drago took a step in front of me quietly sizing the man up. "F***ing nice dog you have, that's a huge pit, huh" he stopped and didn't say anything or move waiting for me to respond. "Oh, this is Drago he is an Italian Mastiff," I said. Drago sat quietly next to me and locked eyes with the man. His body posturing and brow furrowed, his shoulder muscles flexed. "Hah, does he bite?" the man responded. "Yeah he can be a dick," I said. The man stepped closer an uncomfortable 5-10 feet. "He sneered and said: "that dog doesn't bite, dude he isn't even mean," moving his hand closer to Drago. Drago with eyes still locked almost on queue pulled back his lips and snarled showing off his k9 grin. The man took a step closer and put his head at my dogs level almost taunting him. Drago stood up and locked his neck lowering his head and raising his tail, then the fur on his back raised from his ears to his tail, BACK THE F*** OFF he said in k9. Immediately the man took a couple steps back reclaiming the ground he had given up. "Well shit," he said "That dog is a badass, your a badass dog huh? Italian Mastiff you said?" I nodded. "Well have a good day guy, its a good thing you have that dog, people like you need protection." Drago kept his eyes locked on the man as I brought him back to my car, he sat in the back of the Prius, posturing and watching the man. The guy stood behind his door for about a minute just watching Drago before he got into his 'thug car' and cranked his crap music, he put the car into gear and slowly drove off watching us as he left.


My dog may bite but I conceal a .357 mag religiously...

Finishing the story, Drago, Christine, Claire, Charles and I stayed the night in Albuquerque NM, we visited Sante Fe, then went home!

Share your stories!
 
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Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
I'd be shaking in my boots...I hate the thought of your poor wife and baby at the mercy of that animal. Thank God you and Drago were there. We haven't had to test Bailey yet, but she tries to get in between my husband and I if we're play fighting. She's concerned for which I'm grateful because if she knew I was being hurt, I'm sure she'd attack.
I'm sure the dog is reading the subtle changes in your body chemistry, your tone, the rigidity of your muscles...everything tells him this is the real deal. He'll hath no fury like a dog protecting his family. Thank God for that.
 

Kez

Well-Known Member
Drago is the man! Sounds like your a busy man going to some lovely and dodgy places.
no war stories for my bullmastiff,but I do tell any of the nuggets around our way anytime they ask if she bites?
I just say........sometimes then I walk off laughing lol
 

BlackShadowCaneCorso

Super Moderator
Staff member
We have had encounters that have bothered our dogs but they have never had to engage so I don't know if those count as war stories :) what can I say we live in a pretty rural place :p
 

Cody

Well-Known Member
Yikes! Good job Drago! Only time I have seen my girl seriously react is when an old Buddy of my husbands came over one night. He hadn't seen the guy in 12+ years, was just passing through town. So showed up umm... intoxicated, was sitting on the couch, I was on the couch across from him and my son who was 7 was on the chair beside him, Aurora was on her dog bed in the corner beside me sleeping, or so I thought. Guy was sketchy to say the least. He decided it would be funny to pick up the toy gun on the couch beside him and point it at my son, his posture was threatening. In a split second, I didn't even really see her move, Aurora let out a crazy snarl and was in front of him teeth bared. I told her down, which she did still growling, told him to put the gun down and never do that again. I called Rawr back to me and put her in a down stay, she didn't take her eyes off him the rest of the night, which was a very short night, lol. Buddy was wanting to get out and we were wanting him to as well. My son was not in any real danger like in your situation, but the guy was enough of a perceived threat for Rawr to react.
 

el gato diablo

Well-Known Member
Great stories...I have nothing to add thankfully, but I have seen my CC stop two "walk-ups" to our country house (not a regular occurrence up here in the woods). He didn't do any more than he needed to, a couple of big boy barks, a body block halfway up the driveway, and the randoms hit the road...
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Had a quick thought harkening back to stories of guardian angels.... How many times, unknown by us, busy as we are with our rushed lives, have we missed those moments when our dogs faced down a danger to us and our families and possessions. They are unsung heroes who stand in the gap telling evil, "Not this day...Not my family...Beat it or face the fury unleashed." And evil passes by our sleeping households, it doesn't open our gate, it doesn't follow us home because there's a guardian there willing to lay down it's life for our love.
So, remember for each of these heroic war stories there are a hundred other times when our sweet family pets made the evil stand down and we didn't know, slept through it, missed it, that precious moment when they were our saving grace, the only thing standing between us and death or grievous harm. I think we should all thank them every day for all those missed moments that we will never know.
 

el gato diablo

Well-Known Member
Had a quick thought harkening back to stories of guardian angels.... How many times, unknown by us, busy as we are with our rushed lives, have we missed those moments when our dogs faced down a danger to us and our families and possessions. They are unsung heroes who stand in the gap telling evil, "Not this day...Not my family...Beat it or face the fury unleashed." And evil passes by our sleeping households, it doesn't open our gate, it doesn't follow us home because there's a guardian there willing to lay down it's life for our love.
So, remember for each of these heroic war stories there are a hundred other times when our sweet family pets made the evil stand down and we didn't know, slept through it, missed it, that precious moment when they were our saving grace, the only thing standing between us and death or grievous harm. I think we should all thank them every day for all those missed moments that we will never know.
Cheers to that!
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Last night 5.5 month old Bailey went on alert. She lay on her bed emitting soft woofs and growls. I woke up, made a cursory investigation and told her to calm down. She never left my side, but the warnings continued. My husband got up, went to the bathroom and then spent some time at the window...he was very quiet, so was Bailey. I finally roused myself and asked what he was doing, he said, "I've got to call the police, there's two guys going from car to car trying to break in."
The police were there in six minutes, I watched as they covered the two lots and went looking further afield for the crooks. I don't know if they caught them.
The point is, our baby Mastiff wouldn't stand down, she knew something was wrong. We suspect that they tried our gate which is padlocked shut and probably our neighbour's gates, too. Whatever it was, Bailey heard it. Bailey was on the job, and we are safe because of her. I'm in awe of her. Best dog ever.
 

Ben Curtis

Well-Known Member
Leo has not stepped up to any real threat that I am aware of, but have not seen or heard from a single coyote since he moved in, and we saw them somewhat often before his arrival.

We also have not had a single plane land on our property. Leo is very proud of this, and takes full credit. Every single plane he has successfully chased off our property. Not that we have had any problems with planes, but he loves the job.

In all seriousness, I have a hard time picturing him in a situation like that. He has such a loving temperament, and I hope I never have to see that side of him. Even though it is comforting to know it is there.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
Reward for guarding family and warning us to danger.IMG_00000566.jpgIMG_00000573.jpg Thank you Wendy's! Jr. BACON Cheeseburger for the hero.

Two new squeak toys, a Jumbone Tarter Twist, three new ball and a box of marrow bones. This hero business pays off.

Oh, and in 15 minutes one more threat neutralized! It will never squeak again!
IMG_00000583.jpgIMG_00000579.jpg Yes, I have attitude!
 

christinephill

Well-Known Member
Beautiful pictures! That's such a scary situation... I can't believe people actually taunt such a big dog.... what do you think is going to happen!?! jeesh.

Nothing serious has happened with our 6 month Corso yet thankfully but, he has "protected" me on 2 occasions.

One was a random kid jumping the neighbors fence while I was letting the pup out and he charged the fence, barking madly with hair standing on end.
Another time was when I had my back to our open gate watching the pup. He heard footsteps and immediately ran in between me and the open gate huffing... til he realized it was my significant other and then proceeded to happy dance.
 

jersey girl

Well-Known Member
Wow, your boy did his job for sure and I am glad your family is okay. I had a strange situation happen a while ago at the park. I was walking around the lake with Crickett and there was a man sitting on a park bench. We walked past him and he got up and began to walk behind us. I kept walking along the path and the man kept following...all was normal until he started to growl at Crickett. As soon as she heard the growling she turned around and postured with her tail and hackles up. He began to make strange gestures with his hand while growling and barking at her and he was also hunched over. Well, I could not move her, she began bark, and it was a different sounding bark than I had ever heard. I yelled at the guy and told him to stop, but he ignored me. I knew something was off about this guy. I tried to walk away, but Crickett was simply too strong and she would not back down. I got nervous because the man was moving closer, I was afraid for him in all honesty. Well her barking caused a bunch of attention. I then heard a woman yelling at me..."I'm sorry, I'm sorry, he is with me" I was confused until she explained she worked for a adult mental health facility and this patient wondered off. I was like WTF lady...you lost your patient??!! I couldn't believe it. I began to leave the park and a man sitting in his car said to me "you have a good protector there." I realized I did, but in the heat of the moment it was stressful and all I could think of was if my dog bites this guy it's gonna be my fault. My husband always wondered if she had it in her....I now have no doubts.