Cane Corso breed guide: Care, training, and fun facts
Breed guide overview
About Cane Corsos
Temperament
Exercise
Grooming
Training
Diet
Health
About the Cane Corso breed
The Cane Corso is a powerful Italian breed known for its strong and muscular build. With a history dating back to ancient times, they were originally bred as working dogs, primarily for guarding and protecting property. Today, they are also cherished as loyal companions and family pets.
Weight, height and life expectancy
Male Cane Corsos typically stand between 64 and 68cm tall, while females range from 60 to 64cm.
In terms of weight, males can weigh between 45 and 50kg, while females generally weigh between 40 and 45kg.
The average life expectancy for this breed is around 9 to 12 years.
What is the temperament of a Cane Corso like?
The Cane Corso has a confident and assertive temperament. They are known for their loyalty, protectiveness, and devotion to their families. While they can be reserved and aloof with strangers, they are generally affectionate and gentle with their loved ones.
They have a strong will and require a confident handler. Early socialisation is crucial to ensure they are well-mannered and comfortable in various situations. Cane Corsos can enjoy the company of other dogs and other pets, if well-socialised and trained at a young age.
Our Cane Corso Community
“Briggs is our lovable pup, happy to receive lots of love, hugs and meet new people and friendly dogs. He is best described as a gentle soul with a very attentive temperament. He spends most of the day snoozing but when given the opportunity loves open spaces to explore and run around.”
Briggs’ owner, Tolu from Nottinghamshire
“As Zena is a Cane Corso she is a guard dog and she is very strong, but she does not pull on the lead. She loves to play fetch, tug of war and she loves walks. She likes to chase cats, birds and other dogs she can be a handful. Once you get to know Zena you will see how soft and loving she is.”
Zena’s owner, Jessica from Warwickshire
How much exercise does a Cane Corso need?
Cane Corsos are an active breed that requires a significant amount of exercise on a daily basis. They thrive when provided with both physical and mental stimulation. Generally, they need at least 1 to 2 hours of exercise each day, which can include activities such as brisk walks, jogging, playing fetch, or participating in canine sports like obedience or agility training.
Although there is no scientific basis to the 5 minutes of exercise per month of age “rule”, it can be a guide to make sure you don’t over-exercise your puppy, which is especially important in giant breeds. Cane Corso pups could get 5 minutes of exercise per month of age once or twice a day, but reduce that if it feels too much, or as advised by your vet.
As well as walks though fun, mental stimulating games can entertain and tire an active pup. They should gradually increase the amount of exercise they get up to between 18 and 24 months old, when they should be able to manage the exercise levels of an adult dog.
Need an extra hand exercising your Cane Corso? Find a local borrower today.
Do Cane Corso need a lot of grooming?
The most common coat colour of a Cane Corso is black, but other colours can include fawn, brindle, grey, silver and tan. Cane Corsos have a short and dense coat that requires minimal grooming. Weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush or a grooming mitt helps to remove loose hair and keep their coat in good condition. During shedding seasons, more frequent brushing may be necessary to manage the amount of hair.
Like any dog, regular tooth brushing with a dog-specific toothpaste twice daily is ideal. If you can’t manage that much, just do it as often as you can.
Are Cane Corsos easy to train?
These dogs are intelligent and eager to please their owners, which makes them trainable with proper guidance and consistency. Cane Corsos are trainable dogs, but they can be independent and strong-willed at times.
Training sessions should be consistent and structured, establishing clear rules and boundaries.Positive reinforcement techniques, such as rewards, treats, and praise, work effectively with Cane Corsos. They respond well to gentle guidance.
Early socialisation and obedience training are essential to ensure they grow into well-behaved and well-adjusted adults. As a pup, exposure with various people, animals, and environments is crucial to help them develop good social skills and become confident in different situations.
Want to experience spending time with a Cane Corso to decide if this breed is right for you? Borrow a Cane Corso near you.
What do Cane Corsos eat?
Feeding your Cane Corso a high-quality giant breed dog food that meets their nutritional needs is essential for their overall health and well-being. As adult dogs divide their daily food into two meals. Avoid overfeeding and monitor their weight to prevent obesity, as excess weight can lead to various health issues.
Cane Corso puppies should be fed a good quality puppy food three to four times a day, until they are 6 months old when it should go down to twice a day. When they are 18-24 months old, depending on the brand and advice from your food supplier and your vet, they should be moved on to an adult giant breed puppy food.
Are Cane Corsos healthy?
Cane Corsos are generally a healthy breed, but like any dog, they can be prone to certain health conditions. Some potential health concerns to be aware of include:
Bones and joints
Elbow Dysplasia - this condition is where there is an issue with how the bones fit together at the elbow joint
Hip Dysplasia - a condition where the thigh bone and pelvis do not sit together properly at the hip joint
Eyes
Cherry eye - this is when there is popping out of the third eyelid gland
Ectropion - with this condition the eyelid rolls out, which can expose the eye to dryness
Entropion - this is where the eyelids roll in, causing eyelashes to rub onto the surface of the eye
Gastrointestinal
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) - this occurs when the stomach twists and gas and contents get trapped inside. It is a very serious condition and a vet should be contacted immediately
Heart
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) - a disease of the heart muscle causing the heart ventricles to get larger
This list is by no means comprehensive, if you have any concerns about the health of your dog, or if you want to discuss further if a Cane Corso is right for you, consult with your vet.
Vet top tip
Begin obedience training and socialisation as early as possible. Cane Corsos are intelligent, powerful, and protective, making early training crucial to ensure they grow into well-mannered and confident adults. Expose them to various people, pets, and environments in a controlled and positive way. Use consistent, firm, but gentle training methods to establish trust and leadership.
BorrowMyDoggy loves Cane Corsos
BorrowMyDoggy has over 700 Cane Corso members
Information on this page should never replace advice given by your veterinarian. Potential health issues presented are given as a guide only and are not meant to be comprehensive. If you ever have any concerns about your dog's health, contact your local vet.
