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8 month old male - fears the strangest things

Hi all! First time CC owner.. sooo this guy is going through his second fear stage - unfortunately he hasn’t had the best past- was a dumped dog by a backyard breeder and finally found us - his forever home, in July. He apparently wasn’t socialized prior to us. I’ve done a lot of reading and research on our boy but I’m not sure other than not to coddle him how to reinforce confidence in him. We recently pulled out a space heater and put in kitchen just to take chill off and he stood in our living room and barked and growled at it from there I’m leaving it there and have tried to give him treats by it - nothing, won’t go near it, and had to put his leash on him to get him to walk past it (as he hugged the wall the whole time). What do you do? Do you just ignore it and hope he’ll get used to it? Winters coming and we have a lot of things that go off and on (fireplace and gas wall heaters) .. do I slowly start introducing him to these things now?? And what do I do when he starts the barking - no lunging or trying to get at it -he seems to be the fear flight dog - which I’ll take instead of the fear bite). He was in training and was doing great but now his heartworm treatment starts this Friday and he’ll be done that for awhile because he can’t have any activity. Also, any ideas for mental stimulation besides Kong’s (which he loves) and a sniffle may (which he will destroy) while he’s undergoing this would help immensely!
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Hi all! First time CC owner.. sooo this guy is going through his second fear stage - unfortunately he hasn’t had the best past- was a dumped dog by a backyard breeder and finally found us - his forever home, in July. He apparently wasn’t socialized prior to us. I’ve done a lot of reading and research on our boy but I’m not sure other than not to coddle him how to reinforce confidence in him. We recently pulled out a space heater and put in kitchen just to take chill off and he stood in our living room and barked and growled at it from there I’m leaving it there and have tried to give him treats by it - nothing, won’t go near it, and had to put his leash on him to get him to walk past it (as he hugged the wall the whole time). What do you do? Do you just ignore it and hope he’ll get used to it? Winters coming and we have a lot of things that go off and on (fireplace and gas wall heaters) .. do I slowly start introducing him to these things now?? And what do I do when he starts the barking - no lunging or trying to get at it -he seems to be the fear flight dog - which I’ll take instead of the fear bite). He was in training and was doing great but now his heartworm treatment starts this Friday and he’ll be done that for awhile because he can’t have any activity. Also, any ideas for mental stimulation besides Kong’s (which he loves) and a sniffle may (which he will destroy) while he’s undergoing this would help immensely!
My Cane Corso, Zeela is very skittish with a lot of things. She is 3 years old, I got her as a puppy 3 mos. old and she was never abused. I think it's just the breed, I've had dogs my whole life and this breed is very unique. Anything new or different in the home she just gets weird, won't go near a new object for weeks but eventually she does adapt to it. I recommend that you just be patient and let him get use to the heater, he will, don't try to rush it.
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
When he starts barking, you have to teach him a command that makes him stop. I tell Zeela - Enough!!!! she gets it. It's just constant repetition and show him that the object is not going to hurt you or him. They are guard dogs so anything out of the ordinary may seem like a threat. Mental stimulation - it depends on your lifestyle. lots of walks, ball throwing, the best is to get them with another dog to play.
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Kahlua is 1/4 cane corso and she also has a lot of fears. She also was never abused and has been a pampered princess her entire life. It is just her personality. The thing that helped her the most was agility training when we were doing that. It really helped build her confidence even though it was really rough and slow going at first because she was scared of all the equipment. eight months is still pretty young and it definitely got better with age for us but also with just us being very consistent and confident with her and introducing her slowly and patiently to new things.

For mental stimulation I would work on training. I am a huge fan of NILF training (nothing in life is free training). It works so so well. If he can't be physical right now work on the mental training. Once he can be a little more physical do some agility training. If you can't go to an agility training class just make it up as you go. Take him to empty playgrounds and get him to climb the stairs and walk on weird and different surfaces. Lots of treats and rewards as you go. Once he learns the weird surfaces and situations are safe it will help him build confidence. That is what did the most good for Kahlua.
 

Nik

Well-Known Member
Oh also I should mention that some weird things Kahlua was afraid of she just eventually had to learn to stop fearing on her own. For example she used to be terrified of feathers. It took her maybe a year to finally realize the feathers were not going to attack her.
 
That’s part of the problem - we have an 11 year old American bulldog who is legit not afraid of anything but won’t play with him since she’s gotten bulldozed one too many times with him.. he almost becomes too fixated on her and she’s older and can’t handle it- she’ll mom growl at him and he just keeps coming back for more and doesn’t take the cues. I don’t want her getting hurt intentionally or unintentionally so the only time they are in the yard together is when he’s on a leash and I can control him. He’s completely fine with her when they are in the house together (non fixated) but I feel Like he needs another big dog to play and run with. We had him in training and his trainer quit training this past Sunday and he starts his heart worm treatment tomorrow. He’s gotten past the heater thing, and moved onto something else to be afraid of as of today -the sound of the pot on the stove over boiling. It’s the most oddest things he’ll all of a sudden take notice too and then shutdown, into his crate (eyes closed) and nothing will bring him out-so I let him decompress and Eventually will come out on his own. He’s the most lovable boy, but the most fearful dog I’ve ever had. We go for car rides to socialize until he gets a little more confidence, pack walks with our other dog and hubs. I work with him with everything, sit or down before he gets anything, or to do a watch or all 3 to mix it up. And lately my husband who he adored, he’s now afraid of..and runs from And nothing happened between the 2 . I’m just at such a loss...
 
Awesome advice - thank you! I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who has a fearful pup and what you did to help overcome !!
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
you said it - he's a pup, just keep at the training and I'm sure he will come around, nothings perfect, It just may be part of his personality, we all and even our animals have their quirks.
Zeela is still afraid to step on the sewer covers, she walks around them.
 

Elizabeth Balcomb

Well-Known Member
It sounds like youre doing all the right things. My boy is 2 now, and past the fear stages, hes much more calm. In fact hes downright chilled but an excellent guard dog. All I can say is the fear stages are crazy with this breed. Your husband should just ignore him. Keep his eyes averted, not look at him. Keep going for walks together. Keep doing things he loves, getting him out the house. We have a little local coffee shop with a big table, and my guy likes to lie under the table while we eat, hes out of sight of people. I sometimes think his eye sight isn't so great, coupled with a crazy imagination...
Good luck. This is a phase and will pass, keep calm and relaxed and laugh, what a silly pup...
 

Elizabeth Balcomb

Well-Known Member
Cow hoofs are great to keep pups busy. Keep socializing, but while hes in a fear stage, stay within his comfort zone. If he likes the car, go for a drive to a busy place, open the back and sit there with him, so he can see the world in all its busyness. I would say no to strangers who want to touch him at this point while hes in a fear stage. If you put yourself in his shoes, a stranger walking up and touching you all over your body,, not very nice. I let my dogs call the shots in this regard. I say no to all strangers who want to touch them, but leave their lead loose, and if they go over to the person wanting to interact, I allow it.
When he was a pup I encouraged him to meet and greet friendly dogs, but I now think that was a mistake. I should have rather encouraged calm and ignoring of other dogs.
I would absolutely not condone dog parks where there are a lot of dogs off lead. There are invariably rude dogs there, and you could create a reactive adult by 1 negative experience with a rude dog.
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
So funny about this post and their fear of new things - this weekend I got a new stove installed, my old one was white and this one is black/stainless steel. Zeela would not come in the kitchen, not even to get her water or food. I finally had to get her collar on and a leash and lock her in the kitchen with me while we both ate so she would stop being so weird. Crazy! Strange behaviors these CC's have. o_O
 
Thank you for the reassurance!! .. I’ve never had a dog like this before - it’s like every day is a different dog Lol. I just said to my husband we go 3 steps forward - 2 steps back. I think our communication is getting a little better and he is among sloooowww progress - he’ll look at me a lot more to see if it’s okay or If I got his back when he gets scared , he’ll be okay for a minute and then he just goes and hides in his little bedroom house. I get worried cause he seems to be spending more time in there then out with us like he used too. Goofy?? Yup- he’s a big talker lately, we had an argument this morning about me brushing my teeth and going to work
 
Zeela- oh boy!! That must’ve been interesting !! This is the first year we may have to forgo the real Christmas tree And use our little fAke one so he doesn’t lose his mind! I’m afraid he won’t ever come out of the bedroom once he sees it
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Zeela- oh boy!! That must’ve been interesting !! This is the first year we may have to forgo the real Christmas tree And use our little fAke one so he doesn’t lose his mind! I’m afraid he won’t ever come out of the bedroom once he sees it
Yes, they are a very strange breed. My first time owning one too and I tell everyone- this isn't a dog, I don't know what she is but she's not a dog. lol. Nobody understands unless they have one.
I got a Christmas tree last and Zeela was fine with it. I thought she would freak out too but maybe because it was a real one and the scent of it didn't phase her.
She gets freaked out by anything when we walk - yesterday it was very windy and a bag was blowing by, she of course tried to run the other way. Funny - at least she makes me laugh. The only thing that was hard was when I was training her how to walk on a leash - that was hard enough but if something scared and she took off and I didn't let go of the leash, I was in a bad way, I have scares from falling down on cement and got some road burn. I definitely don't hold onto the leash like I use to when she was a pup. If she's gonna go, I let her go - I can't afford any more scares.
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
Scars that is.... Yes, Zeela will talk too if I make her kind of noises. She hates when I sing to her so she talks back like....whahahahahahaha....like shut up!!! ha ha....
 

Zeela

Well-Known Member
I'm an artist, so work from home, and my guy also works from home, I actually don't think Lupo would cope if we went off to work every day. He would be a gibbering mess..
I use to think Zeela would not be okay if I wasn't home but I'm gone all day at work and honestly every time I get a chance to stop home at lunch or even when I had a dog walker, she would be sprawled out asleep on the couch and take her sweet time getting up. So, I don't worry about her being home alone, she's just sleeping, she's more awake at night. I do believe she is a night prowler.
 
Zeela!!! YES!!! Righteous also rarely sleeps a whole night!! I’ve put a harness on his to just even walk him through the yard- others wise he drags me around like I’m not even attached to the leash! I love it when he talks -it cracks me up. He looked at my husband (who he Was afraid of A Few days ago) but I guess he rectified in his head whatever his thing was cause now he’s friends with daddy again lol. I watched a video from Victoria Stilwell who discusses confidence and insecurity and dominance. Found it super interesting ... I think my boy (actually I know) is super insecure, I’m working on it everyday with him and he’s getting slowly a lot better. We shall see about the Christmas tree - the crock pot was the bad guy this morning lol ‍♀️♀️