How to Train a Cane Corso for Protection

Your Cane Corso is descended from Roman war dogs. Cane Corsos were used in Italy to guard livestock and property and to hunt dangerous game like boar. Corsos are natural protectors, so training yours to protect you, your family, and your property is more about channeling her natural instinct and teaching her when to guard and when not to. 

It is essential that your Corso be part of your family. Corsos left alone to guard livestock or property are unhappy and likely to do their job poorly. Corsos were bred to be guardians as well as companions and hunters, and need interaction and training with their family to be happy. Your Corso's puppyhood should be devoted to socialization with other dogs, people, livestock, and anything else they will encounter in adulthood. Even when your Corso is grown, it is important that you continuously expose her to new experiences and people so that she keeps relying on you to tell her when she should protect and when she shouldn't. 

Since training your Corso to protect is about channeling her instincts, you can start training in puppyhood, before instincts have become strong. Teach your puppy how to latch onto a sleeve while she's young and that it's a game, so that when she's older she will still see protection as a fun activity to do with you. Hopefully, she will never need to use her training to protect you, but you want the activity of protection to be so natural to her she won't think twice if the need does arise. 

If you want your Corso to learn to protect your property or livestock, acquaint her with what she will be protecting while she is young. Manage her interactions with livestock so that she learns these are friends to be protected and not prey items. Encourage her to react to predators and teach her their scents early so she learns that those are the appropriate targets for attack.

Whatever age your Corso is, it is essential that you have a strong bond of trust before starting any protection training. You should be able to handle your Corso's mouth, paws, and she should happily roll over for you for belly rubs. If there is any lack of trust between you, that must be worked on before attempting protection training. If you feel closely bonded with your Corso and she is being well socialized, you can work on protection training with her. Always handle your Corso gently, with a chest clip harness or head halter. Your Corso should always work for fun and for rewards and your affection, never out of fear.