The Cane Corso: from play to protection
The Cane Corso is a breed of dog that never ceases to intrigue me. These are dogs that can serve as guard dogs, but their genetic diversity means that variations in temperament can be extreme. Most often I come across fearful dogs, sometimes aggressive ones, and very rarely neutral ones.
Cane Corso Temperament
This affects both the dogs’ lives and the quality of their training. Fearful dogs can be trained in both obedience and protection work, the latter aimed at strengthening the dog’s character and, in the long term, overcoming their fearfulness. Of course, everything depends on the individual dog, the origin of their fear and the home in which they live.
Based on my experience of working with these dogs so far, I would categorise them into four groups:
- Cane Corsos that are fearful but not aggressive
- timid dogs prone to aggression
- neutral
- emotionally stable dogs but lacking in temperament
The latter cause the most problems in everyday life and in terms of potential training.
A major problem with the dogs I encounter is a lack of temperament, and this is independent of their character. Both weak dogs and good, emotionally stable ones struggle with this.
The best – and at the same time the worst – are neutral dogs. They are usually wonderful dogs for the family, children and their surroundings, but they are completely unresponsive to training. They are either indifferent or cheerful. Working with them takes a very long time and, despite our best efforts, is sometimes ineffective. Obedience will be their strong point, but protecting people and property, unfortunately, will not.
The first two dogs you see in this video are half-brothers. The older dog has a lively temperament; he wants to play, tug and compete with people, treating it all as a game, whilst the smaller dog shows little temperament but still has time to grow up.
Cane Corso: A dog with spirit
The third dog comes from a different breeding line. He has a strong temperament, is eager to work and is dynamic. This is a dog that can be trained in a variety of ways, but a great deal depends on the owners’ experience. Regular training can yield excellent results. Unfortunately, it displays aggressive behaviour towards other dogs, including other puppies. These behaviours require work and vigilance on the part of the owner at this stage of its development.
There is about a month’s difference between the puppies – the second and third – which makes it possible to compare their temperaments and behaviour.
The appearance and build of dogs of this breed are also intriguing. They range from slim, light dogs, which are good for training, to heavy, sluggish dogs that tire quickly and often have health problems. Before you decide to buy such a dog, try to speak to a breeder who has experience in rearing and training them, and consider whether this particular breed is right for you and your family.
In the video, you can see how the Cane Corso puppy, number one, is interested in the tug-of-war toy, but at this stage of development, he is unable to win and take the prize. It understands that this is something fun, but does not associate winning with something important, necessary or essential. Its body language does not suggest a positive attitude towards this form of play. It gets bored quickly and is not interested in the work.
In the case of a young dog just starting out with this form of training, it’s a good idea to change the handler to see with whom the dog feels more comfortable and confident. Swapping the tug toy for one that the puppy knows and likes can also improve the quality of the training. At this stage, we’re all getting to know one another: the trainer, the owner and the dog.
When working with a Cane Corso puppy, it is important to remember that training sessions must not be too long. Training should be adapted to both the animal’s age and physical capabilities. It is better to have a short but effective training session than a long one that does more harm than good.
The last dog seen in the video has a very nice temperament. A strong prey drive allows him to compete with humans, but gradually increasing psychological pressure causes frustration. At this stage of development, this can be eliminated by working with the dog correctly.
Despite their young age, the Cane Corso puppies taking part in training have powerful jaws, and great care must be taken during training. For the Cane Corso, work with a sleeve or tug toy should be adapted to the dog’s development, taking into account its growth stage and physical capabilities, so as not to expose anyone to unnecessary injuries.