Even some of the biggest, most intimidating dogs are known to roll over, even for strangers, making them pretty terrible guard dogs. Knowing that Cane Corso are sweet dogs despite their size, you might wonder, are Cane Corso protective?
A Cane Corso has a tendency to be very protective of their home and anyone who they consider their family. These dogs form close attachments with people and will stop at nothing to keep them safe. This can be a blessing, but can also make keeping their behavior in check a little bit difficult.
You will never be able to eliminate a Cane Corso’s protective nature, but there are ways to manage it so that they understand the appropriate situations to protect you from.
Is Cane Corso Protective Dog?
Cane Corsos are absolutely protective; they always have been, and they always will be. Cane Corsos are known to want to size up strangers before letting them get close, either to you or to them. If they see someone approaching them or you, they might put their guard up. They aren’t likely to lash out, but unless they are socialized, they may not let their guard down.
Hopefully, you’ll never have to see it, but Cane Corsos are incredibly courageous and brave. There is nothing that scares these gorgeous dogs. They’ve had a long history of facing danger head-on and not backing down, and even though they are now domesticated, they still have those instincts.
Unless you have been an experienced trainer when it comes to working dogs or guard dogs, you want to find a balance between respecting their need to keep you safe while also making sure they can adapt to the environment they are currently living in. You want to keep your Cane Corso entertained and busy so they don’t feel the need to stand guard all the time.
Why Are Cane Corso So Protective?
When Cane Corsos were brought to Italy, they were bred to help protect land and property as well as landowners. This was after they were discovered fighting wars alongside soldiers, being directly involved in the battle. Their muscular build, tall stature, and their brooding stare could intimidate the toughest opponents before they had a chance to come near.
Cane Corsos are also very wise dogs and have strong intuition. Once they become accustomed to their new environment, they will be able to sniff out what is truly dangerous and what isn’t. They will need a little bit of help from you to learn the difference. But if you were ever really in trouble, trust that your Cane Corso would stay by your side.
How Cane Corso Displays Protective Behavior
You may not see signs of just how protective Cane Corso can be until they are about one year old. Before then, they will likely be more playful and curious. This will also be the time you’ll be implementing your training regimen. Even though you can’t eliminate their protective nature, you can at least help them behave well and learn to relax.
You might notice that your Cane Corso isn’t much of a barker. They are typically quiet dogs, but when something has caught their attention, they might bark or make other vocalizations. Cane Corso like to make a sort of howling noise that seems to be their preferred way to communicate with people. If someone is near your home, you’ll know it.
Your Cane Corso may also take a heightened stance in an effort to show their strength and their confidence. Their height and their build alone are usually enough to scare even the toughest people, regardless of their intentions.
Are Cane Corsos Dangerous?
A Cane Corso can be dangerous if they need to be, but generally speaking, there is nothing to be afraid of with these dogs. Just because a dog has the capability of causing a lot of damage, it doesn’t mean that they will. This doesn’t mean you should underestimate these tough dogs. If they need to, they will fight.
You should know that Cane Corsos aren’t known to attack people, especially out of nowhere. You can train them to understand a command to attack, but you should only ever attempt this if you have a ton of experience training a dog. Otherwise, it’s not worth it. You can trust that your Cane Corso will know what to do to protect you if needed.
If you were ever in real danger, your Cane Corso would likely sense this and forgo their training to protect you. If Cane Corsos have been able to take on bears and lions in their past, anything that could potentially harm you will barely be a challenge for them. They shouldn’t be antagonized because if need be, they can do extensive damage.
Creating A Safe Environment For Your Cane Corso
Most of the time, a Cane Corso will be rather chill and composed. When they aren’t playing or walking around, they are usually just hanging out with their family, enjoying some pets and some cuddles. Even when they’re relaxing, they are still aware of what’s going on around them.
When you adopt a Cane Corso to be a companion, training them to be “off duty” is important. They should know they can relax and just be a dog. These very kind dogs want nothing more than to be by your side through life and should be able to enjoy that without always being on guard. Thus, make it a priority to keep them out of dangerous situations.
Training A Protective Cane Corso
When you are approaching training, you have to be confident and firm, while also encouraging good behavior with praise and rewards. There is no need to be mean, pushy, or harmful. In fact, if you treat your Cane Corso with aggression, they will respond with aggression. Remember, it’s very hard to scare a Cane Corso.
As much as you’ll have to train your Cane Corso to behave, you will also have to teach others how to approach your dog. You want others to come around so your pup learns that most people are kind and safe. That said, they might be wary of people who are too abrupt or too nervous.
You want to make sure that others approach your Cane Corso in a calm and composed manner, and they should know to stop if your Cane Corso doesn’t want the attention. Most likely, if your Cane Corso senses they are a good person, they’ll soak up the affection.
Your Cane Corso should have a solid understanding of their commands before they are socialized. You will be able to maintain better control of your Cane Corso while exposing them to new things. Keep them on a good leash at all times when outside of your home, and be sure to have treats to praise them for good behavior.
How Socialization Helps Control Protective Behavior
The process of socialization involves exposing your dog to new places, people, and animals on a regular basis so they become used to these things. Since it’s inevitable that they will come into contact with others, they need to be able to discern who is and isn’t a threat. You will have to put a lot of time and effort into socializing a Cane Corso.
Cane Corso shouldn’t be brought to off-leash dog parks, as they may not respond well to dogs coming at them, even if it’s just to play. As mentioned, they should stay on leashes when not at home. Only let them interact with other dogs that are on leashes so that you can separate the dogs if needed.
You also want to train them to remain calm when people come over. They might hesitate to welcome people into your home, but it’s only because they want you safe. Giving them commands like sit or lay down and distracting them with a toy can make sure people can enter your home without being scared off by your Cane Corso.
Socialization is a process that will consume much of your time and dedication. It sounds much more overwhelming than it is, especially if you’ve trained dogs before. If socialization or training makes you nervous, a Cane Corso may not be the right dog for you to adopt.
Final Thoughts
Some mighty dogs that look like the Cane Corso are just big sucks who will roll over for anyone, even those who are a threat. But are Cane Corso protective, or are they prone to submitting to anyone and everyone? The Cane Corso is one of the best guard dogs and has built a solid reputation for protecting their loved ones at all costs.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel secure by having a companion animal by your side, but your dog will need to learn that most situations don’t require them to protect you. Your Cane Corso will be loyal to a fault, so you must ensure that they can never be involved in situations that can become dangerous because of their protective nature.