How to Potty Train a Cane Corso Puppy
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Introduction
If you have just arrived home with your new Cane Corso puppy, now is the time to start potty training. In fact, the sooner you start, the faster your pup is going to learn. Cane Corso dogs are extremely intelligent and capable of learning many new skills. The breed was originally developed in Italy to hunt wild game such as boar and to guard property. He will give you and your family his undying loyalty, but at the same time, don't expect him to become buddies with everyone, this breed isn't quite that social.
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Defining Tasks
Training your dog to go potty outside can be a bit on the challenging side, but it should be one of the first things you teach your pup. In fact, you should teach him this before you move on to teaching him anything else. You can, of course, work on potty training at the same time as you work on other skills such as 'sit', 'come', 'stay', and 'down'. While accidents are going to happen in the early weeks, by the time your pup is around 6 months of age, he should no longer be leaving you those little surprises all over the carpet.
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Getting Started
One of the most important parts of training your Cane Corso to go potty outside is to learn how to pick up the signs your pup is giving you that he needs to go. Among these signs are sniffing the floor, circling, squatting, lifting a leg, and scratching at the door. You will also need a few training supplies to help you out along the way. These include:
- Crate – For training purposes and as a safe place to leave your pup when you can't be there.
- Treats – As rewards for training.
- Leash - To take your pup outside on.
- Cleaning stuff – To clean up those inevitable messes.
Along with all of this, you need plenty of time to train your pup and the patience to see it through. Take your time, follow through, and your pup will learn not to go potty in the house.
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The No Means No Method
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Stock up
Before getting started, you need to stock up on some tasty treats for your pup.
Eyes on the pup
Keep your eyes on your pup as much as you can. The moment you see him acting as if he is getting ready to relieve himself, say "NO!" in a firm, but not angry, voice.
Straight out
Pick him up and take him straight out to his spot in the yard to go potty. At the same time start using your cue, such as "Let's go outside" or something similar. The will help him connect the action with the cue.
Patience gets results
It might take a few minutes for your pup to do his "business" but be patient. There will come a time when no matter what, he won't be able to hold it anymore. When he finally "goes" praise him and give him a treat. Then head back in the house.
And the rest of it
The rest is all about continuing to work with your pup until he can wait for you to ask him if he needs to go out or he comes to you to let you know he needs to pee.
The Easy Peasy Method Method
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Create your schedule
Before you start, you need to establish a schedule. In the beginning, start with taking him out every 20 minutes. If he does go potty, be sure to praise him and give him a treat. If he doesn't, don't worry about it. Just take him back in the house and give it a few minutes before you try again.
Special times
There are certain times of the day when you need to take him out immediately. The first is when you get up in the morning, the second is after all meals and any time he drinks a lot of water, the third is after a nap, and then after an extended period of play.
Choose a cue
Choose a cue word, "outside" usually works well. Use it every time you take your pup outside, this will help him associate the cue word with going outside to go potty. Before long, you should be able to ask your pup if he needs to go out and he will let you know.
Add more time
Start extending the time between journeys outside over a period of a few weeks.
Before you are done
Before you are finished training your pup, he should be coming to you or going to the door to let you know he needs to go potty.
The Take Him Outside Method
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Mark your spot
Start by going out in your yard and choosing the right spot for your pup to use as his potty. Keep it close enough he can make it and far enough that it won't stink out the house.
Let's go
Pick your cue word, something like "potty" or "outside". Hook your pup up to his leash, say "let's go outside" and take him outside to the chosen spot so he can go potty. Be sure to stay there long enough for him to pee and poop.
Good job
When he goes potty, be sure to praise him and give him a treat. This lets him associate going outside to go potty with good things.
Set a routine
Create a routine for taking your pup outside. For up to 12 weeks this should be every 30 minutes.
Practice
After this, start extending the time until he can go for a few hours if necessary, at which point he will be potty trained.
Written by PB Getz
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/19/2018, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
Athena
Cane Corso
9 Weeks
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Pup goes to the bathroom when She wants to when I take her outside
June 15, 2022
Athena's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Gerry, Check out the crate training and tethering methods from the article I have linked below. I would start with just the crate training method, so that you can give pup fifteen minutes to go potty when you take her outside (the article has tips on what to do while out there to encourage pup to go potty during that time), then if she doesn't go potty during that time, follow the method's steps for bringing pup inside, crating for thirty minutes, then taking pup back outside to try again. Repeat this sequence until pup goes potty outside and you can reward, then give pup supervised freedom out of the crate for a little while if you are home. Make sure you follow the instructions for teaching "Go Potty" found in that article method also - that should eventually help pup learn to go potty more quickly too. Expect all this to take time and look for gradual improvement not instant potty training. It takes most puppies 2-3 months to fully potty train. If you give too much freedom and expect too much too soon it will take even longer. The best way to avoid accidents all the time until then if to stick to a strict schedule, monitor pup, and limit freedom to times when pup's bladder is empty for a while. Crate Training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
June 15, 2022
Nova
Cane Corso
6 Weeks
Question
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
At what age can I start trying to potty train. What would be the first step? How often should I bathe my puppy?
April 5, 2022
Nova's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1133 Dog owners recommended
Hello Vic, I would start formal potty training at 7-8 weeks, but I would go ahead and set up an exercise pen, and practice a modified version of the exercise pen method using disposable real grass pads, so get pup used to the concept of going potty on a certain type of surface instead of just anywhere. You can attach pup's crate to the side of the pen so pup can go in the crate to sleep at night, and come out of the crate to go potty on the grass pad when they wake. Exercise Pen method: https://wagwalking.com/training/litter-box-train-a-chihuahua-puppy Disposable real grass pad brands - also on Amazon: www.freshpatch.com www.doggielawn.com www.porchpotty.com https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Patch-Disposable-Potty-Grass/dp/B005G7S6UI?th=1 I would go ahead and start getting pup used to a crate now, so crate training for potty training soon will be easier once you start that too. Surprise method for crate introduction: https://wagwalking.com/training/like-a-crate Outside potty training - crate training method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-puppy-to-poop-outside Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
April 5, 2022