NEW CANE CORSO PUPPY: Is attacking and aggressively biting me? Please help.

[Ronin]

Awesome article, Season! I agree...this guy knows his stuff. OP should really take what he says to heart.

One thing, though that I gotta say...His style is nearly identical to mine in everything he writes about with the exception of not allowing his puppy around other dogs. I do agree that dog parks are NOT a good idea at ANY age. There are many irresponsible pet owners that take their dogs here that could give your pup or dog a traumatic experience(one of my biggest pet peeves, BTW). I would never allow my pup anywhere near one of these dogs...However, I do think the pup absolutely NEEDS to be socialized with other dogs that belong to responsible pet owners. I think he does too, but the way he wrote it might be misunderstood as "you need to keep puppy as far away from other dogs as possible or he/she will become dog aggressive!"...it's actually the opposite...IMHO that would be a huge mistake in puppy's upbringing. Another reason is that, the puppy does need to build a relationship with the other dogs in your pack to determine his/her own place in the pecking order...not only who is alpha. Other than that, great article and OP should really take what he says to heart.

 

[Siloh]

In his Socializing Puppies article he goes into more depth about that, explaining that aloofness is what you are looking for. I can't agree with that sentiment enough. And I can't say how many times I have people with dogs who come up wanting our dogs to "meet," and I have to say no. When they ask why, I say, "These dogs are excited. This is not how I want my dog to greet other dogs."

I've lost one neighborhood friend that way... He was totally insulted. I'm sorry, but your dog tugging at the end of its lead to get to my dog is NOT good social behavior. Maybe you think it means the dog is dog friendly. Okay. But that is the wrong way for a dog to greet a strange dog.

People also constantly underestimate a dog's sense of smell. I really don't understand the whole hold-out-your-hand thing. I've read dogs with a decent nose should be able to pick up on and identify a scent at 20 ft. My dog air sniffs to get someone's scent or the scent of another dog and does not seem unsatisfied with this method. A little curious... Air sniff... Aloof. This is my ideal.


"Nothing is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so."
Hamlet Prince of Denmark

 

[season]

In his Socializing Puppies article he goes into more depth about that, explaining that aloofness is what you are looking for. I can't agree with that sentiment enough. And I can't say how many times I have people with dogs who come up wanting our dogs to "meet," and I have to say no. When they ask why, I say, "These dogs are excited. This is not how I want my dog to greet other dogs."

I've lost one neighborhood friend that way... He was totally insulted. I'm sorry, but your dog tugging at the end of its lead to get to my dog is NOT good social behavior. Maybe you think it means the dog is dog friendly. Okay. But that is the wrong way for a dog to greet a strange dog.

People also constantly underestimate a dog's sense of smell. I really don't understand the whole hold-out-your-hand thing. I've read dogs with a decent nose should be able to pick up on and identify a scent at 20 ft. My dog air sniffs to get someone's scent or the scent of another dog and does not seem unsatisfied with this method. A little curious... Air sniff... Aloof. This is my ideal.


"Nothing is neither good nor bad, but thinking makes it so."
Hamlet Prince of Denmark

Leerburg | Socializing Puppies

 

[Cane corso dude 210]

You need to read the responses above and stop hitting your puppy with a newspaper! He's 13 weeks old and he's being a puppy. Biting and growling is how they played with their siblings.

You can possibly cause fear aggression in your pup by hitting him and that is a behavior you do not want in your puppy! In addition, mastiffs have short muzzles and hitting them on muzzle can cause damage.

Stop hitting your pup!

I hit him on his back side once after that never hit him again. I will be taking him to a trainer for training soon.

 

[khplaw]

It is SOOOOO true that dogs know what you know and what you don't know. They can actually SMELL fear so even if you try your best to remain calm externally, if you are fearful you are giving off that smell! Now is the time to get ahold of yourself, suck it up and be a leader. If you intend to keep this dog, what may be cute now will not be cute when the dog is a year old and super strong. Be consistent; use the same words for commands (sit not sit down) and use a firm tone, not yelling or threatening. Reward the good behavior and if possible try to redirect the bad. You will enjoy your dog more and your dog will WANT to be with you and please you. I have never dealt with a breed that wants so desperately to make you happy. Give some direction and see what happens! Good luck!

 

[Cane corso dude 210]

Good advice thanks he's starting to come along now. We had are fights he try to challenge me but I stand my ground and he eventually calms down and backs off.

 

[Denise1370]

I'm a new dog owner, and I know a lot about dogs just not training a big breed like my cane corso. I have an 11 week old cane corso named Bella, I just got her maybe a week ago and she is aggressively biting me. I'm the "dominate" one to her, I feed, bathe, cuddle and play with her the most which puzzles me why she is always biting me. I've tried everything with her replacing her biting with a toy, ignoring her, stand up away from her, saying no in a loud voice, saying ouch and even pining her down. NOTHING works, it just makes her bite and lounge at me harder. She growls too when I say no, and I know it's nothing playful. Each time I come in the room it's like she wants to attack me. I'm starting to feel very stressed out and I need all the advice I can get. She has her first two shots, going to vet for her third and classes in a couple days. What worries me the most, if she did meet my uncle's dog who is a rottie but very well behaved. He was really hyper and excited to meet Bella and she did not like it. She growls and yapped for him to stay away and peed and pooped all over herself and was in a corner, and all my family told me not to cuddle her and let her gain her confidence and it made me feel crappy because that's all I wanted to do. Since then I feel like I scarred her and she's not respecting me anymore. I defitnely don't want to give her up but it's putting my whole family in a strain, I'm desperate and need advice. She didn't like other dogs and is super shy, and I try and get her out to exercise but she doesn't want to leave me front yard. I've tried taking her on little walks and she doesn't even budge, every day I play with her outside for a couple hours to get her exercise. Thanks. Btw, she loves other people and my family, it's literally me who she is attacking.

I'm a new dog owner, and I know a lot about dogs just not training a big breed like my cane corso. I have an 11 week old cane corso named Bella, I just got her maybe a week ago and she is aggressively biting me. I'm the "dominate" one to her, I feed, bathe, cuddle and play with her the most which puzzles me why she is always biting me. I've tried everything with her replacing her biting with a toy, ignoring her, stand up away from her, saying no in a loud voice, saying ouch and even pining her down. NOTHING works, it just makes her bite and lounge at me harder. She growls too when I say no, and I know it's nothing playful. Each time I come in the room it's like she wants to attack me. I'm starting to feel very stressed out and I need all the advice I can get. She has her first two shots, going to vet for her third and classes in a couple days. What worries me the most, if she did meet my uncle's dog who is a rottie but very well behaved. He was really hyper and excited to meet Bella and she did not like it. She growls and yapped for him to stay away and peed and pooped all over herself and was in a corner, and all my family told me not to cuddle her and let her gain her confidence and it made me feel crappy because that's all I wanted to do. Since then I feel like I scarred her and she's not respecting me anymore. I defitnely don't want to give her up but it's putting my whole family in a strain, I'm desperate and need advice. She didn't like other dogs and is super shy, and I try and get her out to exercise but she doesn't want to leave me front yard. I've tried taking her on little walks and she doesn't even budge, every day I play with her outside for a couple hours to get her exercise. Thanks. Btw, she loves other people and my family, it's literally me who she is attacking.https://www.mastiff-forum.com/index.php?search/

Hi please help. My cane corso is 10 weeks old and is doing the exact same thing. I am very concerned. I am really contemplating getting rid of Mia because I don’t want these bitting issues to continue through adulthood. Please tell me what the outcome of Bella is. I would so greatly appreciate it.