Hi to all, wanted to ask some opinions on building confidence back in my cane corso pup. What happen is I bought a cane corso at 4 months old, I had him for about 2 weeks, When I got him he seemed very confident. I had put him out side in my fenced in back yard, it was on a Saturday about 5pm, I went to dinner with my mom when I came back he was gone. I went around to neighbors houses and the neigbor across the street had said she seen a pick-up backed up in my drive-way about 6 o clock at first she thought it was me leaving the house but seen it wasn't my truck. I looked through the neighbor hood until about 11 couldn't find him. I went to bed and about 4:30 am Sunday morning there was a knock on my front door. There was a man at the door, he said through the door that he lived in the subdivison and he had my dog and to jump in his truck and he would take me to him. The whole thing was strange, Well I jumped in my truck and followed him to his house and he lifted his garage door and there was my pup. He was very scared even to come to me, I got him home and he seemed scared but he came around in the next couple of days. I dont think he has ever been the same. Being winter I have hin out side alot but I took him in my truck with me almost everytime I left the house. He is super dependent on me and is leary of everyone that comes in the house, especially men. If possible I want to help him regain his confidence again. I dont know what happen to him that night. He is 8 months old now, he doesn't hide behind me when strangers appear but he goes to my side and does not want NOTHING to do with them. He will growl, He wont take food from anyone. Can anyone help me with this? I just want my boy back and for him to be healthy minded and stable around people.

Did you ask the man why he didn't fetch your dog back with him? getting in a truck with a man who claims to have your dog was very risky

Did you have any sort of conversation with the man as to whether or not your pup was exposed to any animals/children at his place, was he fed/watered?

Any of the above could have some bearing as to his nervousness and, I am inclined to think, fear???

I hope some experienced people come on and help you with your youngster, sounds like a very bizarre set of circumstances...

Glad he got back physically ok, if not mentally

Did you get him checked out by the vet?

Edited by tracey holden (03/13/2012 01:52 PM)
Edit reason: ps

When I went to his house to get him, after this guy opened the garage door I was trying to get my pup, he was scared and was leary of even me, in the mean time the guy had went back into his house, and it was like 4:45 am by then. I didnt know him what so ever, It was dark out I couldnt even tell what he looked like all I know is he was tall and from his accent he was russian. After I got my pup in the car I left. I have never went back to his house. I was happy to just get him back. I didnt know if I would get the truth from him anyway. I do remember it was raining and thundering that nite,and when I got the pup back he was wet and muddy.If there is a way to start over and slowly build his confidence, now that the weather is alot better I can get him outside more, I just dont want to go to fast, but be assertive with him.

I'm sorry I know that this is not the main thrust of your post but you got in a truck with a man you do not know that knocked on your door at 4am????????????

And this is after a neighbor gave you information which suggests the possibility that the dog was removed intentionally?

Please tell me I misunderstood something here.

No I didn't get in the truck with him, thats what he said but, I jumped in my truck and followed him. I know the whole thing is weird, why he waited until 4:30 in the morning to come to my house that alone I can't figure out. I was alittle worried about following him to his house but my focus was getting my pup back.Like I said I pulled up he opened his garage door and then he went into the house maybe so I wouldnt ask him any questions or maybe he wanted me to knock at his door and talk about it, I dont know, I just got my dog and left, went home went back to bed. When he came there I was awoke out of a dead sleep. Yes I do think he took him to begin with but I am not sure, if he did why would he bring him back? I guess all thats important now is to get the pup back to being ok.

Why would you leave a puppy in a back yard & go away?!! That's just looking for trouble. I don't even leave my adult dogs out in my fenced yard if I'm not home. Just way too many things can happen, as you now know.

You will never know what happened & can only hope that the dog will come around. But pups are VERY impressionable. Negetive expeniences can be hard to counter especially if they happen during a time that the pup is going thru a fear period to exacerbate the bad experience.

He has not improved at all in 4 months time since the incident? That's a long time to see no change, if he is going to at all.

I would not force any experience on him. I would just let him work thru things on his own time & way. Just expose him to things & people. Try to desensitize him from distances to things that he is reactive to. Only move closer when he shows that he is comfortable & ready to move forward. Only time will tell if he regains confidence.

Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear what went on for you and your dog. People around here steal Cane corsos but the man would of had to know you had him. Sounds like your pup was not treated right while he was with the man. I hope you get him back to where he was sooner then later.

I'm going to venture a guess that this guy snatch the dog & took him to 'test' him ...& maybe didn't find what he wanted to see & then wanted to get rid of him & played 'dumb' about 'finding' him.

The whole thing is very fishey. I'll bet if you asked the neighbor that saw the truck in your driveway, that it matches this guys truck.

Do you do any pack structure training with him? Since the event has he any real interaction with people that was structured meaning no talk, no touch and no eyecontact. Letting the dog move in at his own pace?

That's 100% what I thought went on. he could of also took him to sell to someone and the dog did not turn out to be what they wanted. Does your pup have croped ears and tail?