How to train a Female Cane Corso: Tips and Tricks for a Happy, Healthy Dog

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The Cane Corso is a form of the Italian Mastiff breed. They are less bulky than other mastiff breeds and are known for their imposing appearance. Cane Corsos are protective mastiffs that, if trained properly, can be good guard dogs and make great companions to kids.

Interestingly, male and female corso differ not just in size but also in overall personalities. Male Cane Corsos are larger, more dominant, and more difficult to train. Thus they are recommended for male owners or people with previous experience with aggressive pets. Female Cane Corsos are smaller in size and relatively less aggressive. They are comparatively easy to train and compatible with a relatively inexperienced owner and their family.

Here are certain things to keep into account while training a female cane corso that will help in the training.

Go for Good Crate Training

Irrespective of whether it’s a male or female pup, crate training at an early age will help you maintain hierarchy.

First, Remember that Cane Corso is a member of the mastiff family. They are very closely related to wolves in the community. The head of the pack sleeps at an elevated surface to assert supremacy.

That said, making the cane corso puppy sleep on the bed at an early age instills the feeling of leadership. That in turn will hinder their training process considerably.

However, if you make them sleep on the floor in a crate at an early age, it will help them understand that the human is the pack leader and they need to listen to the human.

Crate training will further help in the potty training process and help in countering separation anxiety.

House Training

As a rule, female cane Corsos pee more in a day than male Corsos in smaller amounts. Males have a bigger bladder and they have to pee less frequently but in larger quantities. They also tend to urinate outside their home area rather than within it.

They are more prone to urinary infections. Because of this, house training a female cane corso is important. In this regard, a crate will make the house training process easier and reduce the risk of accidents considerably.

A female cane corso can be trained for different jobs in herding, such as guard dogs, working dogs, or family dogs.

Herding Cane Corso

Studies have shown that Cane Corsos have evolved from European Herding dogs. They were bred to live among herds without harming them and protecting them from predators and other enemies.

Female Cane Corsos, when trained at an early age, can make great herding dogs, provided they are handled correctly. There are several ways of training a Herding Cane Corso. However, we think you need to keep the following two things in mind primarily:

Despite having a milder temperament than male cane Corsos, you may have to deal with impulsive or hyperactive behavior when training female cane Corsos. If you face such a situation, practice impulse control training to control their hyperactive nature.

Studies have shown that Corsos are prone to skeletal dysplasia. It is equally important to avoid overexerting the canine as it will result in bone damage.

A lot of trainers recommend Premack’s Principle to train herding canine breeds. The principle simply states that if a person wants to perform a given activity, they will perform a less desirable activity to get at a more desirable activity. You can leverage Premack’s Principle to train cane corso for herding to get them to stop chasing their prey and listen to commands in a better manner.

Working Cane Corso

Working Cane Corsos excels at jobs like hunting, sledge-pulling, water-rescuing, and being an excellent police dog.

Here are some important things to remember while training a working female cane corso

	Female Cane Corsos love pleasing their Master and can make great working dogs when trained in the right manner. However, they don’t respond well to loud tones, scoldings, or negative training tactics during the learning period. In fact, vet experts warn that doing so can backfire and make them aggressive, in addition to damaging the bond between the canine and their owner.
	Positive training methods go a long way in creating a good working canine and in teaching them good behavior with new skills. Several vet experts recommend the clicker training method (using the clicker to mark good behavior) as a method of positive training.
	Start the training early as it will expose them to a variety of sounds, smells, and other stimuli, making the learning process easy.
	Consult the vet experts about keeping them mentally stimulated and activated; it develops their brains and learning skills in a better manner. It further reduces stress and helps them build social skills.

Family and Children-Friendly Cane Corso

Female Cane Corsos can make excellent family dogs because of their less aggressive nature and preference for humans.

Socializing them is crucial in this regard in the form of exposing them to other pets, children, the sound of vehicles, livestock, and other things that you are exposed to on a day-to-day basis.

But before you introduce your female Corso to the family, first teach the family to handle and touch them in an appropriate manner and be gentle and respectful with them.

Initiate the socialization process at an early age, preferably when the pup is 3-13 weeks old, so they adjust easily.

Use treats, praises, and other positive reinforcement techniques to reward them during the training and get rid of any anxiety that they may feel.

End Thoughts

No matter if you choose a female or a male Corso, remember training is crucial. With the right foundation, these dogs can excel as loyal family members to dedicated service animals. Imagine your Corso by your side, offering comfort and protection, all thanks to the power of positive reinforcement training. But remember, these are powerful pups! Starting training early is essential. Think of it like building a strong foundation for a magnificent, loving dog. So, are you ready to welcome a Cane Corso into your life? Choose wisely, train patiently, and enjoy the companionship of a truly remarkable dog.