Often, Cane Corsos don’t find it challenging to form bonds and friendships with other dogs, but in some instances, the presence of another dog of the same sex can cause a rift between them. With early intervention, this undesirable circumstance can be avoided.
Below is a picture of a Cane Corso puppy showing his playful side and owners can take advantage of this and let him play with other dogs. The moment he starts maturing, his serious side will start manifesting.
Dog lovers who have other dogs at home and are contemplating adopting a Cane Corso puppy often end up asking themselves this question. We don’t want to be witnessing a chaotic scene each day involving our precious pets. Thankfully, although several factors can cause a Cane Corso to show dog aggression, countless methods can be done to encourage him to live in a pack.
How Does a Cane Corso Act Around Other Dogs?
A Cane Corso who was exposed to other dogs and pets at a young age is most likely going to be friendly as he grows up. With the essential pieces of training instilled in him regularly, he knows how to behave around others. If he grows up with other dogs regardless of breed, his guardian instinct will show. Once he notices something wrong, he’ll unhesitantly jump into action and growl or yap at anybody who poses a threat toward his dog mates.
However, if you only have the Cane Corso as your pet, the expected outcomes may be different. You have to be extremely cautious every time you take him out for his daily exercise as the appearance of any dog, near or far away from him, can spark aggression.
5 Factors That Can Make a Cane Corso Become Unfriendly
It would be unfair to presume that the Cane Corso’s image would always equate to a dangerous personality. This large Mastiff from Italy can become a good family dog so long as the owner knows exactly what entails upon owning such a massive canine. Still, there remains a possibility of this Mastiff showing unwanted and unsafe behaviors.
What triggers these? Here are 5 factors every Cane Corso parent should know:
1. Territorial Instinct
Unsurprisingly, Cane Corsos are highly territorial. Their history speaks about having them as guardians for properties, flocks, and homes. Being trained to do these duties paved the way for this canine to naturally develop a heightened sense of alertness. Strangers and unfamiliar dogs are not welcome in his territory.
2. Protective Nature
There is a reason why Cane Corsos are on guard at all times. They are there to protect something or someone. The moment he or his owner feels threatened, he’ll, no doubt, chase or show hostility toward the particular dog or person. His main goal is to ensure that his family is safe and protected. Just be aware that this protective nature can get too much and eventually make this dog extremely violent.
3. Behavioral Issues
Temperament can be passed on to offspring through genetics. Scientists found out that dogs of any breed can bequeath around 60%-70% of their traits to their young. What this explains is that Cane Corsos who have bad behaviors can highly likely produce puppies who also have bad behaviors. This is why reputable breeders don’t breed dogs who have personality issues due to the said likelihood.
4. Stress and Anxiety
Redirected aggression. This occurs most often when the Cane Corso is mentally unhealthy. He could either be in pain or needs medical assistance. The discomfort and pain he feels can end up making him exhibit belligerence even toward his owner. It could be that every time you touch him, you are making contact with his highly affected area, so be sure to bring him to the vet immediately.
5. Lack of Socialization
Without proper exposure to other dogs as a puppy, the Cane Corso can grow up fearful of anything he’s not familiar with. When a dog gets menaced, his instinct dictates that he has to protect himself. He won’t be able to identify when another dog shows friendliness and would always translate it to “asking for a fight.”
Can a Cane Corso Live With Smaller Dogs?
He can, but the idea is not encouraged. Due to the nature of this large Italian Mastiff, having small dogs around can spark his prey drive. He might end up becoming a killing machine, therefore, jeopardizing the safety of your other dogs.
However, if you plan to do so regardless of this potential event, one thing you have to commit yourself to is to expose him to various training and most importantly, socialization classes.
Observe and monitor your Cane Corso’s interaction with your smaller pooch at all times to guarantee that no mishaps take place.
4 Ways to Make a Cane Corso Less Dominant
To own a Cane Corso, you must first have adequate experience in handling big dogs. You can say that large canines entail bigger responsibilities compared to having a Bichon Frise, for example. Aside from providing the right diet and environment, leadership is also highly essential.
So, to achieve having a Cane Corso deemed as an asset, here are 5 ways you can follow to make him less dominant and more amiable toward other dogs:
1. Let Him Play With Other Dogs
As a puppy, you can bring the Cane Corso to doggy parks. Let him socialize with others, so he can, bit by bit, establish a sense of which behaviors light a green signal and which ones turn them red. When there is enough play provided for him involving fellow canines, the Cane Corso will realize that forming friendships is not a bad thing at all. This will make him lower his guard around genial dogs and people.
Above is an image of a Cane Corso (in black) having a good time with another dog in the yard.
2. Train, Train, Train
There’s no such thing as a perfect Cane Corso puppy. Every once in a while, a Cane Corso might end up committing a mistake, an accident, or showing bad behavior. To keep this from getting worse, always subject him to consistent training, drills, and sessions. He has to learn how to obey your verbal commands such as “no”, “come”, and “stop”.
3. Build Experiences With Him
There’s no better way to understand your Cane Corso puppy than to build experiences with him. If you are adopting, learn about his past and determine things that you can do to eliminate trauma if he ever was abused. Bring him to fun activities, always train him, take him out for exercise, or let him go with you on a trip, if it’s possible. The more you spend your time with your dog, the more attuned you both will be toward each other’s feelings and emotions.
4. Use Positive Reinforcements
Every time the Cane Corso shows good behaviors, reward him with a nice pet, treat, or praise. He’ll associate your positive reaction to his actions and, therefore, repeat them in the future. Undesirable ones must be eliminated through proper correction and never harsh punishment.
