Question
We would like our 2-year old neutered male Cane Corso to be able to go places and have him behave. He aggressively barks at people when we are in the car, aggressively barks at other animals on-leash when we are walking him and attempts to lunge at them. He will not allow any animal (even as small as a mouse or bird) to be in our yard without aggressively barking at it. He broke a window while being aggressive towards a chipmunk in our yard. Delivery people are petrified to knock. Went to puppy school….aggressive towards other puppies at 12 weeks. Never improved. We have horses and pet pigs and he is fine with them.
– Robin P.
Answer
Hi Robin,
A Cane Corso, like any other breed, has its behavior influenced by nature and nurture. In other words genetics and everything that happens post birth. The things that affect a dog’s behavior post-birth are many, but those most commonly tied to behavior such as you are describing are:
- Genetics
- Critical Socialization Period (3 – 12 weeks of age)
- Relationship with the owner(s)
- Approach To Training ( ‘All Positive/Purely Positive/Force-Free-treat-treat-treat,’ ‘Might Is Right’ or Balanced)
- Degree of supervision
Genetics
I’m not sure what you were expecting from a Molosser breed such as the Cane Corso. Some breeds are Ferraris, and others are minivans. The Cane Corso is no minivan. Molossers such as your Cane Corso have been used literally as weapons in war, to hunt boar, guard, etc, and other “I’m not a pet, I’m a hobby/tool” breed characteristics. The other side of the coin is that any breed is motivated and easily capable from the perspective of ability to kill, when adequately bred is also bred to be influenced by training.
Critical Socialization Period (3 - 12 weeks of age)
This would influence whether your dog’s current issues are triggered only by genetics and a lack of training or also by fear. You can read more in my book Socialize Your Puppy for Everything – John Wade. Although, I don’t know that at this point that would be the best use of your time or money.
Relationship With Owner(s)
Almost without exception, what has come to pass for companion dog training in North America over the last decade+, is not obedience training at all. It is trick training. As a result, most dogs see their owners as great roommates and are as likely to be influenced by them as one might be affected by a roommate. Transitioning the relationship so that the dog sees its owners as a loving teacher/parent authority figure has a dramatic influence on behavior.
Approach To Training
‘Might Is Right', Alpha, Pack Leader, Dominant (Yank and Crank)
Sadly, this is an approach still around and is often what dogs like your Cane Corso end up subjected to as a last-ditch effort to save their lives. Sometimes it works. It’s not the route to go as it can cause other problems and it’s not really how normal teaching and learning functions.
'All Positive/Purely Positive/Force-Free/Never Say No/R+…’, treat, treat, treat
Or, as I sometimes refer to it, ‘All Positive/Purely Positive/Force-Free/No Need For No!/Skinner Meant Two Quadrants Not Four/Everyone Gets A Trophy/Don’t Wreck The Dog’s Self-Esteem/Sit Down And Talk About Our Feelings’ is literally killing dogs like yours throughout North America. It’s almost impossible to find a dog trainer, veterinarian, vet tech that doesn’t believe this is based on actual science. Designed for a controlled environment and for the most part appropriate in those environments, it has no place in the real world for influencing behavior in a manner intended to teach life skills. Ask any mother, dog, wolf, ape, or human being if you’re looking for confirmation. We would all be dead or in jail if our parents raised us in this manner.
'Balanced'
Or, as I sometimes refer to it, ‘All Positive/Purely Positive/Force-Free/No Need For No!/Skinner Meant Two Quadrants Not Four/Everyone Gets A Trophy/Don’t Wreck The Dog’s Self-Esteem/Sit Down And Talk About Our Feelings’ is literally killing dogs like yours throughout North America. It’s almost impossible to find a dog trainer, veterinarian, vet tech that doesn’t believe this is based on actual science. Designed for a controlled environment and for the most part appropriate in those environments, it has no place in the real world for influencing behavior in a manner intended to teach life skills. Ask any mother, dog, wolf, ape, or human being if you’re looking for confirmation. We would all be dead or in jail if our parents raised us in this manner.
Degree of Supervision
You’ll learn more of this should you pursue balanced training but the short version is that dogs are as shaped by outside influence (the company they keep and don’t keep and temptations they encounter when unsupervised) as any human youth. This is especially true for the first 2 – 3 years of age (depending on breed.) No amount of training will override the impact this has on behavior if it’s not addressed.
Recommendations
I wrote this book (pictured to the left) to help people with a younger Cane Corso (under 12 weeks of age), although ideally before they even purchase a Cane Corso puppy, but it will very likely shed some light on why you’re where you are and where to go from here. The Five Most Common Cane Corso Mistakes, How To Avoid Them And End Up With Your Dream Dog (e-book)
Alternatively, I’d recommend booking a virtual consult with me. How To Book A Zoom Consult With John Wade
Regards,
John ‘Ask The Dog Guy’ Wade
Embracing Science and Common Sense
5 thoughts on “Aggressive Since 12 Weeks Cane Corso”
I as well as I’m sure others think their Cane Corso is an exception. They are sweet puppies. As they grow, love anyone they come into contact with. I loved my Cane Corso so much after he was 4 months old I bought another Cane Corso puppy. After my Corsos turned a year old a change happened. They are no longer eager to meet people or strange animals. They are an intense protective animal with high prey drive. I will continue socializing and never stop training but the days of trusting my dogs to allow strangers to pet them is over.
My dogs guard the ranch animals and take their job seriously. A farmer down the road thanked me because my dogs bark saved his calves from Coyotes. Corso’s are amazing dogs. They are expensive to feed proper and proper fencing etc. My children are grown and I am home all the time now. I have the time and money to invest.
People never think your puppy is an exception. As these dogs mature you could have a real nightmare on your hands. Train, train, train, you have to be the pack leader at all times.
Love your dogs but relaxing on training will harm them.
Broke my heart, but had to put my young corso asleep. He came to us at 18 weeks, couldn’t be petted. Barking, scared. I trained him, he was easy to train, thought hey I can do this but he turned on both my children and my other dog over the year or so, bit / attacked all 3, even grabbed me round the throat once when I put my head near his, he did this in slow motion, then just stared at me. He simply had this fear/ aggressive predisposition in him and was a frightening beast, as he never gave warning. He had a strange look in his eyes too, grey dog from Italian working stock. Most impressive dog, but very dangerous, I could sense it always. The first owner I don’t think did their bit, but he was not the only dog PTS in two litters from same bitch, and others also attacked family too, still kept on in a couple of instances I believe. It broke my heart, but this dog was not right. Many were returned to breeder from the litters too. Could have hurt someone very badly my dog, even human babies he had his eye on. Never experienced anything like him, he was the Ferrari of mastiffs, unpredictable. Wish I didn’t have the experience or have to make such a decision.
Hi Richard,
I’m really sorry you’ve had this experience. Unfortunately, the dog world is a crapshoot. Breeders are often more ‘greeders’, and don’t do what they should be doing regarding physical and mental stability follow up on all of their litters (throughout their lives). Dog trainers are trainers because they ‘love dogs’ and end up being guided by ideology rather than science.
If you decide to venture into the world of the Cane Corso again, I highly recommend first investing in and reading my eBook, The Five Most Common Cane Corso Mistakes – How To Avoid Them And End Up With Your Dream Dog, and, or reading this article, Questions To Ask The Breeder Or A Rescue Before Deciding This Is Where You Want To Get A Dog
Originally developed to guard properties and hunt large game, this powerful and protective dog is intimidating at first glance. However, once you get to know him, the Cane Corso is a loyal and loving breed that is devoted to his human pack. These traits make the Cane Corso a great family dog.
NOTE: Please read my comment below as this “comment” is a perfect example of one of the things wrong in the world of the Cane Corso.
Dear readers and legitimate Cane Corso aficionados,
This particular comment strongly suggests that the Cane Corso breeder/commenter is using the breed more as an income stream as opposed to being a legitimate breeder.
It may be of interest to those visiting any of the Cane Corso articles on my site or those interested in my book The Five Most Common Cane Corso Mistakes, How To Avoid Them And End Up With Your Dream Dog (e-book) that the above “comment” is one of several regular attempts made by the same Cane Corso “breeder” to sell the Cane Corso dogs they “breed” using my reputation and the Cane Corso traffic my website generates. Good breeders don’t need to do that. They have waiting lists based on reputation, not marketing ability.
They always include the name of their “kennel” and a link to their website. I always remove their self-promotion because there has never been anything in their input that came across as anything other than self-promotion as opposed to educational or indicative that they had more to qualify themselves as a breeder that knew much more than the difference between a male and female Cane Corso.
Good Lord! They open by saying the breed’s genetics were developed to guard properties and hunt large game and include that as ‘evidence’ that “the Cane Corso is a great family dog. Seriously? How many families have a wild boar problem or a meth lab to protect as opposed to regularly visiting family and friends? Do they think that the Cane Corso currently bred have magically forgotten what their grandparents did for a living? Do they have any idea of how much is left over of a family at the end of the day to develop and maintain the magic of a decent Cane Corso? Most people want deterrents, not potential liabilities.
“A loyal and loving breed”? Again, sales and marketing rather than indicative of bare minimum knowledge regarding canine behavior, let alone the Cane Corso breed. Dogs in general are by nature bred to love humans. What they’re not bred to do is respect and some like the Cane Corso set the bar very high and if they are decently representative of their breed’s nature should be considered almost more of a serious hobby by their owners as opposed to a pet or a mere family dog.
“A great family dog”? There are many variables that contribute to whether a Golden Retriever or a Cane Corso ends up being a great family dog. To say the Cane Corso or any other breed is a great family dog without considering the quality of the breeding, the efforts made during the critical imprint period, the approach to training, the maintenance of training, the environment the dog will exist, the handling ability of the owners, the lifestyle of the owners, etc. is just plain ignorant not to mention irresponsible for any breeder to state. To suggest any breed whether Golden Retriever or Cane Corso is “A great family dog” as a sales technique without considering the above is unethical.
Let me say, I love the Cane Corso breed BUT the breed is a very serious breed, not the Disney dog this “breeder” alleges they are. This is not a mini-van breed, it is a Ferrari crossed with a dump truck breed. Bred by a breeder that is much, much more than being a puppy mill with perhaps better living conditions, and then placed in the hands of the right owner they can be fantastic canine companions. Bred by marketers interested in jumping on the breeds popularity bandwagon and then promoted and sold to unsuspecting families misleading using “a great family dog” they can be guns with brains.
Before picking a breeder (of any breed, but especially the Cane Corso) I highly recommend reading this free article Questions To Ask The Breeder Or A Rescue Before Deciding This Is Where You Want To Get A Dog and, or buying this book The Five Most Common Cane Corso Mistakes, How To Avoid Them And End Up With Your Dream Dog (e-book) I highly expect that after reading these and comparing the recommendations to what this breeder is offering, you’d go elsewhere.
If this “breeder” makes any further attempts to use my reputation and site to promote themselves I will be including their identity with an Avoid/Buyer beware warning.
– John Wade (www.askthedogguy.com)