Cane Corso: Your Complete Guide
The cane corso is a large, powerful dog breed that makes a renowned guard dog. The muscular frame and the intimidating facial expressions of this breed alone are enough to make intruders think twice about what they’re about to do.
While protective and wary of strangers, cane corsos are full of love towards the people and animals they know. When spending time with the family, and with proper socialization, they become affectionate dogs that often aren’t aware of their massive size. These make the cane corso an ideal family pet for those seeking a guardian with a docile side.
However, there’s much more to discuss about the cane corso. As with any other guardian breed, they aren’t for everyone. Our article will guide you through this breed’s characteristics, covering physical features, temperament, intelligence, trainability, care needs, and more. Read on to find out if the cane corso is the right breed for you.
Quick Look at the Cane Corso
The below chart is a quick overview of the cane corso. We’ll cover each point in more detail in the coming parts of the article.
| Weight/Height | 90-120 pounds / 25-28 inches |
| Coat Type | Short, smooth coat with a light undercoat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Protective, loyal, affectionate, intelligent |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 9-12 years |
What Is the History of Cane Corsos?
The cane corso is an Italian breed descending from the Neapolitan mastiff. It is believed that these dogs date back to the 12th century. Once a highly popular dog utilized as companions, herders, and guardians, the cane corso nearly became extinct in the 1960s, when only a few specimens of this breed were found, mainly in Apulia, Italy.
The breed club, Società Amatori Cane Corso, was founded in 1983, and through the efforts of breed enthusiasts selectively breeding what was left of cane corsos in Italy, the breed’s population was restored.
Cane corsos were first imported to the United States in 1988. The massive size and strength of the cane corso made the breed popular among those interested in a solid guard dog. The American Kennel Club recognized the cane corso in 2010.
In our modern world, cane corsos enjoy their lives mostly as family companions, with some becoming highly-trained, elite protection dogs. Although rarer than other large dog breeds, a good number of cane corsos also work as mobility assistance dogs for individuals with a physical disability needing a large, powerful helper.
What Do Cane Corsos Look Like?
Cane corsos are large dogs with multiple coat color potentials. While black is the most common, the cane corso can have a gray, fawn, or red coat. Cane corsos may also have a brindle coat, which can be black, gray, or chestnut.
Since the cane corso is a Molossian-type breed, everything about these dogs is big, from the head to the paws. When not cropped, the ears are floppy and set close to the cheeks. Although ear cropping is more common among working cane corsos, it’s entirely an unnecessary procedure.
What Size Is a Cane Corso?
Cane corsos are large dogs that stand between 25 and 28 inches tall at the withers and weigh 90 to 120 pounds. Every future cane corso owner should consider the size of this breed. They are big dogs that require a lot of food and a spacious living area.
What Is a Cane Corso’s Coat Type and Length?
The cane corso has a thin undercoat with a short, smooth outer coat. Due to the thin undercoat, a cane corso may not be able to endure cold winters as well as other Italian dog breeds, such as the Saint Bernard or Maremma sheepdog.
Dog clothing won’t be necessary in most weather conditions, but when the temperature gets too cold, a cane corso may benefit from an appropriate dog coat.
What Is a Cane Corso’s Temperament?
Cane corsos have many of the traits you would expect from a guard dog. They are intelligent, protective, and fearless dogs with incredible loyalty to every member of their family.
When around their loved ones, cane corsos turn into affectionate dogs, becoming such gentle giants. They bond closely with their people and don’t hold back from showing their loving side.
Out and about with their owner, cane corsos are even-tempered and keep a neutral attitude toward others. However, they are smart dogs that understand social cues well. If a cane corso decides that there’s a threat, they will act accordingly. Due to this, the cane corso is a breed that is more for experienced owners who can take the lead and keep this dog under control.
Are Cane Corsos Good With Kids?
Cane corsos are generally good with kids in the family, but the size of this breed makes them more suitable for families with older children. If a cane corso gets excited during playtime and bumps into children, it can cause serious injuries. As with every breed, an adult’s supervision is essential when kids and dogs play together.
However, a cane corso may not be as accepting and loving towards unfamiliar children. They are naturally wary of strangers – and this may also include kids, depending on individual temperament. Early socialization is a must to ensure cane corsos don’t attempt to challenge children from other households.
Are Cane Corsos Good With Other Animals?
The cane corso is generally good with other dogs in the family. As long as they are introduced to your other dogs as puppies or young adults, they will get along just fine. A properly socialized cane corso will also warm up to new dogs quickly.
With other pets, such as cats and prey animals, a cane corso may not behave as well due to their high prey drive. Their instincts may make them chase after such small animals, and they are not recommended for homes with other small animals.
Are Cane Corsos Aggressive?
Cane corsos have some innate aggression, but they don’t become truly dangerous dogs without encouragement. Since this breed was utilized as guard dogs and herders throughout centuries, they are naturally wary of strangers. A cane corso may act aggressively towards anything they see as a threat to their people or territory.
While aggression is useful for people seeking a guard dog to look after their property, it can be troubling to deal with such behaviors on a daily basis. Socialization and training should be incorporated together when a cane corso is young to prevent behavioral issues that may arise from their high prey drive and guardian nature.
When properly socialized and trained, cane corsos typically check with their owner to better understand how to act. Socialization will also eliminate anxiety in unfamiliar situations, which can make a cane corso act overly protective due to fear. Training and socialization are crucial as the cane corso is a powerful breed that can be difficult to manage when out of control or poorly trained.
Do Cane Corsos Bark?
Cane corsos aren’t barkers. They are confident dogs that don’t resort to barking to intimidate or get attention, but when they do, you can be sure that everyone around them will hear it.
These dogs may not be excessively vocal, but saying cane corsos are quiet dogs would be wrong. Cane corsos often grunt and snort when something new catches their attention. They also snore loudly during sleep, especially after quality playtime or exercise.
Are Cane Corsos Affectionate?
Cane corsos are gentle giants around their family members. When satisfied with everything around them and feeling safe, cane corsos blossom like a flower and become loving dogs that can’t get enough of pets and snuggles. During these times, cane corsos act gently with a big smile, happy to accept all the love they can get.
However, this loving side of the cane corso only appears in the absence of strangers. It takes quite a while for these dogs to warm up to new people. A cane corso may get used to the presence of a stranger quickly only if the owner confirms that the person isn’t a threat.
Are Cane Corsos Intelligent?
The cane corso is a highly intelligent dog breed. These dogs can think for themselves and take the lead. When upholding duties like guarding, they won’t need their owner’s guidance to act according to the situation.
While the intelligence of the cane corso makes this dog breed an excellent guardian, it also makes it easy to socialize. Considering cane corsos can generally differentiate an actual threat from something that means them no harm, managing their inherent aggression doesn’t take much from the owner.
Are Cane Corsos Energetic?
Cane corsos are medium-to-high-energy dogs. They should be walked for at least 90 minutes throughout the day. Ensuring that your cane corso gets enough exercise will also make training and socialization easier as they won’t have excess energy that might turn into destructive or mischievous behaviors.
Cane corsos might be relatively high-energy dogs, but they don’t have the best stamina. They can get tired fast, but this shouldn’t be mistaken for a sign to call it a day. This breed benefits the most from short walks split into multiple parts of the day.
Are Cane Corsos Easy to Train?
The cane corso is intelligent, eager to please, and has an undying loyalty to their people. All these make the cane corso easy to train. With the right guidance from the trainer and using high-value rewards, it doesn’t take long for a cane corso to go from simple tricks to advanced commands.
While basic obedience training is essential, training should go beyond that with the cane corso. With the high prey drive and natural aggression of the cane corso, training for leash manners and controlling reactivity is a must to ensure you have a well-behaved dog that listens to you in different situations.
Are Cane Corsos Good Watchdogs?
Cane corsos are excellent watchdogs. They are always on the lookout for potential dangers to their pack and will alert their owner of something suspicious.
However, the cane corso is more than just a watchdog. They are naturally good guard dogs that will challenge anyone who enters their territory without permission. This goes both for animals and humans. The best part about this is that cane corsos only need minimal training to become excellent guard dogs to look after your property.
Are Cane Corsos Good Service Dogs?
The cane corso isn’t the breed of choice for service animal work in most cases due to their natural aggression and immense socialization needs. Service animals must stay on task in every situation to ensure they benefit their handler with a disability.
Since it takes a lot of dedication to bring them to the same level of socialness as dog breeds like the Labrador retriever, trainers often aren’t left with enough room to teach a cane corso commands to benefit their handler.
However, cane corsos can become ideal service dogs, depending on individual temperament and what the handler needs. As mentioned above, cane corsos make excellent mobility assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities requiring a powerful helper.
How to Care for a Cane Corso?
Cane corso owners must be involved with their dog’s life a little more early on due to their socialization and training needs. During puppyhood, these are the main and most important care needs of a cane corso, and training must be carried out and reinforced as this dog grows into an adult.
Once adults, cane corsos will become low-maintenance dogs that don’t demand anything more than the average dog. They will need regular exercise, time spent with their families, and routine veterinary visits, plus basic grooming.
Do You Need to Groom a Cane Corso?
Cane corsos have low grooming needs. They only need brushing once a week to remove dead fur from the coat. Besides this, cane corsos don’t require frequent bathing to manage shedding. Like every dog, nail trimming, daily dental care, paw care, and tick prevention should be part of the regular grooming routine of a cane corso.
One thing to note about the cane corso is these dogs tend to drool quite a bit. Although it isn’t as much as a Saint Bernard or a bloodhound, you may need to do some cleaning around the home dedicated to removing stains.
Do Cane Corsos Shed?
Cane corsos are low-shedding dogs. This, coupled with their short coats, makes managing shedding in and around the home easier for cane corso owners. As mentioned above, brushing once a week is enough to maintain their coat in top condition while preventing shedding from becoming a problem.
Since the coat sheds, cane corsos aren’t the best dogs for people with allergies. Small dog breeds that shed similarly can be more manageable, but the size of this breed makes it challenging for people suffering from pet allergies to coexist with a cane corso.
What Health Problems Do Cane Corsos Have?
The cane corso is generally a healthy dog breed. They mainly suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, demodectic mange, and eye problems. When adopting a cane corso, asking questions about the dog’s health and whether the breeder screens their dogs for health conditions is essential.
Additionally, cane corsos are at risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), as this is a condition that primarily affects large breeds. Because they are also deep-chested dogs, they are particularly susceptible to bloat. Cane corso owners must educate themselves about the early signs of bloat and other potentially threatening health conditions to ensure the well-being of their dogs.
How Long Do Cane Corsos Live?
The cane corso is a relatively long-lived dog breed with an average life expectancy of 9 to 12 years. By providing the best care possible to our pups as dog owners, you can help your cane corso not only live long, but also improve their quality of life.
What Should a Cane Corso Eat?
Cane corso owners will have various types of diets to feed their dogs. While high-quality dog food appropriate for their size, age, and weight is ideal in most cases, a cane corso may also benefit from a homemade or raw diet.
However, formulating a homemade or raw diet to ensure they get all the nutrients they need can be difficult without research. If you are thinking of feeding your dog such a diet, consult with a licensed vet to ensure your cane corso is nourished with everything they need to live a healthy life.
Is a Cane Corso the Right Dog for Me?
The cane corso is a large, powerful dog breed with an inherent desire to stand by their owner and protect their family. Like other guardian breeds, they have aggression that can turn into a problem in the wrong hands. Cane corsos are more suitable for experienced owners who can help their dog channel their instincts in the right direction.
The cane corso can be the right dog breed if you’re an experienced owner who’s up to providing the immense socialization and training needs of this breed from a young age. Following proper guidance when young, cane corsos become well-behaved dogs that get along well with children, other dogs, and strangers upon confirming with the owner that they aren’t a threat.
Additionally, the size of your home should be a consideration. The large frame of this breed doesn’t make them ideal for living in small apartments. Cane corsos need a large living area, preferably with a backyard, which will become their territory to protect proudly.