I have a 3 month old cane corso puppy who I've started taking for walks. When he is in our yard he seems unphased by cars. When I have him out for a walk he spazzes out when cars drive near us. I keep telling him its ok. He is already in puppy school for socialization. Any suggestions?

From a puppy I taught a command "Up", that would make tehm jump out of the street onto the grass, when a car approach on our side or two cars are coming through at the same time. We are walking facing traffic but still its needed when its gets crowed. Now they will do it by themself without a command. So being afraid of cars is not bad, it can be used to heighten his awareness.

Find a command that will make him move over, away from the oncoming traffic. Or you just lead him into the yard while you say the command or without it.

I don't know what you mean by phassing out, does he pull to get away from the traffic? Does he duck behind your legs? What is he doing when a car approaches? Do you walk facing traffic (the dog against the curb) away from oncoming car?

I would just ignore when he freaks out about cars. Unlike humans, when you tell a dog everything is fine, you are giving the dog signals that there was something to be afraid of to begin with.
I say this because our dog is/was afraid of buses, trucks ect. and would lunge at them
Now we keep walking or I issue a command, then again he is not 3 months old but 3 years

I am not sure how to "correct" a puppy that age

Sound like he just need more socailizing but you can use his caution for cars.

I've notice that even off leash (rare as it maybe) if a car approaches on their side they will jump out the street in to the yard until the car passes.

So make it work for you and bring him alone slowly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

thank you for your tips. In response to Don, when I say that he spazzes out, he does jump and go behind me. Depending on which way we are walking he is sometimes facing the traffic, with his body closest to the car. He is much better when I am on the outside near the car. I will keep walking him and hopefully he will get better. Thanks a lot. I was just afraid because he is pretty powerful and I don't want him pulling as a car gets near. Last night I also realized that he doesn't listen well when the cars are around. I was just making him sit when they would come and we would wait until they passed to resume walking. He eventually listened after about two "sits" and then I had to squeeze his hind end.

Chrissy

Theres a way of walking that will always put you on the outside (near the cars) when he is walking on your left. I use this protocol to steer them without a command because they are use to walking on my left. If shift so they are walking in front of me they will move over to get back on my left.

A lot of dogs get fearful seeing on coming traffic coming right at them, (quite frankling I do too, its a crazy world) I'll move into the yard if it looks like the car won't get over, I'm not trying to prove my hind is stronger then steel.
And its part of being defensively aware, this is sorta built into a dog. Try walking facing on comimg traffic, so you don't have to watch your back as much or the dog's. It just take walking on the other side of the street.

I think the sit command you are using is great watching the cars pass then start the walk back is good. When he sits do you tell him "good boy" and pet him. Then issue the command to "heel' or "lets go" with a little tug on the leash in a kind voice will get him started again. If you make it training, rewarding and fun for him, he'll want to continue the walk. Pinching him will work for now, but I'd try to get him more conditioned to verbal commands.

Confusion, fear and pain = Bite whoever and I'm sorry later. IMO.

Try walking facing traffic and continue the sit, work on the verbal and you might have this licked. Just my 2 cent, I'm not a professional dog trainer.

Don:

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep working on him and making an effort to make sure that I am on the outside of traffic. He is in puppy classes now and he is walking on my left side, so that's good. Thanks.