Updated Sep 1, 2022
Biting is a concern for Cane Corso puppy owners, more than most, because of how strong the Cane Corso’s bite is. Your beloved pet can end up hurting you or others If you don't teach them well.
Biting is not necessarily an act of aggression. There is not necessarily any intent to harm. Puppies often use their mouths to grab, pinch, hold, squeeze, shake, pull on another animal or human being.
Depending on how hard your dog bites down, this can result in puncture wounds or even deeper lacerations.
When dogs are young, they often use their mouths as an exploratory tool. But obviously, this can be a problem for humans, when the Cane Corso’s sharp teeth and powerful jaws are capable of causing severe damage.
This article will help you understand why your Cane Corso puppy is biting and how to stop him from doing so.
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Why Does My Cane Corso Bite Me?
Biting Because Of Teething
When your Cane Corso is teething, their gums can become extremely sensitive and even painful at times which often results in them pinching down hard on whatever they can find, which might include clothing or even your skin. This is one of the main reasons you should always make sure your puppy has a chew toy.
Biting Due To Begging
Some owners think it is cute for their dog to beg and, while it may seem appealing, this behavior should be discouraged. There is a risk that somebody could get bitten if the dog is allowed to think he has any right to make you give him food.
There must be a clear understanding that you are in control of the food, and you give the dog food on your terms. Ideally, you should train your dog to sit before giving him any food, and to wait until you say he can have it.
Playing With Other Dogs and Pets
Keep an eye on your dog in this situation. Make sure he is not getting over-excited. If your Cane Corso has been playing with other dogs or pets, they might get into a very excitable mood which can transfer to their behavior with others.
This might result in them not being able to contain themselves and unable to hold back from nipping and biting whoever they come into contact with.
Even if this is just play biting, it can be dangerous. If this behavior was allowed to continue as they grow into a huge adult Cane Corso it could be disastrous. Clearly, it must be brought under control early.
Biting Out Of Fear
If your Cane Corso has had a bad experience with a human, or another animal, it can result in them being fearful. If a dog is afraid of other animals or humans, it can result in biting, when anybody gets too close to them.
If this is your situation, you may be able to overcome it by giving your dog lots of love, reassurance and comfort. But sometimes this behavior will require help from a professional dog trainer.
Biting Due To Protecting Their Food
Cane Corsos, like any dog, can become quite possessive over toys and food. This is known as resource guarding. This can lead to a situation where the dog becomes extremely defensive if somebody approaches when they are eating their food.
The result can be biting whoever comes near them, because they see perceive a threat to what belongs to them. Obviously, this can result in severe injuries.
This kind of behavior is more likely if the dog has never been socialized or if has not had some basic training to help him understand his role and his place in the hierarchy.
In fact, resource guarding is one of the behavior patterns that a rescue center is on the lookout for, because it can cause significant problems in the home.
We had a dog with this problem. As a result we made sure to hand-feed our puppies in the very beginning, so that they associate you as the giver of food. This helps them to recognize the owner as authority and stop thinking they have the right to challenge over food.
How To Stop a Cane Corso from Chewing?
Problems Arise When Dogs Are Bored
If your Cane Corso is home alone all day, he might become bored. This can often lead to him looking for something to do to occupy himself.
This can lead to problem behavior such as crying or barking until somebody finally notices. In the worst case scenario, he decides that chewing up everything around him will suffice.
Using Treats and Toys
All dogs have a propensity to chew on things, and Cane Corsos are no exception. The larger the dog, the worse the problem becomes, sometimes going as far as destruction of furniture and even damaging walls if left unattended for long periods.
We’ve all gasped at those YouTube videos where someone comes home to a room that looks like a bombsite.
A chew toy helps to redirect your puppy’s chewing away from something else such as your curtains, or a favorite pair of shoes.
You can also use treats when you find that they are chewing on something you have designated — this will help them understand that when they chew their chew toys, it means a reward from their owner.
Chew Toys — Less Is More
One point about chew toys. We give our puppies only one or two at a time. It’s tempting to give them lots — partly because you love them and want to do nice things for them and partly because it’s easy to think that more toys will do a better job of diverting them.
But there’s a hidden problem with that. If they have too many toys they are allowed to chew, it seems to them that they can chew anything and everything. It becomes almost impossible for them to understand what they can’t chew, and why.
If, on the other hand, you always redirect them to just one or two special toys, they can see a clear difference between those things and everything else.
There’s another issue, too. Make sure you don’t give them toys they can tear apart and then swallow small pieces.
And this is particularly the case with Cane Corsos because, as we have seen elsewhere, they have one of the strongest bite forces of any dog. With an adult Cane Corso having a bite force of 700 PSI, it’s easy to see that even Cane Corso puppies can make short work of most toys.
This picture shows the nylon chew bones that have been very successful with our puppies.
You can see they have had more than their share of abuse, but they’re pretty much indestructible. They get a bit scuffed up, but they don’t break up into pieces which would be dangerous to swallow.
In fact, we only had one of these for long time. But when we looked for a second one, our local pet store was out of stock for quite a while. So when they appeared back in stock we grabbed two more. And they both seem to have got into circulation.
Socialization Helps Prevent Biting
When your Cane Corso is a puppy, it's good to have them spend time around other humans and dogs. The more social experiences they accumulate, the more they become comfortable in a wider range of situations.
If they are not used to social contact, they can feel threatened if someone comes near them, or scared of being attacked by another animal. This can often result in biting down hard with their newly-sharp teeth.
This behavior is avoided if the dog has been socialized correctly and knows how to react in different situations. He must become used to seeing a human or another pet without defensive reactions.
Bite Training
Cane Corsos are brilliant dogs and respond very well to training. If you’re able to put in about 10 minutes per day for training sessions, you should be able to achieve positive results pretty quickly.
Training at its most basic and essential revolves around taking the dominant role, and communicating both your displeasure and your pleasure.
The Cane Corso has a natural wish to please his owner, and clear communication is really all it takes.
The best way to convey your displeasure to your Cane Corso puppy is to correct him in much the same way his mother did. Grab him firmly by the scruff of the neck and give a pull or a shake.
Of course, your goal is not to hurt the dog, it is just to get his attention and get across that you are the boss.
Grabbing his cheek is another way to achieve the same end, and may be more appropriate if you are working on stopping him biting.
These things work as a corrective action, because they mimic the behavior of the mother dog, and the puppy instinctively recognizes the behavior and naturally gets the message.
Positive reinforcement is at the other end of the scale, and is used when your puppy exhibits good behavior. This simply means giving your puppy attention, affection and maybe treats — or all three! — when he is behaving correctly.
By rewarding good behavior, and conveying your displeasure at bad behavior, the puppy is guided toward the correct way to behave, and can learn very quickly.
Be Firm When Bite Training
While you must make sure that you are not too aggressive with your Cane Corso, you must also clearly convey the difference between right and wrong when chewing.
For example, say your dog does something wrong, such as chewing on a wall. Then, you should definitely make sure that they feel the firmness in your corrective action and your tone.
Does The Cane Corso Have The Strongest Bite Force?
The Cane Corso has a bite force of 700 pounds PSI. This puts it in the top 3 of all dogs. It’s generally recognized that only the Kangal and the Bandog typically have a stronger bite.
This is why it’s vital to take the time to train the Cane Corso well when they are very young, while they are still easy to control.
If they have good habits instilled as a puppy, your life is much easier when they become a giant adult dog.
Do Cane Corsos Bite Their Owners?
The Cane Corso is very affectionate towards their owners and is known for being very loving, especially when it comes to younger puppies who are still looking for attention from anybody willing to give it.
They love cuddles and treats, and respond well to the care provided by an owner who loves them. This makes them very comfortable around their owners, and they are naturally loyal.
Aside from play biting and exploring with their mouth as a puppy, a Cane Corso is highly unlikely to bite its owner unless it has suffered abuse.
And puppy behavior is easily corrected and trained out of them.
As with all dogs, expectations of good behavior go right out of the window if the dog is treated badly.
When Do Cane Corso Puppies Stop Biting?
Some factors that may contribute to a puppy biting excessively include genetics, environment, and training. If you notice your puppy biting more than usual, it is important to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any health concerns.
Some factors that may influence when a puppy stops biting include how often the biting occurs, how severe the biting is, and whether or not the puppy is being disciplined for biting.
As a yardstick, biting behavior in Cane Corso puppies will typically start to diminish at around 6 months old, which is about when their adult teeth are coming in.
This is an average — different dogs, with different temperament, genetics and environment will of course vary. This also assumes that the puppy is corrected when he bites and trained to stop by way of positive reinforcement.
If the dog is neglected and no attempt is made to train and socialize him, the expectations would be different.
Are Cane Corsos Aggressive?
Cane Corsos are not naturally aggressive and typically prefer to be around their owners than other dogs. However, they will need to be trained and socialized at an early age so that they understand how to behave in various situations, when they grow up.
Are Cane Corsos Dangerous?
Cane Corsos are not dangerous by nature. Of course, if they do attack or become out of control, their size and strength would make them potentially very dangerous indeed.
But they are only likely to become menacing if they feel threatened or if they are trying to protect their owner or other family members. Even then, it is more in their nature to control and subdue, rather than attack.
Do Cane Corsos Have An Underbite?
An underbite is a term used to describe when a dog's lower teeth extend beyond their upper teeth.
Any dog may have an underbite, and that includes Cane Corsos. But this will depend on genetics. This is one reason why it’s important to make sure that you are buying your Cane Corso from a trustworthy breeder who can give you good and accurate information about the health and disposition of its parents.
Summary
Biting is not always an act of aggression. In fact, many puppies will bite out of curiosity or excitement.
There are many reasons why a Cane Corso may bite someone. Some of the reasons can include: frustration, boredom, being territorial, or being aggressive.
Puppies will bite when they are trying to figure out what is happening around them. As they grow older, they learn to control their bite behavior. But it is important to take steps to stop the behavior.
It is essential that you teach your Cane Corso about stranger danger early on in life and then socialize them over time since this will prevent future accidents.
Some of the ways to prevent your Cane Corso from biting include: providing plenty of stimulation and exercise, training regularly, and providing positive reinforcement.
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