Meet the Powerful But Gentle Cane Corso Dog (2023)

History of the Cane Corso

The cane corso originated in Italy and can be traced back to ancient times. The molossus, a now extinct mastiff-type dog, is an ancestor of the cane corso and similar mastiff-type dogs. Throughout its early history, the cane corso acted as a guard dog, war dog, and skilled hunter of various game (including very large game). Its name is derived from the Italian word for dog,cane, and the Latin termcohors, which means "protector" or "guardian."

A significant decline of the cane corso breed was brought on by World Wars I and II, but small numbers of the dogs still existed. During the 1970s, cane corso enthusiasts sparked a revival of the breed. The first cane corso dogs arrived in the U.S. in 1988. The breed was admitted to the AKC miscellaneous class in 2007 and received full recognition into the AKC working group in 2010.

Cane Corso Care

Exercise and training are most important to a cane corso, and happily, grooming requirements are basic. A cane corso needs a sturdy, high fence when allowed outdoors. The breed has a high prey drive and is prone to chasing and killing small animals such as cats and other dogs. They are territorial and will patrol the fence line, protecting the property from passersby.

Exercise

A true working breed, the cane corso is active and driven. Dailyexercisewill help keep the cane corso physically and mentally fit. Brisk walking or jogging for at least a mile is a good start, so plan on spending a minimum of 30 minutes a day exercising together. If you are up for it, even longer walks or jogs a few times per week are good for both you and your pet. You can also provide exercise by throwing a ball or Frisbee for fetch; many dogs will happily spend quite a bit of time in pursuit of their ball.

It's important to not run on concrete for long distances until your dog is full grown, which can take up to two years for a giant dog like the cane corso. Joint damage can occur if exercise is too intense while the pup is growing. Training leash manners, basic commands and working out on grass will be best while your pup grows.

If you don't have a job for a cane corso to do, it might find its own and end up digging holes and chewing your belongings. The old expression, "A tired dog is a good dog" is quite true for the cane corso. If you have a farm, the dog can herd livestock. If you own a business, have your dog greet customers. But if you are a more typical homeowner, spend time each day with a dog sport, learning tricks, or practicing obedience skills.

Grooming

The cane corso has a short, coarse double coat.The length of the undercoat depends on where the dog lives; dogs in colder climates will have thicker and longer undercoats than dogs in mild climates. Like other breeds with double coats, the cane corso will shed a fair amount throughout the year, but will shed more heavily in the spring. Still, the grooming needsof these dogs are basic—just a weekly brushing throughout the year, with additional grooming sessions during the shedding season, along with a bath when needed is all that's generally required. This is not a breed that needs fancy haircuts or trims.

Like other large dogs, the cane corso's nails might wear down naturally, especially if the dog walks frequently on pavement or other rough surfaces. However, occasionalnail trimsmay be necessary. Check the length of your dog's nails on a regular basis so it can remain comfortable and mobile.

The ears of the cane corso are oftencroppedinto an equilateral triangle, but this is not a requirement according to the breed standard. The tail is typicallydockedat the fourth caudal, or tail, vertebra.

Training

Propertrainingandsocializationare essential for all dogs, but especially for large breeds like the cane corso. Start your training when the dog is a young puppy. You should socialize it frequently with other dogs, cats if they live in your home, children, strangers, and extended family members. Always keep an eye on the dog when meeting new animals or people, and be sure to have your dog on a leash so you can control it if necessary.

With a natural aversion to strangers and a tendency to be territorial, you must be diligent and consistent while training a cane corso. This is also crucial because of the dog's giant size so careful attention should be placed upon prevention of jumping, leaning, and leash-pulling. Your dog could easily knock someone over if it jumped up on them or yanked on its leash during a walk. The cane corso is intelligent and hard-working, so it should not be difficult for this breed to learn. It has a natural desire to please its owner and responds very well to positive reinforcement such as praise, attention, and affection.

The use of harsh training tactics is not recommended as this will harm the bond with your dog and may cause fear based aggression which would be very dangerous in a dog of this size and power. Positive training methods like clicker training will be much more successful at making this somewhat sensitive power house a well behaved giant.

Common Health Problems

Responsible breeders strive to maintain the highest breed standards as established by kennel clubs like the AKC. They screen their breeding dogs for common health conditions and you should know what screening is recommended and ask for proof of this screening before purchasing any purebred dog. However, some hereditary health problems can occur in the breed. Be aware of the following conditions:

• Hip Dysplasia: This is an inherited condition that can lead to lameness and arthritis. It's especially common in large or giant breeds of dog.
• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus: Bloating after eating and drinking too fast is possible. If the stomach twists, it can cut off the blood supply and create a medical emergency. This painful and potentially fatal condition is also most common in large breeds of dog like the cane corso.
• Ectropion: A common condition in which the eyelids roll inwards, causing the lashes to rub against the dog's eyeball. This is painful and can damage the eye. Any dog can have the condition, but it is more common in giant breeds.

Diet and Nutrition

While a Cane Corso is growing it is critical that it receives the appropriate amount and type of food. Overfeeding or inappropriate diets can cause significant and painful growth problems in the development of giant breed dog bones. For example, some puppy diets are actually too high in calcium for giant breed dogs. Large and giant breed dogs are extremely sensitive to too much or too little calcium while their bones are growing. There are also specific ratios of certain minerals such as calcium and phosphorus that are required for optimal bone growth. Using puppy food designated for a large or giant breed puppy will help avoid these issues.

The amount of food that your adult cane corso will need daily will depend on the type of food that you are feeding. Generally, it is recommended to use a high quality large or giant breed adult dog food. Due to the reported link between grain-free foods and heart issues, it's recommended by most veterinarians to feed a diet that is not grain-free. Your veterinarian is a great source for recommendations on appropriate type and amount of food to feed your adult or growing cane corso.

It's best to divide the dog's food into at least two meals a day to help reduce the risk of bloating and stomach torsion. Be sure to assess whether your dog is getting overweight. If you note weight gain, ask your veterinarian whether you need to change the feeding schedule, amount, type of food, and exercise routine. And while treats are an enjoyable way to reward your dog, be sure that treats only make up a very small percentage of your dog's daily calorie intake.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Cane Corso

If you think the cane corso could be right for you, try to locate cane corso breeders and owners in your area so you can spend some time with the breed first. Also, consider searching for a cane corso rescue group to adopt. Make sure you understand what is necessary to properly care for this breed before you bring one into your life. Begin your search through the Cane Corso Association of America. Expect to pay on average of $1,500 for a puppy, but the cost can skyrocket to thousands more for a pedigreed cane corso pup.

Check with your local animal shelter and rescue groups to see if there's a cane corso available for adoption. Large- and giant-breed rescue groups such as Big Dogs Huge Paws Inc. or Cane Corso Rescue may have cane corsos available to adopt.

Cane Corso Overview

More Dog Breeds and Further Research

If you’re interested in similar breeds, look to these to compare the pros and cons:

• Mastiff breed
• Bullmastiff breed
• Dogue de Bordeaux

There’s a whole world of potential dog breeds out there—with a little research, you can find the right one to bring home.