Cane Corso Dog Breed Profile, Characteristics And Care

• Origin: Italy
• Breed Group: Working
• Height: 23.5-27.5 inches
• Weight: 88-110+ pounds
• Lifespan: 9-12 years
• Colors: Black, gray, fawn, black brindle, gray brindle, red, chestnut brindle
• Coat: Short, smooth and dense
• Grooming: Low maintenance
• It is suitable for experienced owners who are dedicated to training and socialization.
• It is a loyal, protective, serious, confident, and intelligent dog.

These dogs are more than 110 pounds, have a height of around 28 inches, and can frighten anyone with their presence. These Italian dogs are the descendants of ancient Roman war dogs and are close relatives of Neapolitan Mastiffs. Their fearless warrior history is reflected in their powerful body buildup and confident temperament. 

This dog breed is known for its loyalty, prominent body structure, and intelligence. Though these dogs are intimidating in appearance, they are mostly gentle with their family and children. 

Here, we have rated the characteristics of Cane Corso out of 5.

• Energy: 4/5
• Trainability: 4/5
• Health: 3.5/5
• Lifespan: 3.5/5
• Sociability: 3/5
• Affection Level: 4/5
• Friendliness: 3.5/5
• Exercise needs: 4/5
• Kid Friendly: 3/5
• Playfulness: 3/5

You can easily find this reputable breed as this breed is among the top 20 AKC breeds. However, its popularity has fostered the unethical breeding of this dog. So, if you want this dog’s puppy, you need to confirm that it is pure breed or not through necessary signals like:

• Health checkup of puppies and their parents
• Consult local experts and vets
• Inspections of its behavior and kennel

You can also adopt the Cane Corso from a rescue, as many owners find handling this breed more challenging than they realized initially. So, this breed is highly likely available in rescue centers.

However, it would help if you were prepared to handle this breed carefully and tackle the challenges it brings together.

These breeds are intelligent but need a mentally tough and consistent owner for training. Its sensitivity, intelligence, and attachment to its owners show its loyalty and companionship. 

Their socialization is significant in determining their comfort among new people and situations. They should be given different tasks and activities that help them become mentally and physically active and prevent boredom and other unusual behaviors.

These dogs are great companions and love being with family and children. They are attentive to their surroundings and tend to be quiet dogs.

Cane Corso dogs can be great family members with proper guidance and training at an early age.

• It is not a good pet choice for small children because of its immense size. But it is better for older children and adult people.
• Their sheer power can be dangerous if there are small children around it.
• Children and Cane Corso require training and constant monitoring if they are together.

Cane Corso's Friendliness with Other Pets

If you expect its friendliness with other pets, you need to train and introduce it at a young age. They can sometimes be aggressive but can be prevented by socializing them.

So, if you plan to adopt a Cane Corso with other pets, it is better to study their temperament and behavior with other pets. Training should be given to maintain relationships with other pets in the home if needed.

These breeds require a high-quality diet and should be given by their weight. Observing their feeding habits and diet is necessary to control obesity. A consultation with your vet could be more productive in managing your furry friend's diet.

Overfeeding and feeding unnecessary food can cause significant degradation in their health. They must be fed with specific food containing a particular ratio of calcium and other minerals for proper growth. It is suggested that puppy and dog food be used according to their age for better results.

• Food per Day: It is advised to provide 4-6 cups of food to adult Cane Corso by splitting it into at least two meals, reducing the risk of bloating.
• Food Should be adjusted according to the weight of the dog.
• Clean Water should be included.

This dog could be costly for any owner because this dog needs a heavy diet. So, it would help if you were careful while buying this dog regarding its food habits and expenditure on the food of this breed.

Exercise

Cane Corso requires enough exercise to remain energetic, happy, and in shape. They need at least an hour of active hours daily. So, the owner of Cane Corso needs to walk or hike a couple of miles every day or play with them in the courtyard daily.

The daily exercise plan includes a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise together. You can also take your pet for a long walk, which will benefit both of you.

If you do not have the time for a walk, you can exercise your pet by playing with them and throwing a ball for fetching. Intense exercise is not suggested for growing puppies as it can affect their joint.

Training

Training is the most challenging part after adopting Cane Corso. However, this is the key to making this dog well-behaved, well-mannered, and socially fit. Training at this breed's young age can help prevent all the issues as they become adult.

• Crate training is necessary, as it helps prevent separation anxiety and makes them feel safe and comfortable.
• It would be great if socialization training is given to this breed because it helps them be more relaxed among strangers and other pets.
• Leash training and impulse control are also necessary to manage the Cane Corso.
• Proper diet, exercise, and treats are necessary to make their focus in training.
• You must be careful while training Cane Corso to prevent jumping and leash pulling. These heavy dogs can knock anyone if they jump over them. So strict supervision is necessary while training these dogs.
• Do not train them harshly, as it can break your bond with them.

Cane Corso dog is easy to maintain and does not require fancy haircuts and trimming. Here are some of the grooming techniques for this breed:

• Weekly brushing is suggested, which helps to remove loose hair from their body and make them attractive.
• Bath: Once in a 6-8 weeks or when needed
• Nails trimming: Once in 2-3 weeks
• Tooth Brushing: Once in 2-3 days
• Weekly ear checks as well.

While generally healthy and active, Cane Corso breeds can be prone to specific health issues. Some of the common health problems observed in this breed are:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia: This is a hereditary problem that can lead to arthritis and lameness. Large-sized Cane Corso are frequently affected by this condition. Hip dysplasia usually affects the back legs, while elbow dysplasia affects the front legs. 
•  Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus- Bloating: This is another significant issue in this breed, and it can occur after eating or drinking too fast. This can create a medical emergency as the stomach twists and cuts off the blood supply. Large-chested Cane Corsa are the primary victims of this disease.
• Eyelid problems: Cane Corso can experience eyelid problems like entropion, ectropion, and cherry eye, which can be painful and cause permanent damage to the eye. 
• Dental-Skeletal-Retinal Anomaly: This hereditary disease affects the growth and development of teeth and skeleton. Signs of this disease include brittle teeth, tooth enamel problems, vision loss, and abnormal skeleton growth.

In addition, other health issues such as obesity, idiopathic epilepsy, seizures, arthritis, and demodectic mange are also seen in this breed and should be addressed promptly.

Height and Weight: Generally, males are taller and heavier than females.

• Male Height: 25-27.5 inches tall
• Female Height: 23.5-26 inches tall
• Male Weight: 99-110 pounds
• Female Weight: 88-99 pounds

Temperament / Nature: Females are more calm than males.

• Male: More dominating nature / Bossy nature/ Stable nature
• Female: Less dominating nature/ Change moods/ Less aggressive

Trainability: Females are faster and easier to train than males.

Here are some amazing facts about this loyal and protective dog:

• They are found in seven AKC-recognized colors with three brindle varieties, adding uniqueness to their beauty.
• Research has found that black bridle dogs tend to live longer.
• They naturally have floppy ears and long tails.
• This dog is sometimes under the banned breed list because of its size and aggressiveness.
• Cane Corsohas appeared in television shows and movies like Game of Thrones, Atlanta, Colombiana, and The Borgias.
• These dogs are used as therapy dogs to treat patients with autism and Down syndrome.
• Cane Corso is relatively expensive, requiring a high diet and regular vet care.