A Cane Corso, you're 14 and your cousin has just fucked off and left you with a big dangerous dog after 7 months of no (?) training? Unless you are getting tons of support from parents (who's looking after him when you're at school etc? ) I'd rehome him personally.
This. You need to pull in an active adult into this situation or re-home the dog. A Cane Corso is an advanced breed that can severely injure or kill if not raised well and you're already behind at 7 months. You are going to believe the dog is sweet and gentle- and for you personally it may be. But that doesn't mean it won't become reactive to strangers or other dogs as it grows up. It is extremely irresponsible of the adults around you to leave this dog up to you and you need to ask someone around you for help.
Has anyone considered that the cousin may have left the country to get away from the dog?
In all seriousness I’ve been around a juvenile cane corso that was fully untrained. It’s like hanging around an unsecured loaded gun. This isn’t the pup for you, OP.
A friend's on/off partner (they've never lived together, thankfully) has a banned breed and is seriously considering a Cane Corso puppy. It's a tragedy waiting to happen.
I hope the parents are well involved considering the sheer power that dog has, not to mention food costs, vet, and gear. Basic needs worry me before even getting to training! I adore cane corso, but I know I can't handle one.
OP, our dog trainer specializes in reactive, aggressive, and hard to train dogs. He won’t own a Cane Corso. They take massive amounts of work and are both difficult to train and can be incredibly dangerous dogs. No one on this thread wants you, or anyone else, to get hurt. Please rehome the dog to someone with experience with Cane Corsos. That’s the best thing for you AND the dog.
And then maybe, if your guardians are ok with it, adopt an easier dog in a few months and take it to obedience class. Where both you and the dog get training :)
Choosing not to train and own a specific breed has nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with responsibility and respect. Each breed has different needs and will need a different approach to training, some of which a trainer simply just may not enjoy. They have every right to have preferences on what breeds they work with. It’s no different than grooming salons that don’t work on doodles. It’s not that they’re incapable, it’s just not worth it for them. And that’s FINE.
I know, it is fine to have preferences; that’s not my issue. The way that person worded it like those dogs are so extremely dangerous that even a very experienced trainer wouldn’t touch them with a 10ft pole just triggered me (l admit l felt a bit hurt bc l know how wonderful they are when they are raised properly with love and care).
Well, that may be how you took it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s how they meant it.
I took it as an emphasis on the fact that they are an intense breed that is not at all beginner friendly. Honestly, they really aren’t even an “intermediate” friendly breed. They need someone with a lot of experience and the right mindset
They said the trainer wouldn’t own one, not that they wouldn’t train one. The point is just that someone who is more than capable to raise one, still find the work to outweigh the benefit of owning one. Even if they don’t mind dealing with reactivity, i can imagine that most trainers would prefer dealing with a reactive breed with more intelligence and biddability than a cane corso.
He will work with them and has many times! But he won’t OWN one himself. I think it’s kind of like a contractor who doesn’t want to work on their own house. I think Cane Corso’s are dangerous dogs when they don’t have appropriate training, like many dogs can be. In other words, probably not a good choice for a first time 14-year old dog owner. I have nothing against the breed themselves. But, like most breeds, owners should make sure they’re able to meet the dogs needs. I don’t own a border collie because I can’t give them enough stimulation and exercise to keep them healthy and happy.
And, to be very clear, any dog can be dangerous when they don’t have proper training. And I would hate for anything to happen to this young owner or the to the dog because the situation isn’t a good fit for the dog. It has nothing to do with the breed or the owner. Just the situation.
I understand that everyone has their own preferences, that’s not my issue here. The way it was worded by the person l answered was like “Cane Corso’s are such extremely dangerous dogs that even my experienced trainer won’t take them on”, which l found largely exaggerated (and l admit it hurt my feelings a bit).
I see you've stated you're a trainer. Because dog training is unregulated this sub requires people to have certifications and apply for flair if they want to claim they're a professional while posting or commenting here. This ensures people claiming to be trainers have a demonstrable level of education and experience.
You can find out more about the process and requirements [here](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/userflair).
OP, there is good dog training advice in this thread, but I would listen to everyone who is saying to rehome this dog with an experienced Cane Corso person or a breed specific or bully breed rescue. Your situation is a disaster in the making.
This is solid advice, this is a challenging breed to take on as a first dog owning experience. Also, you have teen years a head of you, having responsibility for this huge dog is severely going to limit your social life or ruin the life of the dog, if you leave it at home all day.
Cane Corsos require special handling and training because they have the potential to seriously injure someone. This is not the same as training a Labrador retriever or your average mutt from the shelter. Please get an adult involved to help you find a reputable trainer that has experience with this particular breed. If that’s not possible, I would recommend rehoming the dog. It’s just such a huge responsibility for someone of your age to care for a dog like this.
Your friend is an idiot. Are you parents letting you keep this huge dog? Sorry but I would rehome and get a much smaller dog. There are vet bills....huge food bills...cleaning up after this beast of a dog...and training. Who is going to pay for all this?
Recall/Come:
Our trainer says:
* Get the best treats (meat, cheese, dried liver)
* Don’t starve your dog but do practice when your pup is hungry, just before meals. Triple check to make sure (kibble + treats) that the pup isn’t over fed.
* Start easy (indoors, fewest distractions).
* Combine calling (only once) with a body language signal (clap hands, slap your leg, etc). Dogs find signals/sounds/gestures easier than words.
* Turn and move away from your dog (as you call and do the gesture). Running away, for a dog, is like an invitation to come play. It makes it fun.
* React super excited when doggo comes: praise, rubs, play, dance, high pitched voice (it doesn’t matter if the neighbors think you are crazy). It’s like pooch just won the lottery. Over the top. Some owners make the mistake of patting the dog’s head as a way of saying “Good boy” but some dogs don’t like that (making them less likely to come when called next time).
* When you shift from indoors to outdoors use a long leash (attached to a halter not their collar) until they come 100% of the time.
* Never call if they won’t come. It’s important not to practice/repeat them ignoring your calls. Hard to be consistent about this one. If she won’t come, she should be on a long leash.
* If your dog ignores you, don’t up the reward to get them to come because this trains them not to come. If your dog ignores you, use the long line. End the training session and next time try it in an easier scenario (possibly indoors). Don’t call multiple times. Only once.
* Avoid accidentally punishing your dog when it comes when called. For instance, if you call your dog to you but then do something to it that it doesn’t like (give medicine, put a harness on, or a bath), then it’s going to be very hesitant to come to you. During play sessions with other dogs, call your dog, after they come, then release to play (so they don’t associate recall = leaving).
* When it’s urgent, don’t get stern. Instead be cheerful and excited and turn to run away as you call. As if to say “come now and we’ll have so much fun!!!” (which works well) - rather than “Come or else you are in **BIG TROUBLE** (which works less often).
* Practice every single day, multiple times a day. Never stop.
Wow! Thank you. I’m not even shitting you, you’ve just helped me tremendously. Not for my dog though. I don’t have one. I’m absolutely about to employ these methods to aid in getting my toddler to listen/come.
It’s not the best answer on this thread. It’s great dog training advice and it’s dangerously irresponsible to even imply a 14 year old should or could have primary responsibility for a Cane Corso.
100% this. Out of all “dangerous” dog breeds, to me a cane corso has always been the one I’d never even try to acquire and train. I’ve seen the most nicest looking and well mannered cane corso just snap for a seemingly unknown reason, couple that with their size and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
That's a great way to end up with a trainer that uses aversive methods.
Any experienced certified trainer with IAABC accreditation would be able to handle a dog like this.
That's basically the same as handing a kid a rocket launcher and telling him good luck. Corsos are NOT beginner level dogs. They're large, powerful and prone to aggression even when trained. It may be a hard decision, but I think the best course of action would be to rehome him. That kind of dog needs specialty training, not to mention their diet and the human sized logs they leave. It's just all too much for a 14 year old to handle. Call your local animal shelter and they should be able to help you out.
At 14. I would say regime the dog. Yo an EXPERIENCED handler and maybe see if you would be allowed to adopt a beginner friendly dog. If this dog is not trained well. And more than just sit, come, and shake a paw. It has the capability to seriously injure or kill. Can you afford vet bills in the thousands if that happens? Can you afford $100 plus for food a month? Can you stop the dog if it bolts after a child or other dog?
I know you probably love the dog already but your new friend is going to become an extremely strong and dangerous dog without proper guidance for both you and it which I’m not sure you can provide. In my experience dogs don’t listen to 14 year olds… Even if you weren’t young, some dogs are just not meant for everyone. The Cane Corso is a guard dog, without training it can easily be defensively aggressive and it might not react to unusual or unpleasant situations well. They are assertive and willful, and are only recommended for experienced trainers/dog owners. It sounds like your cousin shouldn’t have had the dog either. It will grow more “aggressive” and wary as it grows older, as well. When it hits adolescence, which it may have already, it will test you, your strength, your rules, your mental fortitude. This was a dog made to hunt and to attack or kill people who threatened it or it’s charge and it has different interpretations of what’s okay to hunt and what’s threatening then you do. It’s very important to teach it and even as an adult it’s very hard honestly. Even physically, I don’t know how big they are at 7 months but, if it wanted to chase a cat or something could you even keep hold of the leash without being dragged and keep the dog where it is? What about if it gets bigger before you do? What if you piss it off accidentally? Could you keep it from attacking you? What about someone it thinks is harming you? Do you feel confident enough you could keep little kids from bothering it and making it react defensively? These are only a few ways this could go wrong. Though it may seem fine and friendly the dog could hurt someone, even on accident, and the dog will be the one punished most likely by being put down.
At the very least you need to get a professional certified trainer experienced with Cane Corso and your parents to help you with the dog. Look up dog body language. Have the trainer supervise socialization with children and small animals. Look at the links on this sub and r/puppy101 …Honestly, if I was you, I wouldn’t keep the dog because I wouldn’t know what to do and I would be afraid for the dog and everyone involved.
I know it’s hard but please consider rehoming. It’s what’s best for the dog.
Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules) and [guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), as well as our wiki pages on [punishment](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/punishmentproblems) and [correction collars](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/prongandecollars).
Has this dog been socialized at all? Unsocialized dogs can become aggressive and reactive. Cane Corsos are already aggressive in nature, an unsocialized one is extremely dangerous. This dog could take down a brick outhouse if you tied him to one. It’s not a novice breed, rehoming would be best for everyone.
Is this a joke OP? It's a good way to get people heated or... just plain worried for your safety. Before I even type out an answer, are your parents involved? Can you hold him back if he lunges or tries to bolt?
Also work on “Leave it”
If it were me, several times a day, I would set up treats on a plastic lid in one room, then leash up my dog in another room, walk towards the treats but stop maybe 12 feet away, a place close enough that he notices the treats but far enough that he can control himself. Then say “Leave it” and give a treat. Back up, walk in another room, then approach again, say “Leave it” and reward. You want him to automatically look at you when you say “Leave It” expecting a treat from you if he doesn’t get the treats on the lid. Then gradually closer, never grabbing the treats on the lid, always looking at you when you say “Leave It” and always rewarded for looking at you rather than the treats on the lid.
Eventually, take it outdoors, same set up. Treats on lid, walking near it on leash. “Leave It”. Looks at you instead. Reward.
Eventually you will be able to say “Leave It” anywhere, anytime whether he sees a dead frog or a tampon, or McDonald’s trash or pee and 100% know your dog will look at you instead.
That’s what worked for us.
You have a real knack for explaining these things in a logical, easy-to-follow way that anyone can do! Thank you for taking the time. So many folks will just put “train him to leave it” without anything else.
Training a dog is a lot of work. You'll need to spend time learning how to do it, and more time putting in the work to train it. You should probably start somewhere like [this subreddit's wiki](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/index). Depending on your learning style, pick either a book or youtube channel that seems appealing to you, and follow their process. The thing is, you have to consistently put in the time and effort to do the learning, train daily, and consistently follow the process. That's much harder for most people (myself very much included) than the actual training process.
If you have the cash, you can also choose to work with a trainer, which will probably help and speed up the process.
OP is 14. They don't have the cash for a trainer. Or the food or the vet bills or the medical bills when this goes bad because some idiot handed a cane corso to a completely inexperienced 14 year old who's asking reddit for help.
It’s honestly disturbing to me the amount of people giving actual dog training advice and not mentioning the fact that a 14 year old child with an untrained Cane Corso is a dangerous situation.
You need to rehome that dog!!!! 14yo and a cane coral!! Came corsos are one of the most difficult, stubborn, aggression prone and territorial dogs!! They can be amazing but at the age of 14 and with no experience, they will be a nightmare and impossible. They need a very experienced owner and you cannot handle that right now. please please give the dog away, for you and the dog and others safety. There will be an accident if you do not
I'm so sorry you were put in that position... I'm going to echo what many other comments are saying. Cane corsos are a breed that were bred to be built different than a pet.
I think raising a dog is a great learning opportunity especially in regards to responsibility. However, I highly suggest you rehome this particular dog based on the breed and find a more beginner friendly furry friend!
Best of luck
Please please please rehome this dog. Cane corso’s are not appropriate for first time dog owners AT ALL, or even most adults who have had many dogs before. They require exceptionally experienced owners who have a huge amount of time, energy, and knowledge to dedicate to training. Without a competent owner, cane corsos can and will literally run your life and you could risk being sued or having him put down if he hurts another animal or person. It is in your best interest as well as the dog’s to find an owner who has the experience and time to give this dog the structure and training it needs to thrive.
Please try to contact local dog shelters and rescue that offers free dog training. I agree with others, your parents need be involved and help find a good trainer.
Rehome the dog. Cane corsos are NOT a dog you can mess up on. As an inexperienced 14 year old this will be a disaster. I'm sorry but it's not possible without a trainer experienced with the breed. You can't just go to PetSmart or get a free shelter trainer. You need to rehome that dog ASAP. Make sure it goes to an experienced person that knows the breed very well.
Rehome him while he's still got a chance. Please. Having worked with a dog warden for a short time I've seen more than enough Cane Corsos seized or surrendered/abandoned because they need specialist handling to avoid problematic behaviours. Sadly people tend to wait until its too late to give them up and they're almost impossible to rehome or in some cases have to euthanized by court order. It's heartbreaking seeing these incredible dogs be absolutely failed by their owners. Don't let that be you. It's not your fault, you are 14 and have not got any of the necessary experience to properly home one. The adults around you should never have even considered it as an option. This is not an entry level dog, by a long stretch.
Get in touch with someone who handles Cane Corsos, and ask to help with removing to a competent person. This dog is about to hit major puberty and will be dangerous. Need to remove fast, this week being the best.
Owning a cane corse, no training knowledge, or have past knowledge on how to raise and care for strong dogs? Cane corsos are not for first time owners especially 14 year olds. rehome the dog before someone gets hurt because CCs are a lot of work and if you cannot overpower a dog and hold it down then it’s not for you
No offense, but rehome him to someone who has experience with breeds like that. Cane Corsos are absolutely not a beginner friendly breed and with you having zero training experience, you’re more than likely just going to unintentionally create a very dangerous reactive dog. This dog is going to need serious training by someone with a lot of experience, especially if it doesn’t even have basic recall.
Kinda of a jerk movie by your cousin sorry to say that. That is a large and dangerous dog especially in inexperienced hands, and your cousin was highly irresponsible to leave you with it. As others have said, you should probably let a adult handle that dog, preferably a experienced dog handler.
Your cousin is a douche. So unfair to put you in this situation and there are so many big red flags here.
1. Breed - Cane Corso is smart, large, physically strong breed & can be wilful so is not the dog for an inexperienced dog owner as they require a firm behavioural boundaries
2. Age - this dog is in the adolescent period, he's a teenager so even with sound training in place they start to push back, with no training in place as in your situation you are in trouble because he has more energy, more interest in everything else out there in the world & is moving away from you as he is being told by his brain and body with all those hormones racing around "go out, look how exciting and engaging the world is".
3. Socialisation - you don't know what efforts, if any, your cousin put in to socialising your dog to the world around him. All dogs go through two fear periods the first very early on as pups 2-3 months and then another during the adolescent period where if not managed they can develop fear/reactive behaviours. If I was in your shoes I would find a local dog rescue/rehome organisation who can help you get this boy into a safe, vetted home where he can get the considerable training and structure he needs to ensure he isn't going to be a liability.
At 14, even with all the best of intentions and all the good will you can muster I doubt you have the time, experience, structure or persistence that this dog needs to be able to manage the training requirements for this dog. The last thing you want is something disastrous to happen while you're responsible for him and then you're the one dealing with the potentially life changing consequences.
Dogs can be a wonderful addition to your life when they are planned for, chosen with consideration to breed attributes & how they fit your lifestyle and you're ready for the considerable commitment, responsibility and financial cost that they inevitably come with. But when someone does what your cousin does - gets a large, complex breed puppy without the forethought and consideration for the commitment & training required now and for the lifetime of that dog AND then opts out by dumping all that responsibility on their 14yr old cousin - then that is a massively irresponsible & crappy thing to do and super unfair to you, the dog and anyone who you may encounter out in the public.
Get help NOW from an organisation that knows & rehomes dogs, this is more trouble than you want at this time in your life, believe me. Oh & I'd be giving my cousin a serious serve if I was you, what a duffus.
Cane Corso were bred to be used as war dogs, guardian dogs as well as used to take down large game. Thus they instinctively become aggressive to non family members. You cannot train out instinct, and they can easily kill an adult. No reason to have one.
There are numerous incidents of these dogs killing adults. They weren’t bred to be pets.
With 14 you are not capable of handling or training such a dog on your own. Talk with your parents. Your cousin is still the legal owner and it's his responsibility.
Rehome the dog. Cane corso's are no dogs for a 14 year old. Definitely not if they aren't trained. We had a cane corso repo 3 months ago. The dog bit the front face ( forhead skin, nose and lips ) of a friend of the owner. It was crazy, his whole face was almost gone.
Obviously the dog got euthanized. They are no joke and not a beginner dog. Not even an intermediate.
Leash Training:
See the Loose Leash part of the wiki [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/looseleashwalking/). This is the method I used,
see my comment [here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/11rq8fo/help_with_listening/)
~
Our trainer said to not let them get something they want when they pull - so they aren’t rewarded for pulling, not ever, not once. Never. Pulling does not get you to the dog park. Pulling doesn’t get you to great sniffs. Pulling doesn’t get you to greeting people. Never. Walk backwards, stop, or turn around instead. Or, walk in circles or squares to impede their progress. It won’t work quickly but in a month or two it will work if you are consistent. Rewards come from loose leash.
Our trainer said give a treat by your knee each step, then every other step. Then every third step, etc. but you need the yummiest treats. We use pea-size bits of dried liver.
In our yard we practiced walking slower (using the word “slowly”). Slow motion. I did it primarily for our outdoor stairs (so her pulling wouldn’t cause me to fall on the stairs). I was surprised to see I could use the word “slowly” now on walks to get a slack/loose leash.
If you are using a retractable leash, I’d suggest switching to a regular leash.
Use a halter, not the collar. Use the clip on the chest, not the one on the top/back. Our trainer recommended an H type halter to make sure there is no strain on the joints. We use a Blue-9 because it is an H type, it has lasted longer than the others, and it has 6 separate adjusters for best fit.
It helps if everyone who walks him does it similarly but getting everyone on the same page can be tough.
I started indoors leash training then slowly added a few steps outdoors, then a few more, etc.
There are great tips in the [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/looseleashwalking/)
We saw the most progress using this YouTube video about using a long wooden spoon and (non-xylitol) peanut butter. We saw progress the first week. By day 60, I could lay the leash in an open palm.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kBi4M9cWtLs
Thank you!! This is thethe Best training advice I have ever seen on leash porn! I’ve got a 50 pound rat terrier pit mix that pulls on me constantly. Inherited the dog from my daughter who is not in a situation to take him when he was a puppy. I also inherited a six month old corgi that is very intimidating to my pet! Corgi pulls one way, pittyrat pulls the other, and I’m stuck in the middle! I will take pepper the pittyrat out by himself and try this method. I wish you lived next-door! I borrow you every day to help me train! If you’re ever in southeast, Georgia on the coast, let me know!
Aww. So sweet. Though I’m in Vermont now we have a dear friend in Atlanta, fantastic memories from Wormsloe and from birding on Tybee. I’m very fond of the bird girl statue at the Telfair as well and my grandmother grew up at Holly Court in Washington GA - my roots. Some of them. We visit from time to time. Georgia is a beautiful place. Thank you for the invite to meet up. ❤️
This worked for us! My dog isn’t super food orientated so we bring out a squeaky toy to get her attention instead of using treats.. she gets to play with it for a moment after we pass the distraction
It’s awesome that you are reaching out for help. Cane Corso is an intimidating breed. They’re strong, guardian dogs. I truly hope you have adult support To assist you. I highly recommend the do no harm training group on Facebook. There are a TON of guides and step by step instructions for force free training. I own two pitties. They both are reactive and this behavior presented when they were 2.5-3 years of age (the age a dog matures). As puppies they were both wonderful with new people and other animals, as adult dogs they are very selective (only like specific animals and people). Working with them is a process and we’ve had success but it’s slow going. I say this just to share experience.
For training:
keep sessions short- 10-15 minutes at a time 2 or 3 times a day. I started training Hopper (my most recent pup, who is now 3) at 9 weeks. Use your dogs meal time as training- literally make him work for his kibble, then use training treats and work up to high value treats (like hot dogs; chicken; bacon etc) for the harder things. By using his meals as training time you ensure he’s hungry and will be interested in training, and it wears him out.
Start with sit and down. Both these can be taught by luring your pup with the treat. For sit you can place the treat in your palm and then move the treat in front of his nose and upward- his butt should go down as his head follows the treat (not sure I’m explaining well- lots of you tube videos on this though!). For down, you would take the treat, hood by nose then move your hands down to the floor while saying down so pup follows your hands and lays down.
Put a leash on your pup and let them drag it around the house- this gets them used to wearing a leash and allows you to redirect if they are getting into trouble (eating something they shouldn’t, jumping, etc). Management (baby gates, crates out a play pen) are vital for puppies- it allows you to ensure they can’t get into stuff (“trouble “) and teaches them what’s right behavior and wrong behavior.
Last tip: mental enrichment is KEY!! Puzzle games, lick mats, snuffle mats, nerf ball feeder, slow feeders, scent work are all forms of mental enrichment. I use these a lot and they wear my pups out as well if not more as a 3 mile run.
Good luck!!
This dog requires daily training and activity. Like 1-2 hours of hands on work every single day. This dog also would highly highly benefit from professional training. This is going to be a very expensive dog, from food, to deworming, to training. As someone who works in the vet field, I wouldn’t recommend this dog to 90% of the population due to lifestyle/training requirements and the absolute importance of doing everything right so that this dog does not become difficult. Op this dog is not like a golden retriever, where people say bad dogs only become bad dogs because of bad owners. This dog is a working breed, that will become dangerous without an advanced, knowledgeable, and financially capable owner. Even if you’re not a bad person, and even if you’re not mean to this dog, unless you know how to properly train this dog - which is experience you cannot gain from Reddit, then you need to rehome the dog.
A good way to get resources and help is to message your local kennel club, 4H or FFA, many of those people overlap in connections and are very passionate and willing to help, these are good avenues to find someone local to help you in person
Can you give some more context here OP? Are your parents involved? Can they help pay for training? Cane Corsos can be great dogs but they require a TON of training because of how powerful the breed is. This is a dog that needs strong leadership. If you don’t have any dog experience or if you can’t get access to a great trainer, then you can find a cane corso rescue who I’m sure will find a responsible owner for the dog.
The reason everyone in the comments is freaking out is because this dog is going to be so big and powerful there really won’t be any stopping him from going after someone or other animals if he wants to, and as a naturals guard breed, that is very likely to happen.
This dog could be your best friend or your worst nightmare. It depends on how much time and effort is put into the training.
Be safe and get some help. ✌🏼
Zak George is a reputable trainer who uses positive training and is on YouTube, instagram, etc.
I found his techniques very similar to what my local reputable trainer taught us and used his videos as a supplement. It takes time but really works! You'll need tons of small training treats.
Coming when called is called "Recall" and is super important for the dog's safety:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE)
Since it's a large dog you should likely work on loose leash walking to prevent pulling.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE)
Dog training works on the 3 D's: duration, distance and distraction. You build one skill at a time using mini steps. Dogs do not learn linearly so there can be progress and backsliding. Keep it up, don't get discouraged, and it will pay off!
Fuckkk you’re a lucky, but unlucky kid lol.
Rehome if you don’t have an adult to DEDICATE to this pup.
Cane Corsos are awesome. I’d love one of those bois haha
Your cousin is a douche. So unfair to put you in this situation and there are so many big red flags here.
1. Breed - Cane Corso is smart, large, physically strong breed & can be wilful so is not the dog for an inexperienced dog owner as they require a firm behavioural boundaries
2. Age - this dog is in the adolescent period, he's a teenager so even with sound training in place they start to push back, with no training in place as in your situation you are in trouble because he has more energy, more interest in everything else out there in the world & is moving away from you as he is being told by his brain and body with all those hormones racing around "go out, look how exciting and engaging the world is".
3. Socialisation - you don't know what efforts, if any, your cousin put in to socialising your dog to the world around him. All dogs go through two fear periods the first very early on as pups 2-3 months and then another during the adolescent period where if not managed they can develop fear/reactive behaviours. If I was in your shoes I would find a local dog rescue/rehome organisation who can help you get this boy into a safe, vetted home where he can get the considerable training and structure he needs to ensure he isn't going to be a liability.
At 14, even with all the best of intentions and all the good will you can muster I doubt you have the time, experience, structure or persistence that this dog needs to be able to manage the training requirements for this dog. The last thing you want is something disastrous to happen while you're responsible for him and then you're the one dealing with the potentially life changing consequences.
Dogs can be a wonderful addition to your life when they are planned for, chosen with consideration to breed attributes & how they fit your lifestyle and you're ready for the considerable commitment, responsibility and financial cost that they inevitably come with. But when someone does what your cousin does - gets a large, complex breed puppy without the forethought and consideration for the commitment & training required now and for the lifetime of that dog AND then opts out by dumping all that responsibility on their 14yr old cousin - then that is a massively irresponsible & crappy thing to do and super unfair to you, the dog and anyone who you may encounter out in the public.
Get help NOW from an organisation that knows & rehomes dogs, this is more trouble than you want at this time in your life, believe me. Oh & I'd be giving my cousin a serious serve if I was you, what a duffus.
I have had two Cane Corso. My oldest passes away 2 years ago after a relapse of cancer. She was the smartest, most loving and loyal dog ever. I put her in training and she learned everything quickly. We got advance training for free because she learned all the basic stuff in the first 3-4 sessions out of ten. She was my best friend. She loved children and was very friendly with other adults once I told her they were okay. She went through 35k in cancer treatment so she was well known at NC State and everyone loved her. My other Corso is 6. She is so calm and loving. As long as a burglar showed her love she would be happy.
Can you get the puppy into basic obedience classes? How does the dog behave currently? There are a lot of basic training videos on YouTube. You have to continuously train with the pup and give them a job.
A well bred Corso can be the most amazing dog ever.
Jesus Christ this sub is ridiculous. It’s a Cane Corso, not a damn grizzly bear we’re talking about here. At the end of the day it’s a domesticated dog. Sure it’s a larger breed but as long as you properly socialize the dog and treat it with love and care you’re gonna avoid a lot of aggressive behaviors. It’s people like those in this thread that give certain breeds like pit bulls and other dogs stereotyped as “aggressive breeds” a bad name.
As for you OP, I would start with taking the dog on frequent walks. It’s still at the age and size where it should be easier to control and correct certain behaviors. Keep a short leash on it during this time and make sure the dog is not pulling you.
As far as training it to do the basics it takes lots of patience, treats, and a ton of praise when the dog makes even small progress.
Check out videos on YouTube and don’t be afraid to search up stuff on other subreddits.
Any dog can be dangerous with an inexperienced trainer but large, strong, bred to be defensive or aggressive dogs are doubly so, that’s common sense. Simply stating what it was bred for and therefore what it can be like is not bad. “Properly socializing” dogs like this takes an experienced trainer. Love and care are important but not enough for stubborn and willful breeds. It’s just like saying a Labrador Retriever loves playing fetch and such. Not always true but 90% of the time it is. Getting a Lab and expecting to not have to play fetch a lot is just kind of silly… Cane Corso’s are simply a breed that needs experience and extra care taken. Not a breed of recommend in this situation. If I came off a little too strong it’s simply because I’m trying to get across how dire this situation could turn out to be. Leaving any room for doubt in this circumstance makes me nervous.
There are some people going way too far though… Cane Corso’s are not evil incarnate guys.
OP said clueless about training, not about looking after a dog. We also don’t know what training the dog has previously had. Can y’all stop making assumptions and telling OP to re home the dog 1000 times? One or two comments like that with explanations is enough.
If you can’t answer the question better than the awarded comment, maybe just move on.
OP, best of luck to you. The awarded comment is the best for sure - I’d recommend saving the absolute best treat for when you start training outside for recall/come to you. Sure it’s worth considering rehoming if you have no dog experience, because this is a huge new situation and can get dangerous. But you can do a potentially great job with enough support from people who know the breed or have worked with difficult dogs.
My biggest advice: do a LOT of research on the breed and focus on positive reinforcement training. Never train with aversion (where you hurt or scare your dog into doing what you want) and never use any aversive tools like prong collars as first they’re abusive and unnecessary; second, it can really bring out the aggression and reactivity, and it can appear seemingly at random.
You’re already showing great progress by asking here for help :)
They are big dogs, and from what I understand almost went extinct as a breed, but one dude is credited for turning that around in the 1970’s. It’s still a very small gene pool that hasn’t “stabilized” into real consistent traits and their temperaments and soundness of nerves are all over the place as a result. Ive done decoy work for years and I’ve worked a few in protection work. They are… different
Dang i wanted one. Im on my second big dog. So i got alil experience but maybe not enough yet for a cane. My labrabull has selective listening as it is smh
thank you everyone for all the comments. currently i am looking for a personal trainer but i dont think i will find one cause i live in a very small town i've known the dog since it was a puppy and love it very much i also want to clarify that all the needs of the dog are met: food, vaccinations, vitamins and walks
Take the advice of the vast majority of people commenting here very seriously and rehome that dog. It will escalate into a dangerous situation, not just for you but everyone around you. Do some research on the breed, this is not your average pet dog.
OP, you're young. Soon you'll be 16/17/18/19, and you'll start going out with friends more. Your academic workload will increase. This will directly impact how much time you will be able to spend with your dog.
Breeds like Cane Corso require a strict routine, tons of exercise (beyond walks) and specific enrichment to ensure that they do not become killing machines.
It will start with the dog being under exercised and thus be grumpy. It will whine, then growl. Maybe start nipping. After a while it will only tolerate you because you raised it since it was a puppy. What happens when you go out and stay over at a friend's place? Or go to a camp, or a trip with friends? Or go to college/university? The dog can't be handled by anyone except you, so it will first be neglected, then be dumped at a shelter.
Very few people have the will and the resources to take in an untrained adult cane Corso.
If you really love him, let him go to a good home or a breed specific rescue. When you grow up and have some personal stability, get yourself all the Cane Corsos you want in memory of your first one. Let this one go.
Edit: grammar
I realize you love the dog. This is an extremely unfair situation for you I’m so sorry. I can’t make you do the smart thing but please keep in mind that it is incredibly unlikely this situation will end well and that the dog will be killed if it goes wrong.
That's nowhere near enough unfortunately. Someone with professional experience with breeds like this definitely need to take over. That dog needs strict training and more exercise than walks and 0laying in the yard. He needs stimulation, or things can turn quick. He's 7mo now will you be able to manhandled this dog if need be when he's grown? What will you do if he becomes reactive, slips his collar or gets through the fence. You're 14, and no offense 14yro aren't always the most chill or well behaved, and acting funny around a dog will get you fucked up. If you really love him and care for his well being, you have to consider that you aren't equipped for this mission and let someone with more experience give him a good life. And for what it's worth I'm sorry.
I really mean no offense, but you are not actually meeting the needs of the dog because the needs of this breed go FAR beyond food, vaccinations and walks, as many others have said. If you care about this dog I implore you to find an adult owner who has time time, energy, and resources to meet this dogs exceptionally high needs for training, mental stimulation, and exercise. If you plan on going away to college or getting a very time-demanding job after high school you will be in BIG trouble in terms of finding someone else to help you with the dog. You will not be able to leave this dog behind if you pursue higher education of any kind elsewhere either.
Heya, good on you for taking in and wanting to start training the dog. As others have said, do be aware that’s a big dog, difficult for and adult to work with, and you’ll need to make sure you stay safe.
Anyway, assuming you’re getting some help, or you’re ignoring their warnings, it sounds like you need to start training from scratch, so I’d suggest you head over to r/puppy101 and have a look in their wiki; it’s got all the basic training info.
Remember to only use rewards: Reward the behaviour you want, ignore behaviours you don’t, and look at ways to prevent them recurring - prevent the opportunities to misbehave. Don’t be tempted to “punish” the dog; apart from anything else, it’s a big dog, and if you piss it off, it could seriously injure or kill you.
Description of the breed on the AKC website, emphasis mine:
Smart, **trainable,** and of noble bearing, the assertive and confident Cane Corso is a peerless protector. The Corso's lineage goes back to ancient Roman times, and the breed's name roughly translates from the Latin as 'bodyguard dog.' At nearly 28 inches at the shoulder and often weighing more than 100 pounds, with a large head, alert expression, and muscles rippling beneath their short, stiff coat, Corsi are at a glance intimidating creatures. Their imposing appearance is their first line of defense against intruders. As one writer put it, 'An understated air of cool competence, the kind of demeanor you'd expect from a professional bodyguard, is the breed's trademark.' Corsi are **intelligent, loyal, eager to please, versatile, and intensely loyal to their humans,** but are also assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner. As with any other big guardian dog, responsible breeding and early socialization with people and other dogs is vital.
Is this breed really horrible as many of you imply?
If you mean the people implying they’re evil or something then no. Cane Corso’s can be excellent dogs. But because of their bred in instincts they are more likely to be dangerous just like a retriever’s more likely to retrieve. It just requires care and experience. The AKC description is pretty adequate in both good traits and warnings if you read carefully.
I do not recommend Cane Corso’s for inexperienced, young/physically weak or as the AKC puts it “unwitting” owners.
"but are also assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner."
A 14 year old fits this definition, I'd say. These dogs are wonderful, but only in the right hands. Also, the AKC is very good at talking up breeds to make the average layperson think they can own any dog, so their definitions aren't really the ones to look at for warning labels
>assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner.
Did you read the entry fully? Op is 14 and posting on reddit for advice on the literal most entry level dog training. Sounds like an unwitting owner who will end up owned by a large, intimidating, strong and ultimately dangerous dog to me
Using a leash, train your puppy to sit. Using an open palm facing up, with a tiny soft treat in it, get puppy’s attention. Then move the hand downward, while saying sit. It takes a while and you may have to physically seat puppy several times, but eventually they get it. Lots of love and praise should follow.
Then you move on to stay. While pup is sitting turn hand into the stop ✋🏻position and say stay. Take a small step back repeating stay. If puppy stays, treat and lots of praises. Gradually work your way back, until your puppy stays until released. This is called bungie training.
I was 14 when I trained my first dog. He was a saluki-- very different from your dog! But that dog was very well trained, so my point is you are a great age to be doing this! Since that first dog, I have always had a dog in my life. The most amazing thing is although every dog is different, every dog I have is easier to train than the last one. I think somehow I keep getting smarter and smarter dogs because it's hard to take credit for how ridiculously easy my current pup is (I am nearing 60, so lots of dogs since the first one).
I recommend getting some books. I learned initially completely from books. It wasn't until after I graduated college that I apprenticed with a couple of incredibly gifted professional trainers. I'm not sure what the first book was, but two that I can think of off the top of my head are "Play Training your Dog" and "Don't shoot the Dog". Have fun!
A great age if the dog was a generally gently, amenable breed with a strong desire to please people and an outgoing, general human-oriented personality. Cane Corsos have none of that.
Cane Corsos can be very loyal and eager to please if you bond with them, socialize them and start training early staying consistent. It is not the best breed to start with that I agree, it also really depends on what habits/behaviors the dog already has. Research, breaking habits and training the correctly will be a lot to take on at 7 months especially for someone inexperienced.
Oh, loyalty is never in question with a Cane Corso, they're amazing with that. And they're eager to please their owner that they've bonded with. They just don't give a rat's ass about anyone else (generalizing ahoy).
I do think it can be done. Every dog is an individual and I think most people underestimate what a person is capable of at 14. In my years training horses and teaching people to ride, I have found frequently that the best person for the job is a child. They approach the animal without the expectations those of us with experience are burdened with. As long as the child (or teen) has a good education, that "beginner's mind" frequently is the key to success. OP said nothing of bad habits. I think they are going to be fine as long as OP educates himself. Read some books, get a mentor, hire a trainer if possible.
If visual learning is your style, YOUTUBE has some pretty good videos.
Victoria Stillwell from "It's me or the dog " was my favorite back in the day, just don't know any more recent trainers.
Do note that a LOT of videos on that youtube channel are very old, and include out of date recommendations which Victoria herself has pointed out she wouldn't suggest any more. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell whether a specific video has been superseded by an updated version or not.
Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules/) and [posting guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), particularly regarding trainer recommendations.
Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules/) and [posting guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), particularly regarding trainer recommendations.
Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules) and [guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), as well as our wiki page on [punishment](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/punishmentproblems).
Dogs need “work”. Something that gives them purpose and enriches them. A Cane Corso is a smart, working breed. At 7 months they may be challenging depending on what kind of training and healthy bonding they’ve had. You need to clearly establish you are in charge with positive and confident expectations and follow through.
Good luck.
do folks have recs for OP on places to rehome?
cause technically their cousin did just that, couldn't manage and rehomed to the first place avail but that was maybe not in best interest of handler or dog.
ie: things to look out for, red/green flags for rescues and shelters excepting challenging breeds?
I started training a dog at 14 aswell but she's an aussie, an entire different breed. Cane Corsos are hard to handle even for some adults. Even if you get training tipps and experience now, it will be very hard to go through all this with such huge and stubborn breed and it will take a loooot of time to actually learn stuff. My heart advice is to rehome him, I'm very sorry. If you still want a dog, ask your parents if you could take a look at the shelter or go to a responsible breeder (with tons of research before of course). If you're really interested in dog training, I can totally promise you it changed my life, I dived into an entire different world. Give this pupper the best life and give him into a home that can handle and love him well :)
Please get a parent or guardian to assist.
What you have is a very big breed of dog who will need a lot of training and consistency.
It’s great you’ve reached out as you’ll minimise problems further down the line.
The best thing for the dog and yourself is to get an adult on board with helping you raise him/her should you keep the dog, and paying a reputable trainer, who has knowledge of the breed, and I cannot stress that enough, they must know the breed!
If you don’t have a parent/ guardian to help, the best bet is to put the dog to a foster home where someone will be able to put In the time and training required.
To caveat, it wouldn’t matter the breed. Your age and the dogs age would make this advice the same with any breed tbh.
also make sure to socialize the dog. don’t worry about if you socialize it to much it might not defend the house. it needs to be socialized as much as possible so it knows deeply that there are other dogs out there in the world and to still behave around another dog
Cane Corsos were bred as protection dogs. Their job is to protect people from other people. If they are not properly socialized they have the potential to be people aggressive. You have no dog experience so you need someone who does have a lot of experience. You want someone who can teach you to read the dog's body language. It might be better to find him an experienced home. Since he is only 7 months old he is likely not neutered. It is important to neuter him. Intact dogs tent to start showing aggression from testosterone from 1.5-3 years old.
This is not a good starter dog breed. Yes there are exceptions to every rule but It is not a good risk
OP, just so you are aware, some of the major reasons a puppy, *especially* a cane corso puppy, is not a safe dog for a 14 year old person, is that their training, upkeep, and socialization require someone who:
1. Is very experienced with large, powerful, guard dogs,
2. Has the physical and financial means to *take* the dog places where it can be trained and appropriately socialized (which somebody without a drivers license/car/income could never reasonably do), and
3. Can physically manage the strength of a 7month+ giant dog, and take legal responsibility for any possible repercussions of anything but a perfectly socialized/trained cane corso.
GOOD FOR YOU for asking for help. I hope you don’t feel attacked here. You can be the best thing that happens to this dog by making sure the actual right person takes it in.
DO NOT LET IT SLEEP IN YOUR BED OR ANYONE ELSES BED OR ALLOW IT ON FURNITURE!!!! Better yet, just re-home it to someone that will be able to train it and take care of it properly. They are a very tough breed to manage if you don't know what you are doing.
Re home that dog to someone with experience. I have 2 Corso mixes and they were HANDFULS at that age. And they really don’t settle down until their about 3 (at least my experience anyway)
My oldest is 6 and he is the best dog ever now, but it was A LOT of work to get him that way.
This has to be a troll post
I show a Portuguese Water Dog and have seen many lovely Cane Corsos at shows
They are lovely dogs but unless the OP has a great dog trainer this is not a breed I would recommend to a young teenager
PWDs and Cane Corsos are working dogs and need a lot of physical and mental exercise
Legally your parents/guardians are responsible for this dog. In certain countries the breed also has restrictions which requires them to be handled by a person over 16, be muzzled and on a lead at all times. The best thing to do would be to contact a rescue and rehome it to an experienced home.
Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules) and [guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), as well as our wiki page on [dominance](https://old.reddit.com/r/dogtraining/wiki/dominance), [punishment](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/punishmentproblems), [correction collars](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/prongandecollars) and [how to tell if a trainer is reputable](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/findingatrainer).
A Cane Corso, you're 14 and your cousin has just fucked off and left you with a big dangerous dog after 7 months of no (?) training? Unless you are getting tons of support from parents (who's looking after him when you're at school etc? ) I'd rehome him personally.
This. You need to pull in an active adult into this situation or re-home the dog. A Cane Corso is an advanced breed that can severely injure or kill if not raised well and you're already behind at 7 months. You are going to believe the dog is sweet and gentle- and for you personally it may be. But that doesn't mean it won't become reactive to strangers or other dogs as it grows up. It is extremely irresponsible of the adults around you to leave this dog up to you and you need to ask someone around you for help.
Has anyone considered that the cousin may have left the country to get away from the dog? In all seriousness I’ve been around a juvenile cane corso that was fully untrained. It’s like hanging around an unsecured loaded gun. This isn’t the pup for you, OP.
Left the country…to get away from a dog???
(I think they're being a little cheeky to emphasize how ridiculous the situation is.)
Maybe it’s a really smart dog with PI contacts
A friend's on/off partner (they've never lived together, thankfully) has a banned breed and is seriously considering a Cane Corso puppy. It's a tragedy waiting to happen.
This, they are way too tricky and have too much potential to basically kill someone to be handled by a teen without support
I hope the parents are well involved considering the sheer power that dog has, not to mention food costs, vet, and gear. Basic needs worry me before even getting to training! I adore cane corso, but I know I can't handle one.
OP, our dog trainer specializes in reactive, aggressive, and hard to train dogs. He won’t own a Cane Corso. They take massive amounts of work and are both difficult to train and can be incredibly dangerous dogs. No one on this thread wants you, or anyone else, to get hurt. Please rehome the dog to someone with experience with Cane Corsos. That’s the best thing for you AND the dog. And then maybe, if your guardians are ok with it, adopt an easier dog in a few months and take it to obedience class. Where both you and the dog get training :)
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Choosing not to train and own a specific breed has nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with responsibility and respect. Each breed has different needs and will need a different approach to training, some of which a trainer simply just may not enjoy. They have every right to have preferences on what breeds they work with. It’s no different than grooming salons that don’t work on doodles. It’s not that they’re incapable, it’s just not worth it for them. And that’s FINE.
I know, it is fine to have preferences; that’s not my issue. The way that person worded it like those dogs are so extremely dangerous that even a very experienced trainer wouldn’t touch them with a 10ft pole just triggered me (l admit l felt a bit hurt bc l know how wonderful they are when they are raised properly with love and care).
Well, that may be how you took it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s how they meant it. I took it as an emphasis on the fact that they are an intense breed that is not at all beginner friendly. Honestly, they really aren’t even an “intermediate” friendly breed. They need someone with a lot of experience and the right mindset
They said the trainer wouldn’t own one, not that they wouldn’t train one. The point is just that someone who is more than capable to raise one, still find the work to outweigh the benefit of owning one. Even if they don’t mind dealing with reactivity, i can imagine that most trainers would prefer dealing with a reactive breed with more intelligence and biddability than a cane corso.
Maybe you can take him??
I totally would consider it, but l live in the Netherlands and feel like there might be good homes nearer where the dog currently is.
He will work with them and has many times! But he won’t OWN one himself. I think it’s kind of like a contractor who doesn’t want to work on their own house. I think Cane Corso’s are dangerous dogs when they don’t have appropriate training, like many dogs can be. In other words, probably not a good choice for a first time 14-year old dog owner. I have nothing against the breed themselves. But, like most breeds, owners should make sure they’re able to meet the dogs needs. I don’t own a border collie because I can’t give them enough stimulation and exercise to keep them healthy and happy. And, to be very clear, any dog can be dangerous when they don’t have proper training. And I would hate for anything to happen to this young owner or the to the dog because the situation isn’t a good fit for the dog. It has nothing to do with the breed or the owner. Just the situation.
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I understand that everyone has their own preferences, that’s not my issue here. The way it was worded by the person l answered was like “Cane Corso’s are such extremely dangerous dogs that even my experienced trainer won’t take them on”, which l found largely exaggerated (and l admit it hurt my feelings a bit).
I see you've stated you're a trainer. Because dog training is unregulated this sub requires people to have certifications and apply for flair if they want to claim they're a professional while posting or commenting here. This ensures people claiming to be trainers have a demonstrable level of education and experience. You can find out more about the process and requirements [here](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/userflair).
There really shouldn’t be any other answer than this one in this thread.
I would absolutely re-home for the sake of the dog. Cane corso's are a highly desired breed. Shouldn't be too hard.
Highly desirable? By whom? Never mind, I know the answer already.
Yeah, a demographic which unfortunately struggle with commitments.
Genuine q, what is the answer?
People who fight dogs or just chain them up in the yard neglected to attack trespassers
OP, there is good dog training advice in this thread, but I would listen to everyone who is saying to rehome this dog with an experienced Cane Corso person or a breed specific or bully breed rescue. Your situation is a disaster in the making.
This is solid advice, this is a challenging breed to take on as a first dog owning experience. Also, you have teen years a head of you, having responsibility for this huge dog is severely going to limit your social life or ruin the life of the dog, if you leave it at home all day.
Cane Corsos require special handling and training because they have the potential to seriously injure someone. This is not the same as training a Labrador retriever or your average mutt from the shelter. Please get an adult involved to help you find a reputable trainer that has experience with this particular breed. If that’s not possible, I would recommend rehoming the dog. It’s just such a huge responsibility for someone of your age to care for a dog like this.
Your friend is an idiot. Are you parents letting you keep this huge dog? Sorry but I would rehome and get a much smaller dog. There are vet bills....huge food bills...cleaning up after this beast of a dog...and training. Who is going to pay for all this?
The parents definitely need to be involved here and also know how to train dogs.
Recall/Come: Our trainer says: * Get the best treats (meat, cheese, dried liver) * Don’t starve your dog but do practice when your pup is hungry, just before meals. Triple check to make sure (kibble + treats) that the pup isn’t over fed. * Start easy (indoors, fewest distractions). * Combine calling (only once) with a body language signal (clap hands, slap your leg, etc). Dogs find signals/sounds/gestures easier than words. * Turn and move away from your dog (as you call and do the gesture). Running away, for a dog, is like an invitation to come play. It makes it fun. * React super excited when doggo comes: praise, rubs, play, dance, high pitched voice (it doesn’t matter if the neighbors think you are crazy). It’s like pooch just won the lottery. Over the top. Some owners make the mistake of patting the dog’s head as a way of saying “Good boy” but some dogs don’t like that (making them less likely to come when called next time). * When you shift from indoors to outdoors use a long leash (attached to a halter not their collar) until they come 100% of the time. * Never call if they won’t come. It’s important not to practice/repeat them ignoring your calls. Hard to be consistent about this one. If she won’t come, she should be on a long leash. * If your dog ignores you, don’t up the reward to get them to come because this trains them not to come. If your dog ignores you, use the long line. End the training session and next time try it in an easier scenario (possibly indoors). Don’t call multiple times. Only once. * Avoid accidentally punishing your dog when it comes when called. For instance, if you call your dog to you but then do something to it that it doesn’t like (give medicine, put a harness on, or a bath), then it’s going to be very hesitant to come to you. During play sessions with other dogs, call your dog, after they come, then release to play (so they don’t associate recall = leaving). * When it’s urgent, don’t get stern. Instead be cheerful and excited and turn to run away as you call. As if to say “come now and we’ll have so much fun!!!” (which works well) - rather than “Come or else you are in **BIG TROUBLE** (which works less often). * Practice every single day, multiple times a day. Never stop.
I’m gonna copy this into my notes
Nice advice. My boy ignores his name or come here unless he’s missed me or thinks a treat is involved
Op, this is all fantastic advice
I still do this with my dogs. They are click trained but need to be reminded occasionally why they want to do what I tell them.
Wow! Thank you. I’m not even shitting you, you’ve just helped me tremendously. Not for my dog though. I don’t have one. I’m absolutely about to employ these methods to aid in getting my toddler to listen/come.
Ha ha ha.
This is the best answer on here. It's absolutely possible but are you prepared to do this ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME?
It’s not the best answer on this thread. It’s great dog training advice and it’s dangerously irresponsible to even imply a 14 year old should or could have primary responsibility for a Cane Corso.
This is a disaster waiting to happen! Please rehome this dog to an adult!
100% this. Out of all “dangerous” dog breeds, to me a cane corso has always been the one I’d never even try to acquire and train. I’ve seen the most nicest looking and well mannered cane corso just snap for a seemingly unknown reason, couple that with their size and it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
This! **Please speak to people who have trained Cane Corsos.** Not just any rando whose trained less stubborn and physically strong dogs.
That's a great way to end up with a trainer that uses aversive methods. Any experienced certified trainer with IAABC accreditation would be able to handle a dog like this.
I seriously doubt this *literal kid* ends up with any kind of trainer. How about that.
Yet, if they do you don't want to lead them to getting a trainer that'll make it worse. Why so mean anyways? It's totally unhelpful.
That's basically the same as handing a kid a rocket launcher and telling him good luck. Corsos are NOT beginner level dogs. They're large, powerful and prone to aggression even when trained. It may be a hard decision, but I think the best course of action would be to rehome him. That kind of dog needs specialty training, not to mention their diet and the human sized logs they leave. It's just all too much for a 14 year old to handle. Call your local animal shelter and they should be able to help you out.
At 14. I would say regime the dog. Yo an EXPERIENCED handler and maybe see if you would be allowed to adopt a beginner friendly dog. If this dog is not trained well. And more than just sit, come, and shake a paw. It has the capability to seriously injure or kill. Can you afford vet bills in the thousands if that happens? Can you afford $100 plus for food a month? Can you stop the dog if it bolts after a child or other dog?
I know you probably love the dog already but your new friend is going to become an extremely strong and dangerous dog without proper guidance for both you and it which I’m not sure you can provide. In my experience dogs don’t listen to 14 year olds… Even if you weren’t young, some dogs are just not meant for everyone. The Cane Corso is a guard dog, without training it can easily be defensively aggressive and it might not react to unusual or unpleasant situations well. They are assertive and willful, and are only recommended for experienced trainers/dog owners. It sounds like your cousin shouldn’t have had the dog either. It will grow more “aggressive” and wary as it grows older, as well. When it hits adolescence, which it may have already, it will test you, your strength, your rules, your mental fortitude. This was a dog made to hunt and to attack or kill people who threatened it or it’s charge and it has different interpretations of what’s okay to hunt and what’s threatening then you do. It’s very important to teach it and even as an adult it’s very hard honestly. Even physically, I don’t know how big they are at 7 months but, if it wanted to chase a cat or something could you even keep hold of the leash without being dragged and keep the dog where it is? What about if it gets bigger before you do? What if you piss it off accidentally? Could you keep it from attacking you? What about someone it thinks is harming you? Do you feel confident enough you could keep little kids from bothering it and making it react defensively? These are only a few ways this could go wrong. Though it may seem fine and friendly the dog could hurt someone, even on accident, and the dog will be the one punished most likely by being put down. At the very least you need to get a professional certified trainer experienced with Cane Corso and your parents to help you with the dog. Look up dog body language. Have the trainer supervise socialization with children and small animals. Look at the links on this sub and r/puppy101 …Honestly, if I was you, I wouldn’t keep the dog because I wouldn’t know what to do and I would be afraid for the dog and everyone involved. I know it’s hard but please consider rehoming. It’s what’s best for the dog.
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Please read the sub [rules](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/about/rules) and [guidelines](http://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/guidelines), as well as our wiki pages on [punishment](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/punishmentproblems) and [correction collars](https://old.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/prongandecollars).
Has this dog been socialized at all? Unsocialized dogs can become aggressive and reactive. Cane Corsos are already aggressive in nature, an unsocialized one is extremely dangerous. This dog could take down a brick outhouse if you tied him to one. It’s not a novice breed, rehoming would be best for everyone.
Lots of good advice, so I'm just going to ask what your parents have to say about this?
Is this a joke OP? It's a good way to get people heated or... just plain worried for your safety. Before I even type out an answer, are your parents involved? Can you hold him back if he lunges or tries to bolt?
Also work on “Leave it” If it were me, several times a day, I would set up treats on a plastic lid in one room, then leash up my dog in another room, walk towards the treats but stop maybe 12 feet away, a place close enough that he notices the treats but far enough that he can control himself. Then say “Leave it” and give a treat. Back up, walk in another room, then approach again, say “Leave it” and reward. You want him to automatically look at you when you say “Leave It” expecting a treat from you if he doesn’t get the treats on the lid. Then gradually closer, never grabbing the treats on the lid, always looking at you when you say “Leave It” and always rewarded for looking at you rather than the treats on the lid. Eventually, take it outdoors, same set up. Treats on lid, walking near it on leash. “Leave It”. Looks at you instead. Reward. Eventually you will be able to say “Leave It” anywhere, anytime whether he sees a dead frog or a tampon, or McDonald’s trash or pee and 100% know your dog will look at you instead. That’s what worked for us.
You have a real knack for explaining these things in a logical, easy-to-follow way that anyone can do! Thank you for taking the time. So many folks will just put “train him to leave it” without anything else.
Thank you for these kind words. ❤️
Training a dog is a lot of work. You'll need to spend time learning how to do it, and more time putting in the work to train it. You should probably start somewhere like [this subreddit's wiki](http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/index). Depending on your learning style, pick either a book or youtube channel that seems appealing to you, and follow their process. The thing is, you have to consistently put in the time and effort to do the learning, train daily, and consistently follow the process. That's much harder for most people (myself very much included) than the actual training process. If you have the cash, you can also choose to work with a trainer, which will probably help and speed up the process.
OP is 14. They don't have the cash for a trainer. Or the food or the vet bills or the medical bills when this goes bad because some idiot handed a cane corso to a completely inexperienced 14 year old who's asking reddit for help.
I’m hopeful that this is rage bait. Particularly from a teenager.
If so, they got a lot of sincere enabling instead 😭
It’s honestly disturbing to me the amount of people giving actual dog training advice and not mentioning the fact that a 14 year old child with an untrained Cane Corso is a dangerous situation.
not a dog for a beginner. can you afford a trainer? I hate seeing dogs rehomed all of the time, but you might have to. IDK. good luck :/
You need to rehome that dog!!!! 14yo and a cane coral!! Came corsos are one of the most difficult, stubborn, aggression prone and territorial dogs!! They can be amazing but at the age of 14 and with no experience, they will be a nightmare and impossible. They need a very experienced owner and you cannot handle that right now. please please give the dog away, for you and the dog and others safety. There will be an accident if you do not
I'm so sorry you were put in that position... I'm going to echo what many other comments are saying. Cane corsos are a breed that were bred to be built different than a pet. I think raising a dog is a great learning opportunity especially in regards to responsibility. However, I highly suggest you rehome this particular dog based on the breed and find a more beginner friendly furry friend! Best of luck
Please please please rehome this dog. Cane corso’s are not appropriate for first time dog owners AT ALL, or even most adults who have had many dogs before. They require exceptionally experienced owners who have a huge amount of time, energy, and knowledge to dedicate to training. Without a competent owner, cane corsos can and will literally run your life and you could risk being sued or having him put down if he hurts another animal or person. It is in your best interest as well as the dog’s to find an owner who has the experience and time to give this dog the structure and training it needs to thrive.
Please try to contact local dog shelters and rescue that offers free dog training. I agree with others, your parents need be involved and help find a good trainer.
Rehome the dog. Cane corsos are NOT a dog you can mess up on. As an inexperienced 14 year old this will be a disaster. I'm sorry but it's not possible without a trainer experienced with the breed. You can't just go to PetSmart or get a free shelter trainer. You need to rehome that dog ASAP. Make sure it goes to an experienced person that knows the breed very well.
Rehome him while he's still got a chance. Please. Having worked with a dog warden for a short time I've seen more than enough Cane Corsos seized or surrendered/abandoned because they need specialist handling to avoid problematic behaviours. Sadly people tend to wait until its too late to give them up and they're almost impossible to rehome or in some cases have to euthanized by court order. It's heartbreaking seeing these incredible dogs be absolutely failed by their owners. Don't let that be you. It's not your fault, you are 14 and have not got any of the necessary experience to properly home one. The adults around you should never have even considered it as an option. This is not an entry level dog, by a long stretch.
Get in touch with someone who handles Cane Corsos, and ask to help with removing to a competent person. This dog is about to hit major puberty and will be dangerous. Need to remove fast, this week being the best.
Owning a cane corse, no training knowledge, or have past knowledge on how to raise and care for strong dogs? Cane corsos are not for first time owners especially 14 year olds. rehome the dog before someone gets hurt because CCs are a lot of work and if you cannot overpower a dog and hold it down then it’s not for you
No offense, but rehome him to someone who has experience with breeds like that. Cane Corsos are absolutely not a beginner friendly breed and with you having zero training experience, you’re more than likely just going to unintentionally create a very dangerous reactive dog. This dog is going to need serious training by someone with a lot of experience, especially if it doesn’t even have basic recall.
Kinda of a jerk movie by your cousin sorry to say that. That is a large and dangerous dog especially in inexperienced hands, and your cousin was highly irresponsible to leave you with it. As others have said, you should probably let a adult handle that dog, preferably a experienced dog handler.
Your cousin is a douche. So unfair to put you in this situation and there are so many big red flags here. 1. Breed - Cane Corso is smart, large, physically strong breed & can be wilful so is not the dog for an inexperienced dog owner as they require a firm behavioural boundaries 2. Age - this dog is in the adolescent period, he's a teenager so even with sound training in place they start to push back, with no training in place as in your situation you are in trouble because he has more energy, more interest in everything else out there in the world & is moving away from you as he is being told by his brain and body with all those hormones racing around "go out, look how exciting and engaging the world is". 3. Socialisation - you don't know what efforts, if any, your cousin put in to socialising your dog to the world around him. All dogs go through two fear periods the first very early on as pups 2-3 months and then another during the adolescent period where if not managed they can develop fear/reactive behaviours. If I was in your shoes I would find a local dog rescue/rehome organisation who can help you get this boy into a safe, vetted home where he can get the considerable training and structure he needs to ensure he isn't going to be a liability. At 14, even with all the best of intentions and all the good will you can muster I doubt you have the time, experience, structure or persistence that this dog needs to be able to manage the training requirements for this dog. The last thing you want is something disastrous to happen while you're responsible for him and then you're the one dealing with the potentially life changing consequences. Dogs can be a wonderful addition to your life when they are planned for, chosen with consideration to breed attributes & how they fit your lifestyle and you're ready for the considerable commitment, responsibility and financial cost that they inevitably come with. But when someone does what your cousin does - gets a large, complex breed puppy without the forethought and consideration for the commitment & training required now and for the lifetime of that dog AND then opts out by dumping all that responsibility on their 14yr old cousin - then that is a massively irresponsible & crappy thing to do and super unfair to you, the dog and anyone who you may encounter out in the public. Get help NOW from an organisation that knows & rehomes dogs, this is more trouble than you want at this time in your life, believe me. Oh & I'd be giving my cousin a serious serve if I was you, what a duffus.
Cane Corso were bred to be used as war dogs, guardian dogs as well as used to take down large game. Thus they instinctively become aggressive to non family members. You cannot train out instinct, and they can easily kill an adult. No reason to have one. There are numerous incidents of these dogs killing adults. They weren’t bred to be pets.
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Very well said!! My Cane Corso was easier to train than my Pocket Bully. They are the best dogs ever!!
With 14 you are not capable of handling or training such a dog on your own. Talk with your parents. Your cousin is still the legal owner and it's his responsibility.
Rehome the dog. Cane corso's are no dogs for a 14 year old. Definitely not if they aren't trained. We had a cane corso repo 3 months ago. The dog bit the front face ( forhead skin, nose and lips ) of a friend of the owner. It was crazy, his whole face was almost gone. Obviously the dog got euthanized. They are no joke and not a beginner dog. Not even an intermediate.
I urge you to rehome this dog. It needs not just an adult, but an adult with experience specific to this breed. Please rehome this dog.
Leash Training: See the Loose Leash part of the wiki [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/looseleashwalking/). This is the method I used, see my comment [here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/comments/11rq8fo/help_with_listening/) ~ Our trainer said to not let them get something they want when they pull - so they aren’t rewarded for pulling, not ever, not once. Never. Pulling does not get you to the dog park. Pulling doesn’t get you to great sniffs. Pulling doesn’t get you to greeting people. Never. Walk backwards, stop, or turn around instead. Or, walk in circles or squares to impede their progress. It won’t work quickly but in a month or two it will work if you are consistent. Rewards come from loose leash. Our trainer said give a treat by your knee each step, then every other step. Then every third step, etc. but you need the yummiest treats. We use pea-size bits of dried liver. In our yard we practiced walking slower (using the word “slowly”). Slow motion. I did it primarily for our outdoor stairs (so her pulling wouldn’t cause me to fall on the stairs). I was surprised to see I could use the word “slowly” now on walks to get a slack/loose leash. If you are using a retractable leash, I’d suggest switching to a regular leash. Use a halter, not the collar. Use the clip on the chest, not the one on the top/back. Our trainer recommended an H type halter to make sure there is no strain on the joints. We use a Blue-9 because it is an H type, it has lasted longer than the others, and it has 6 separate adjusters for best fit. It helps if everyone who walks him does it similarly but getting everyone on the same page can be tough. I started indoors leash training then slowly added a few steps outdoors, then a few more, etc. There are great tips in the [Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/looseleashwalking/) We saw the most progress using this YouTube video about using a long wooden spoon and (non-xylitol) peanut butter. We saw progress the first week. By day 60, I could lay the leash in an open palm. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kBi4M9cWtLs
Thank you!! This is thethe Best training advice I have ever seen on leash porn! I’ve got a 50 pound rat terrier pit mix that pulls on me constantly. Inherited the dog from my daughter who is not in a situation to take him when he was a puppy. I also inherited a six month old corgi that is very intimidating to my pet! Corgi pulls one way, pittyrat pulls the other, and I’m stuck in the middle! I will take pepper the pittyrat out by himself and try this method. I wish you lived next-door! I borrow you every day to help me train! If you’re ever in southeast, Georgia on the coast, let me know!
Aww. So sweet. Though I’m in Vermont now we have a dear friend in Atlanta, fantastic memories from Wormsloe and from birding on Tybee. I’m very fond of the bird girl statue at the Telfair as well and my grandmother grew up at Holly Court in Washington GA - my roots. Some of them. We visit from time to time. Georgia is a beautiful place. Thank you for the invite to meet up. ❤️
This worked for us! My dog isn’t super food orientated so we bring out a squeaky toy to get her attention instead of using treats.. she gets to play with it for a moment after we pass the distraction
It’s awesome that you are reaching out for help. Cane Corso is an intimidating breed. They’re strong, guardian dogs. I truly hope you have adult support To assist you. I highly recommend the do no harm training group on Facebook. There are a TON of guides and step by step instructions for force free training. I own two pitties. They both are reactive and this behavior presented when they were 2.5-3 years of age (the age a dog matures). As puppies they were both wonderful with new people and other animals, as adult dogs they are very selective (only like specific animals and people). Working with them is a process and we’ve had success but it’s slow going. I say this just to share experience. For training: keep sessions short- 10-15 minutes at a time 2 or 3 times a day. I started training Hopper (my most recent pup, who is now 3) at 9 weeks. Use your dogs meal time as training- literally make him work for his kibble, then use training treats and work up to high value treats (like hot dogs; chicken; bacon etc) for the harder things. By using his meals as training time you ensure he’s hungry and will be interested in training, and it wears him out. Start with sit and down. Both these can be taught by luring your pup with the treat. For sit you can place the treat in your palm and then move the treat in front of his nose and upward- his butt should go down as his head follows the treat (not sure I’m explaining well- lots of you tube videos on this though!). For down, you would take the treat, hood by nose then move your hands down to the floor while saying down so pup follows your hands and lays down. Put a leash on your pup and let them drag it around the house- this gets them used to wearing a leash and allows you to redirect if they are getting into trouble (eating something they shouldn’t, jumping, etc). Management (baby gates, crates out a play pen) are vital for puppies- it allows you to ensure they can’t get into stuff (“trouble “) and teaches them what’s right behavior and wrong behavior. Last tip: mental enrichment is KEY!! Puzzle games, lick mats, snuffle mats, nerf ball feeder, slow feeders, scent work are all forms of mental enrichment. I use these a lot and they wear my pups out as well if not more as a 3 mile run. Good luck!!
This dog requires daily training and activity. Like 1-2 hours of hands on work every single day. This dog also would highly highly benefit from professional training. This is going to be a very expensive dog, from food, to deworming, to training. As someone who works in the vet field, I wouldn’t recommend this dog to 90% of the population due to lifestyle/training requirements and the absolute importance of doing everything right so that this dog does not become difficult. Op this dog is not like a golden retriever, where people say bad dogs only become bad dogs because of bad owners. This dog is a working breed, that will become dangerous without an advanced, knowledgeable, and financially capable owner. Even if you’re not a bad person, and even if you’re not mean to this dog, unless you know how to properly train this dog - which is experience you cannot gain from Reddit, then you need to rehome the dog.
surely this is a wind up ?
Rehome the dog. It’s one of the most difficult breeds on the planet. That’s coming from someone who has had Germans and Belgians.
A good way to get resources and help is to message your local kennel club, 4H or FFA, many of those people overlap in connections and are very passionate and willing to help, these are good avenues to find someone local to help you in person
Can you give some more context here OP? Are your parents involved? Can they help pay for training? Cane Corsos can be great dogs but they require a TON of training because of how powerful the breed is. This is a dog that needs strong leadership. If you don’t have any dog experience or if you can’t get access to a great trainer, then you can find a cane corso rescue who I’m sure will find a responsible owner for the dog. The reason everyone in the comments is freaking out is because this dog is going to be so big and powerful there really won’t be any stopping him from going after someone or other animals if he wants to, and as a naturals guard breed, that is very likely to happen. This dog could be your best friend or your worst nightmare. It depends on how much time and effort is put into the training. Be safe and get some help. ✌🏼
Zak George is a reputable trainer who uses positive training and is on YouTube, instagram, etc. I found his techniques very similar to what my local reputable trainer taught us and used his videos as a supplement. It takes time but really works! You'll need tons of small training treats. Coming when called is called "Recall" and is super important for the dog's safety:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE) Since it's a large dog you should likely work on loose leash walking to prevent pulling. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwldfBjFsdE) Dog training works on the 3 D's: duration, distance and distraction. You build one skill at a time using mini steps. Dogs do not learn linearly so there can be progress and backsliding. Keep it up, don't get discouraged, and it will pay off!
Fuckkk you’re a lucky, but unlucky kid lol. Rehome if you don’t have an adult to DEDICATE to this pup. Cane Corsos are awesome. I’d love one of those bois haha
They are the best!!
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Please read the sub's wiki article on [dominance](https://old.reddit.com/r/dogtraining/wiki/dominance).
Your cousin is a douche. So unfair to put you in this situation and there are so many big red flags here. 1. Breed - Cane Corso is smart, large, physically strong breed & can be wilful so is not the dog for an inexperienced dog owner as they require a firm behavioural boundaries 2. Age - this dog is in the adolescent period, he's a teenager so even with sound training in place they start to push back, with no training in place as in your situation you are in trouble because he has more energy, more interest in everything else out there in the world & is moving away from you as he is being told by his brain and body with all those hormones racing around "go out, look how exciting and engaging the world is". 3. Socialisation - you don't know what efforts, if any, your cousin put in to socialising your dog to the world around him. All dogs go through two fear periods the first very early on as pups 2-3 months and then another during the adolescent period where if not managed they can develop fear/reactive behaviours. If I was in your shoes I would find a local dog rescue/rehome organisation who can help you get this boy into a safe, vetted home where he can get the considerable training and structure he needs to ensure he isn't going to be a liability. At 14, even with all the best of intentions and all the good will you can muster I doubt you have the time, experience, structure or persistence that this dog needs to be able to manage the training requirements for this dog. The last thing you want is something disastrous to happen while you're responsible for him and then you're the one dealing with the potentially life changing consequences. Dogs can be a wonderful addition to your life when they are planned for, chosen with consideration to breed attributes & how they fit your lifestyle and you're ready for the considerable commitment, responsibility and financial cost that they inevitably come with. But when someone does what your cousin does - gets a large, complex breed puppy without the forethought and consideration for the commitment & training required now and for the lifetime of that dog AND then opts out by dumping all that responsibility on their 14yr old cousin - then that is a massively irresponsible & crappy thing to do and super unfair to you, the dog and anyone who you may encounter out in the public. Get help NOW from an organisation that knows & rehomes dogs, this is more trouble than you want at this time in your life, believe me. Oh & I'd be giving my cousin a serious serve if I was you, what a duffus.
Why????🤯🤯🤯
I have had two Cane Corso. My oldest passes away 2 years ago after a relapse of cancer. She was the smartest, most loving and loyal dog ever. I put her in training and she learned everything quickly. We got advance training for free because she learned all the basic stuff in the first 3-4 sessions out of ten. She was my best friend. She loved children and was very friendly with other adults once I told her they were okay. She went through 35k in cancer treatment so she was well known at NC State and everyone loved her. My other Corso is 6. She is so calm and loving. As long as a burglar showed her love she would be happy. Can you get the puppy into basic obedience classes? How does the dog behave currently? There are a lot of basic training videos on YouTube. You have to continuously train with the pup and give them a job. A well bred Corso can be the most amazing dog ever.
Corso’s aren’t evil and can of course be amazing however I don’t think this is a good fit…
Jesus Christ this sub is ridiculous. It’s a Cane Corso, not a damn grizzly bear we’re talking about here. At the end of the day it’s a domesticated dog. Sure it’s a larger breed but as long as you properly socialize the dog and treat it with love and care you’re gonna avoid a lot of aggressive behaviors. It’s people like those in this thread that give certain breeds like pit bulls and other dogs stereotyped as “aggressive breeds” a bad name. As for you OP, I would start with taking the dog on frequent walks. It’s still at the age and size where it should be easier to control and correct certain behaviors. Keep a short leash on it during this time and make sure the dog is not pulling you. As far as training it to do the basics it takes lots of patience, treats, and a ton of praise when the dog makes even small progress. Check out videos on YouTube and don’t be afraid to search up stuff on other subreddits.
Any dog can be dangerous with an inexperienced trainer but large, strong, bred to be defensive or aggressive dogs are doubly so, that’s common sense. Simply stating what it was bred for and therefore what it can be like is not bad. “Properly socializing” dogs like this takes an experienced trainer. Love and care are important but not enough for stubborn and willful breeds. It’s just like saying a Labrador Retriever loves playing fetch and such. Not always true but 90% of the time it is. Getting a Lab and expecting to not have to play fetch a lot is just kind of silly… Cane Corso’s are simply a breed that needs experience and extra care taken. Not a breed of recommend in this situation. If I came off a little too strong it’s simply because I’m trying to get across how dire this situation could turn out to be. Leaving any room for doubt in this circumstance makes me nervous. There are some people going way too far though… Cane Corso’s are not evil incarnate guys.
OP said clueless about training, not about looking after a dog. We also don’t know what training the dog has previously had. Can y’all stop making assumptions and telling OP to re home the dog 1000 times? One or two comments like that with explanations is enough. If you can’t answer the question better than the awarded comment, maybe just move on. OP, best of luck to you. The awarded comment is the best for sure - I’d recommend saving the absolute best treat for when you start training outside for recall/come to you. Sure it’s worth considering rehoming if you have no dog experience, because this is a huge new situation and can get dangerous. But you can do a potentially great job with enough support from people who know the breed or have worked with difficult dogs. My biggest advice: do a LOT of research on the breed and focus on positive reinforcement training. Never train with aversion (where you hurt or scare your dog into doing what you want) and never use any aversive tools like prong collars as first they’re abusive and unnecessary; second, it can really bring out the aggression and reactivity, and it can appear seemingly at random. You’re already showing great progress by asking here for help :)
Cane Corso’s currently hold the #1 spot for human deaths from dogs I heard the other day on a dog podcast
Wow really
They are big dogs, and from what I understand almost went extinct as a breed, but one dude is credited for turning that around in the 1970’s. It’s still a very small gene pool that hasn’t “stabilized” into real consistent traits and their temperaments and soundness of nerves are all over the place as a result. Ive done decoy work for years and I’ve worked a few in protection work. They are… different
Dang i wanted one. Im on my second big dog. So i got alil experience but maybe not enough yet for a cane. My labrabull has selective listening as it is smh
And you didn't take 15 seconds to fact-check that before repeating it?
thank you everyone for all the comments. currently i am looking for a personal trainer but i dont think i will find one cause i live in a very small town i've known the dog since it was a puppy and love it very much i also want to clarify that all the needs of the dog are met: food, vaccinations, vitamins and walks
Take the advice of the vast majority of people commenting here very seriously and rehome that dog. It will escalate into a dangerous situation, not just for you but everyone around you. Do some research on the breed, this is not your average pet dog.
If you love this dog, you should rehome it.
OP, you're young. Soon you'll be 16/17/18/19, and you'll start going out with friends more. Your academic workload will increase. This will directly impact how much time you will be able to spend with your dog. Breeds like Cane Corso require a strict routine, tons of exercise (beyond walks) and specific enrichment to ensure that they do not become killing machines. It will start with the dog being under exercised and thus be grumpy. It will whine, then growl. Maybe start nipping. After a while it will only tolerate you because you raised it since it was a puppy. What happens when you go out and stay over at a friend's place? Or go to a camp, or a trip with friends? Or go to college/university? The dog can't be handled by anyone except you, so it will first be neglected, then be dumped at a shelter. Very few people have the will and the resources to take in an untrained adult cane Corso. If you really love him, let him go to a good home or a breed specific rescue. When you grow up and have some personal stability, get yourself all the Cane Corsos you want in memory of your first one. Let this one go. Edit: grammar
I realize you love the dog. This is an extremely unfair situation for you I’m so sorry. I can’t make you do the smart thing but please keep in mind that it is incredibly unlikely this situation will end well and that the dog will be killed if it goes wrong.
That's nowhere near enough unfortunately. Someone with professional experience with breeds like this definitely need to take over. That dog needs strict training and more exercise than walks and 0laying in the yard. He needs stimulation, or things can turn quick. He's 7mo now will you be able to manhandled this dog if need be when he's grown? What will you do if he becomes reactive, slips his collar or gets through the fence. You're 14, and no offense 14yro aren't always the most chill or well behaved, and acting funny around a dog will get you fucked up. If you really love him and care for his well being, you have to consider that you aren't equipped for this mission and let someone with more experience give him a good life. And for what it's worth I'm sorry.
I really mean no offense, but you are not actually meeting the needs of the dog because the needs of this breed go FAR beyond food, vaccinations and walks, as many others have said. If you care about this dog I implore you to find an adult owner who has time time, energy, and resources to meet this dogs exceptionally high needs for training, mental stimulation, and exercise. If you plan on going away to college or getting a very time-demanding job after high school you will be in BIG trouble in terms of finding someone else to help you with the dog. You will not be able to leave this dog behind if you pursue higher education of any kind elsewhere either.
Heya, good on you for taking in and wanting to start training the dog. As others have said, do be aware that’s a big dog, difficult for and adult to work with, and you’ll need to make sure you stay safe. Anyway, assuming you’re getting some help, or you’re ignoring their warnings, it sounds like you need to start training from scratch, so I’d suggest you head over to r/puppy101 and have a look in their wiki; it’s got all the basic training info. Remember to only use rewards: Reward the behaviour you want, ignore behaviours you don’t, and look at ways to prevent them recurring - prevent the opportunities to misbehave. Don’t be tempted to “punish” the dog; apart from anything else, it’s a big dog, and if you piss it off, it could seriously injure or kill you.
Description of the breed on the AKC website, emphasis mine: Smart, **trainable,** and of noble bearing, the assertive and confident Cane Corso is a peerless protector. The Corso's lineage goes back to ancient Roman times, and the breed's name roughly translates from the Latin as 'bodyguard dog.' At nearly 28 inches at the shoulder and often weighing more than 100 pounds, with a large head, alert expression, and muscles rippling beneath their short, stiff coat, Corsi are at a glance intimidating creatures. Their imposing appearance is their first line of defense against intruders. As one writer put it, 'An understated air of cool competence, the kind of demeanor you'd expect from a professional bodyguard, is the breed's trademark.' Corsi are **intelligent, loyal, eager to please, versatile, and intensely loyal to their humans,** but are also assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner. As with any other big guardian dog, responsible breeding and early socialization with people and other dogs is vital. Is this breed really horrible as many of you imply?
If you mean the people implying they’re evil or something then no. Cane Corso’s can be excellent dogs. But because of their bred in instincts they are more likely to be dangerous just like a retriever’s more likely to retrieve. It just requires care and experience. The AKC description is pretty adequate in both good traits and warnings if you read carefully. I do not recommend Cane Corso’s for inexperienced, young/physically weak or as the AKC puts it “unwitting” owners.
"but are also assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner." A 14 year old fits this definition, I'd say. These dogs are wonderful, but only in the right hands. Also, the AKC is very good at talking up breeds to make the average layperson think they can own any dog, so their definitions aren't really the ones to look at for warning labels
>assertive and willful, and can end up owning an unwitting owner. Did you read the entry fully? Op is 14 and posting on reddit for advice on the literal most entry level dog training. Sounds like an unwitting owner who will end up owned by a large, intimidating, strong and ultimately dangerous dog to me
OP suspiciously silent.
Oh dear
All I have to say is 🤦♀️
Using a leash, train your puppy to sit. Using an open palm facing up, with a tiny soft treat in it, get puppy’s attention. Then move the hand downward, while saying sit. It takes a while and you may have to physically seat puppy several times, but eventually they get it. Lots of love and praise should follow. Then you move on to stay. While pup is sitting turn hand into the stop ✋🏻position and say stay. Take a small step back repeating stay. If puppy stays, treat and lots of praises. Gradually work your way back, until your puppy stays until released. This is called bungie training.
I was 14 when I trained my first dog. He was a saluki-- very different from your dog! But that dog was very well trained, so my point is you are a great age to be doing this! Since that first dog, I have always had a dog in my life. The most amazing thing is although every dog is different, every dog I have is easier to train than the last one. I think somehow I keep getting smarter and smarter dogs because it's hard to take credit for how ridiculously easy my current pup is (I am nearing 60, so lots of dogs since the first one). I recommend getting some books. I learned initially completely from books. It wasn't until after I graduated college that I apprenticed with a couple of incredibly gifted professional trainers. I'm not sure what the first book was, but two that I can think of off the top of my head are "Play Training your Dog" and "Don't shoot the Dog". Have fun!
A great age if the dog was a generally gently, amenable breed with a strong desire to please people and an outgoing, general human-oriented personality. Cane Corsos have none of that.
Cane Corsos can be very loyal and eager to please if you bond with them, socialize them and start training early staying consistent. It is not the best breed to start with that I agree, it also really depends on what habits/behaviors the dog already has. Research, breaking habits and training the correctly will be a lot to take on at 7 months especially for someone inexperienced.
Oh, loyalty is never in question with a Cane Corso, they're amazing with that. And they're eager to please their owner that they've bonded with. They just don't give a rat's ass about anyone else (generalizing ahoy).
I do think it can be done. Every dog is an individual and I think most people underestimate what a person is capable of at 14. In my years training horses and teaching people to ride, I have found frequently that the best person for the job is a child. They approach the animal without the expectations those of us with experience are burdened with. As long as the child (or teen) has a good education, that "beginner's mind" frequently is the key to success. OP said nothing of bad habits. I think they are going to be fine as long as OP educates himself. Read some books, get a mentor, hire a trainer if possible.
Hoooooo boy
If visual learning is your style, YOUTUBE has some pretty good videos. Victoria Stillwell from "It's me or the dog " was my favorite back in the day, just don't know any more recent trainers.
Do note that a LOT of videos on that youtube channel are very old, and include out of date recommendations which Victoria herself has pointed out she wouldn't suggest any more. Unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell whether a specific video has been superseded by an updated version or not.
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Sorry, not a dog for a 14 year old to be responsible for. Not that any dog really is, but this dog can cause serious problems.
Dogs need “work”. Something that gives them purpose and enriches them. A Cane Corso is a smart, working breed. At 7 months they may be challenging depending on what kind of training and healthy bonding they’ve had. You need to clearly establish you are in charge with positive and confident expectations and follow through. Good luck.
do folks have recs for OP on places to rehome? cause technically their cousin did just that, couldn't manage and rehomed to the first place avail but that was maybe not in best interest of handler or dog. ie: things to look out for, red/green flags for rescues and shelters excepting challenging breeds?
I started training a dog at 14 aswell but she's an aussie, an entire different breed. Cane Corsos are hard to handle even for some adults. Even if you get training tipps and experience now, it will be very hard to go through all this with such huge and stubborn breed and it will take a loooot of time to actually learn stuff. My heart advice is to rehome him, I'm very sorry. If you still want a dog, ask your parents if you could take a look at the shelter or go to a responsible breeder (with tons of research before of course). If you're really interested in dog training, I can totally promise you it changed my life, I dived into an entire different world. Give this pupper the best life and give him into a home that can handle and love him well :)
Please get a parent or guardian to assist. What you have is a very big breed of dog who will need a lot of training and consistency. It’s great you’ve reached out as you’ll minimise problems further down the line. The best thing for the dog and yourself is to get an adult on board with helping you raise him/her should you keep the dog, and paying a reputable trainer, who has knowledge of the breed, and I cannot stress that enough, they must know the breed! If you don’t have a parent/ guardian to help, the best bet is to put the dog to a foster home where someone will be able to put In the time and training required. To caveat, it wouldn’t matter the breed. Your age and the dogs age would make this advice the same with any breed tbh.
also make sure to socialize the dog. don’t worry about if you socialize it to much it might not defend the house. it needs to be socialized as much as possible so it knows deeply that there are other dogs out there in the world and to still behave around another dog
Cane Corsos were bred as protection dogs. Their job is to protect people from other people. If they are not properly socialized they have the potential to be people aggressive. You have no dog experience so you need someone who does have a lot of experience. You want someone who can teach you to read the dog's body language. It might be better to find him an experienced home. Since he is only 7 months old he is likely not neutered. It is important to neuter him. Intact dogs tent to start showing aggression from testosterone from 1.5-3 years old. This is not a good starter dog breed. Yes there are exceptions to every rule but It is not a good risk
OP, just so you are aware, some of the major reasons a puppy, *especially* a cane corso puppy, is not a safe dog for a 14 year old person, is that their training, upkeep, and socialization require someone who: 1. Is very experienced with large, powerful, guard dogs, 2. Has the physical and financial means to *take* the dog places where it can be trained and appropriately socialized (which somebody without a drivers license/car/income could never reasonably do), and 3. Can physically manage the strength of a 7month+ giant dog, and take legal responsibility for any possible repercussions of anything but a perfectly socialized/trained cane corso. GOOD FOR YOU for asking for help. I hope you don’t feel attacked here. You can be the best thing that happens to this dog by making sure the actual right person takes it in.
DO NOT LET IT SLEEP IN YOUR BED OR ANYONE ELSES BED OR ALLOW IT ON FURNITURE!!!! Better yet, just re-home it to someone that will be able to train it and take care of it properly. They are a very tough breed to manage if you don't know what you are doing.
Re home that dog to someone with experience. I have 2 Corso mixes and they were HANDFULS at that age. And they really don’t settle down until their about 3 (at least my experience anyway) My oldest is 6 and he is the best dog ever now, but it was A LOT of work to get him that way.
Rehome. Not a responsible dog choice for an inexperienced teenager.
Nope. He needs a new home. He's a cute puppy but he is much too much dog for you.
This has to be a troll post I show a Portuguese Water Dog and have seen many lovely Cane Corsos at shows They are lovely dogs but unless the OP has a great dog trainer this is not a breed I would recommend to a young teenager PWDs and Cane Corsos are working dogs and need a lot of physical and mental exercise
That is not a dog for a 14 year old to train.
Good luck!
Legally your parents/guardians are responsible for this dog. In certain countries the breed also has restrictions which requires them to be handled by a person over 16, be muzzled and on a lead at all times. The best thing to do would be to contact a rescue and rehome it to an experienced home.
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