If you’re thinking about purchasing or better yet adopting a “mountain” of a dog, then there’s a really good chance that a Cane Corso might be right for you.
That said however…
It’s fair to say that these dogs are not always a good fit for everyone which is why, in this article, we’re going to try to provide you with some of the pros and cons of owning a Cane Corso so that you’ll have a better idea of one of these magnificent animals might be right for you.
Origin of the Cane Corso
One thing that you’ll want to understand right away is that the Cane Corso has a very rich blood line which is believed to date all the way back to ancient Roman times when their ancestors, the Canis Pugnax, were specifically bred to fight in battles alongside Roman soldiers.
Over the years…
The breed, was adapted to be more that just a dog of war and began to better represent the true meaning to the word “Corso” which the ‘Corso’ actually means “protector” or “attendant”.
Bred throughout rural Italy…
The Cane Corso breed began to be used for hunting, guarding property and (in some places) have been used in bear fighting!
The Cane Corso was also found to be quite useful in helping manage livestock as well due to its ability to cover ground quickly while simultaneously cutting a pretty imposing figure on whatever it gallops towards.
The breed became…
Sparse after the turn of the 19th Century, when technology started to have an impact on the farming community and there was less need for having and owning working dogs.
It wasn’t’ until…
The breed was officially recognized by the Italian Kennel Club in 1994 that it began to make a comeback but even then, it wasn’t “officially recognized” by the American Kennel Club until as recently as 2010.
For more information about the Cane Corso breed, we would highly recommend that you check out the Cane Corso Association of America which exists as a non-profit dedicated to the Cane Corso and is a great source for “anything Corso”!
Cane Corso features
As we stated before, the Cane Corso is a “mountain of a dog” with an iconic Mastiff shape to their skulls, a shortened muzzle, a loose bottom lip and the broad chest associated with others of their kind.
The Mastiff skull is…
Particularly prominent when they are puppies – but be prepared for any puppy to grow into a full sized “monster” within a few months.
Very similar in appearance…
To the Neapolitan Mastiff, the Cane Corso Breed of dog will typically grow to between 50 cm and 70 cm in height (one in half to two in and half feet); meaning that they’re going to get to be pretty big and pretty big fast!
The Federation Cynologique Internationale (or FIC) has put the females of this breed at 23-26 inches in height, and the males 24-28 inches. The Federation Cynologique also suggests a healthy weight for this dog to be between the 40 and 45 kg mark, making raising one of these dogs no easy feat.
Your Cane Corso…
Will have a perky tail when it has not been docked, and a short, glossy-but-not-soft coat that comes in a variety of colors (blue, fawn, brindle, red, Grey or black.)
The coat itself is pretty easy to maintain which is a good thing considering how large they are, but remember, Cane Corso’s do have a tendency to grunt, snore and drool so you always have that to deal with!
Cane Corso temperament
At its core, the Cane Corso is basically a super hardy, muscular and energetic dog who was built to protect people, to fight bears or to herd and catch cattle. Which means that his/her temperament will likely be that of an independent and potentially stubborn animal.
Although he/she will…
Likely enjoy being trained and will be receptive to it, as it has been bred into his nature, anyone new to this breed should be aware, that they’re not always the easiest dog in the world to train.
Now combine this…
Independence streak with 90-110 lbs. of weight and you have the makings of a real problem. Particularly if you have children in your home or other furry little family members already!
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet don’t often recommend these breeds to those who:
- Have small children in the household.
- Have other pets particularly a dog of the same sex as the Cane Corso you’re thinking about adopting.
- Live in an apartment of frequently have guest or “strangers” visit their home.
- And those who are not prepared to provide their Cane Corso with a proper training program.
You see…
Cane Corsos have simply been breed to guard their “territory”. It’s not their fault, they’re just born with a natural watchful air about them.
And while the will become a very loyal companion, a true Cane Corso will always seem to be a bit of a “loner” in that he is unlikely to listen to every command given (particularly by strangers) and he/she isn’t going not need your constant touches or reassurance. He or she will be watching everything – so he/she knows you are alright.
Early socialization…
Is key with the Italian Mastiff. That said, you should probably accept that this dog will never appreciate strangers and will only accept people that you specifically introduce to him.
But if you socialize…
Him early you minimize the risk of him attacking other dogs, but his nature forbids him being a dog you can trust to walk without a leash. If he senses danger the chances are he will charge into it head-on, leaving you frantically chasing along behind.
Exercise, Exercise and more Exercise.
The Cane Corso is a monstrous breed that needs a lot of exercise; an hour a day might not be enough, so keep that in mind before making your big purchase. Like any intelligent species that will become hyper-destructive when bored… and they have huge mouths…
So, if you’re interested in saving yourself a small fortune, you’re definitely going to want to take him/her on plenty of long walks/runs and be sure you don’t skimp on those obedience classes.
Health concerns with the Cane Corso
As a relatively new breed and former working dog, the Cane doesn’t have all the symptoms of over breeding just yet. Which is a good thing because this generally reduces their risks of suffering from any serious genetic disorders.
That said, however, Cane Corso’s can still suffer from:
- Hip Dysplasia, a common one in older large breeds,
- Entropion – the folding inwards and potential scarring of the eyelids,
- and Bloat, another reasonably common problem with larger dogs during which the stomach twists. Veterinary surgery can pin a twisted stomach back into place and is recommended if the dog does suffer from Bloat, as a turned stomach is likely to turn again.
When Sourcing your new Cane Corso Puppy…
… is the most exciting part – but please purchase responsibly. Puppy farming is a global problem and big business, with dogs being kept in poor conditions, malnourished and, in some cases, being bred to death.
For this reason…
We here at IndulgeYourPet recommend that you avoid any pet shops or breeders who:
- Offer a wide variety of Breeds under one roof,
- Or who present unsanitary conditions
- Or who cannot produce paperwork for your dog are highly likely to be a part of this illegal and horrendous trade.
Also, one great way to avoid any potential issue of adopting a “sick” Cane Corso puppy is to just adopt an adult Cane Corso from a Cane Corso Rescue Center.
Additionally…
The American Kennel Club and the Italian Kennel Club will both have lists of responsible, reputable breeders that ought to be able to provide you with a healthy, happy Italian Mastiff puppy that has all of the necessary paperwork and whose parents you could be introduced to if you so choose.
Lastly…
Because choosing to become a pet owner is a huge responsibility, we always like to recommend that anyone considering adopting a new pet take a few minutes and review our Best Pet Insurance Companies article so that they can get an idea about how much it would cost to insure their new pet.
We recommend folks…
Do this because you might be pleasantly surprised at just how affordable one of these “types” of policies can be, and because if your new to owning a dog, you might not be aware of just how expensive owning one can be, even a healthy one!
Well, honestly you have not a clear idea of corsos.
They are easy to train (almost like Rotts) and very, very protective with kids.
Guardians but not particularly aggressive if not provoked.
They live well inside the house like the most of mastiffs as they need a constant presence of the family around, but they need at least a walk during the day.
They will accept frequent people visits but they must be grown with this habit.
But yes, they can have many health troubles because of bad breeders…
I think the writer was on in many ways
I also wonder why my Corso wasn’t real affectionate and sometimes gives my young grandchildren a hard time. She loves laying next to us on sofa close but that’s all affection we get. She has hip problems as we had X-rays we were told not to excercise her a lot.she is very gassy
Which I’ve read about with this breed. We got her as a rescue so never got see puppy stage. Not sure I’d get another one of these but we love her!