Raising a dog and a child in one family is a difficult task. Most likely, if the owner does not have experience in raising dogs, it will be problematic to do without consulting a specialist. However, if it is possible to choose the right breed, as well as the desire and time to practice the animal, there are great chances that the dog and baby will make friends. Further in the article we will talk more about the relationship between the Cane Corso breed and the child.
Description
Cane Corso is an Italian breed of dog. She was recently recognized in official circles, but still has a long history. Like other mastiffs, Cane Corso is considered a descendant of ancient Asian dogs, which in their characteristics are similar to Tibetan mastiffs. Not everyone knows that before the Second World War this breed was used for protection during cattle driving, protection of farm estates, and also as an assistant during hunting. This legendary dog was recently on the verge of extinction, but thanks to the efforts of breeders it was still possible to restore the number of Cane Corso.
The height of a modern male is 64-68 centimeters at the withers, and the cane-corso girls - 60-64 centimeters. The weight of a sexually mature animal ranges from 40 to 50 kilograms and also depends on gender. The breed is considered quite large, powerful, strong and very elegant. Its representatives have pronounced relief muscles, strong slender limbs and a strong skeleton.
A separate story for the Cane Corso with ears. By modern standards, they should be triangular, lowered forward, thick with a rounded end. Since 2016, stopping the ears of these dogs is prohibited.
Fans of these animals most of all appreciate their incredible functionality and endurance, as well as the complete absence of any excesses in forms and high performance.
Description of the nature of the breed Cane Corso
These dogs are smart, stately and moderately aggressive. They were created as a working breed, so all characteristics reflect the suitability for work. These dogs are focused on protection and protection, therefore they are hardy, strong and distinguished by a sharp mind. They have an innate defensive reflex, excellent intuition - animals perfectly distinguish between a game and a real threat. It is worth noting that without a team or a special reason, this breed will not show aggression. Thus, the dog can serve as an excellent bodyguard, able to make independent decisions.
It is worth noting that compared to other breeds of a similar purpose, the tendency to dominate the owner of the Cane Corso is less pronounced. Practice shows that the character of these dogs is very flexible. Therefore, with proper upbringing, they are easily manageable and obedient. As for the attitude of Cane Corso towards children, everything is ambiguous here. If you introduce a child to an already adult dog, then you can hardly count on a quick positive result.
Character and children
If you introduce a Cane Corso puppy to a child and bring them up together, you can be sure of their future strong friendship. Grown from an early age in the family, with competent upbringing and constant communication, the Cane Corso will be an affectionate and friendly pet that appreciates the attention given and can be patient with children. It is worth knowing that dogs of this breed are reasonable and reliable protectors. They will not rush to passers-by, and their voice is cast only in special cases that deserve the attention of the owner.
Dog breeders note that the Cane Corso breed has athletic forms and is a great lover of running and playing. Which is especially welcome if the family has children. These four-legged friends are characterized by activity, mobility and explosive temperament. The main advantage of the Cane Corso character is considered devotion to the family and a special affection for its owner, as well as excellent security watchdog qualities.
Little baby and puppy
Before you get a Cane Corso puppy, you must wait until the child is at least one and a half to two years old. The main recommendation when a child and a puppy are growing in the house is not to leave them two unattended. After all, neither one nor the other do not yet know their strengths and do not understand each other's reactions, and this is fraught with injuries. In addition, you should teach your child and Cane Corso not to touch each other's toys.
The puppy will grow up earlier than the baby and at a certain period of time will take patronage over him. Then, when the child grows up, most likely, the balance of power will change, and the dog will accept the child as an equal, at this time they will become real friends. Of course, a lot depends on the owner, so you need to take time to properly educate both of them.
Adult cane corso and little baby
This situation is quite common: a young couple already has a dog, and then a child appears. Very often people who do not understand the maintenance and upbringing of dogs tell various horror stories and advise them to get rid of the dog before the birth of the baby. But still, before taking drastic measures, it is necessary to try to resolve the situation peacefully.
First of all, the appearance of a newborn in the house requires compliance with hygiene rules. It is necessary to pre-treat the dog from fleas and carry out gelation. In addition, it is necessary to constantly comb out the wool and wipe it with a damp towel. Owners' opinions regarding the attitude of Cane Corso towards a newborn baby are divided. It all depends on the nature of the dog and on education. Some claim that the appearance of a new family member did not bring any problems with the dog.
There are many examples of touching care for a baby by a four-legged friend. Separate dogs protect the baby’s sleep and call the owners when the baby wakes up, or even comfort when he cries. Such behavior means that the dog perceives the child as the youngest member of the pack, understands that it needs to be protected, taken care of and the demand from such a baby is small. Approximately all dog breeds belong to their puppies.
It is worth noting that dogs often punish puppies, so when a child grows up a little, the owner will need to monitor how the dog reacts to the baby’s desire to pull his ears or drag him by the tail.
Unfortunately, there are other situations when the dog does not fit the baby at all and does not react to it at all. In this case, it is not necessary to impose on her communication with the child. Over time, the relationship between the dog and the baby should improve. If the owner will force the dog to contact with the baby, there is a risk of hostility.
Jealousy
Some dogs, by the way, not only Cane Corso, can be painfully jealous of the owner for children. Most often this happens with males or in those situations when, before the appearance of the baby in the family, the pet was treated like a child and constantly pampered. In this case, it is not recommended to leave the dog Cane Corso and the child unattended. This can lead to serious consequences.
Of course, in such a situation, the dog should be strictly punished for any manifestation of aggression towards the newborn. It is worth knowing that if you just punish, Cane Corso will become even more embittered. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage the dog for the right attitude towards the baby, the manifestation of which can also happen periodically. Experienced breeders recommend in such situations to turn to professionals for advice, because the behavior of animals can be corrected in adulthood.
Adult child and puppy
Most often, the appearance of an animal in a house is very pleasing to children. They will watch the dog, play and walk with it. But still, the owner should know some rules that must be observed:
- From the first days of the appearance of the dog in the house, it is necessary to explain to the children that the puppy has its own daily routine, it must be regularly taken for a walk, fed and cleaned after it.
- If the child will only play with the dog, then he may have an association with the toy. You should observe how the baby communicates with the puppy.
- The owner should not allow unfair punishment by the child in relation to the dog. Also, the puppy should not be aggressive towards the child.
- When getting acquainted with the cane-corso, the child needs to talk about the psychology of dogs and help him understand the behavior of the puppy.
Adult dog and adult child
A common situation is the arrival of guests with children in the house where Cane Corso lives. In the event that the dog does not tolerate children at all, and this may well be, it is necessary to close it in a separate room.
If she is patient and friendly, then the kids should be given a little instruction on the rules of conduct. In particular, attention should be paid to signals that indicate that the dog does not like something and that he may be aggressive.
Cane Corso, however, like other breeds of dogs, do not like sudden movements near the muzzle, loud screams, chaotic pats on the body, hugs. A well-bred dog can allow such behavior in relation to itself, but it will get tired pretty quickly.
In this case, the dog will just try to move away. If she is not allowed to do this, first she will use reconciliation gestures - she will begin to lick her nose and yawn widely, while turning her back and pausing for a while. If the children after that do not stop their harassment, the dog will growl.
If this does not help, the dog will growl louder and more menacingly, while showing his teeth and twitching his upper lip. You should know that the next step will be a bite. About such signals, you must tell the kids who have come to visit in advance.
Adult dog and adult child
Adult children in the family and Cane Corso (adult) can easily find a common language. In this case, the child must participate in the taming of the dog along with the owner. He must communicate with the dog, feed her. Since this breed is quite large, at first you should not send a child with her for a walk, because he will not be able to control the dog.
Cane Corso and the children: owner reviews
Reviews of the owners of this breed suggest that the described dog gets along well with children of any age. Of course, getting to know a child and a puppy will be much easier and will serve as a guarantee of future friendship. But the owners claim that Cane Corso can find a common language with the child at any age. The main thing is to be responsible for the upbringing of the dog.