Dog Breed Guide: Cane Corso

Reviewed by Dr. Fiona Lee

The Cane Corso is a breed that turns heads. Their sheer size makes the breed majestic and imposing, but the protective nature and strong work ethic that helped popularize the breed mean that the Cane Corso dog is best suited to experienced owners who are dedicated to providing the proper exercise, mental stimulation, training and socialization that this large breed requires.¹

Historical background of the Cane Corso

This working dog breed descends from mollosus dogs, named for a Greek tribe that bred Mastiff-like dogs. Italians appreciated their size, strength and temperament, and bred them to native Italian breeds (including the Neapolitan Mastiff) to create a giant working breed.¹

In the Roman Empire, the Cane Corso was prized for its fearlessness, and their sheer size and stature made them imposing wartime dogs.¹ In fact, the breed name translates to “bodyguard dog" in Latin.¹ After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Cane Corso worked on farms, serving as livestock drovers and guardians¹ as well as hunters of wild boar and other big game.²

The combination of industrialization and two world wars led to a significant decline in the number of Cane Corso dogs. By the 1970s, the population dwindled to a small number of dogs living in the Italian countryside, and the breed was on the verge of extinction.²

Breed enthusiasts began a breeding program in 1974 that led to the resurgence of interest in the Cane Corso.²

Physical characteristics

Cane Corso size is impressive. It's a giant breed that stands 23.5 to 27.5 inches tall¹ and weighs up to 120 pounds.² The breed is known for being muscular and powerful, with an alert expression, broad muzzle, and often, cropped ears.³

The breed has short, thick coats.³ Cane Corso colors include solid black, gray, fawn and red as well as brindle markings that can include black brindle, gray brindle and chestnut brindle.¹ Cane Corso that are solid red or fawn in color have a black or gray mask on their face.³

Despite having short coats, the Cane Corso are not a single-coated breed; the dogs have light undercoats that get thicker in cold weather.³ Their double coats will shed, making it necessary to brush them at least once per week (and more often during seasonal shedding periods).⁴

Other essential grooming for the Cane Corso includes nail trims and ear cleaning.⁴

Temperament and personality

There's no denying that the Cane Corso has a “wow" factor, but there's more to consider than the appearance of their wrinkled brow, rippling muscles and imposing stare. The Cane Corso temperament is best described as equal parts loyal and eager to please, and willful and assertive.¹ It's not a breed for novice dog owners.⁵

The Cane Corso requires extensive socialization and training to ensure the breed doesn't overdo it on protective instincts. The breed also retains strong working dog roots and will do best in a home that can offer a job.⁵

With the right training and sufficient positive reinforcement, the Cane Corso is an ideal breed for agility, tracking, obedience or other dog sports.⁵

Although the Cane Corso can be affectionate, the breed has strong protective instincts and might not be open to meeting new people or interacting with other dogs. It's not the best breed for families with young children. Training and socialization are considered musts for the breed due to their temperament and sheer size.¹

Exercise and activity needs

Like other working dog breeds, the Cane Corso has stamina to spare, which means that the large breed has big exercise needs. It's an excellent breed for outdoor adventures, as the dogs love to tag along on hikes, runs and bike rides; signing up for dock diving, tracking and other high-energy dog sports will also help accommodate their extreme energy levels.¹

These activities offer meaningful work and the mental stimulation that the Cane Corso needs to be a well-behaved dog. A Cane Corso without a job and mental stimulation will become bored, which leads to trouble.⁵

Training and obedience

Working dog breeds must be smart to get the job done, and the Cane Corso is no exception. These are intelligent, eager to please dogs. But the Cane Corso can also be stubborn and willful, which means training must start early and remain consistent.¹

Training is a must to ensure these large, strong dogs are well-mannered. The Cane Corso is the strong, sensitive type and responds best to positive reinforcement, so skip the harsh corrections and punitive training methods. It's best to stick with rewards, praise and treats to earn their trust and convince them to stick with a training regimen.¹

Early socialization is also essential.¹ The Cane Corso should be exposed to multiple people, pets and places as puppies to ensure that these protective, sensitive, serious dogs grow up to be well-adjusted adults.⁵

Health and care

Although the Cane Corso is considered a healthy breed, there are some health issues to consider. Even with the best care, the Cane Corso life span is short. The large breed dogs have an average life span of nine to 12 years.¹

Common health issues in the Cane Corso

These four health issues are common in the Cane Corso:

• Hip dysplasia: This painful condition occurs due to abnormal development of the hip ball and socket that causes the joint to rub, not glide. It's painful and can lead to degenerative joint disease, including osteoarthritis.⁶
• Idiopathic epilepsy: The cause of this seizure disorder is unknown. The average age of onset is 2 years old, but seizures can start when the Cane Corso is anywhere from 9 months to 5 years old. Seizures can last a few seconds to 20 minutes or more. Anti-seizure medication can be helpful.⁶
• Eyelid abnormalities: Eye issues are common in the breed. The Cane Corso can experience entropion, an inward curling of the eyelid that causes the lashes to scratch the cornea, and ectropion, a condition that causes the lower eyelid to roll out, exposing the sensitive tissues and leading to inflammation and infection. Cherry eye, a condition that causes inflammation in the gland of the third eyelid, is also common in the Cane Corso. It causes redness and swelling in the lower eye, making it look like a cherry. Surgery is required to correct cherry eye.⁶
• Bloat: Like other large breed, barrel-chested dogs, the Cane Corso is at risk of bloat.⁶ The life-threatening condition, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off circulation.⁷ Feeding several smaller meals, using slow feeders and mixing wet food with kibble can reduce the risk.⁷

Living with a Cane Corso

The Cane Corso will do best with an experienced pet parent who is committed to providing the intense exercise, mental stimulation, training and socialization that the breed requires.⁵

These are not dogs that can be sent into the backyard to entertain themselves. Responsible Cane Corso owners should expect to devote time to hiking, biking or participating in competitive dog sports, and to providing lots of basic obedience training, attention and affection.⁵

Remember, the Cane Corso also needs lots of mental stimulation, regular grooming and routine vet care to be happy and healthy.⁵

Choosing a Cane Corso

To purchase a Cane Corso from a breeder, look for breeders that are registered with the American Kennel Club or breed groups such as the Cane Corso Association of America.¹ Responsible breeders raise the dogs in their home and provide proper socialization and a safe, stimulating environment from birth.²

Adopting a Cane Corso from a rescue group is also an option. Look for breed-specific rescues that have a thorough application process that includes home visits and veterinarian references, and that offer post-adoption support to help the dog settle into a new home.⁵

When preparing your home for a new Cane Corso puppy, pay attention to puppy-proofing.² Block access to the trash can, cleaners/chemicals, medications, electrical cords and other potential hazards,⁸ and provide a secure fence for outdoor playtime.²

Pets Best is here to help

The Cane Corso is a beautiful, imposing dog breed known for its strong work ethic, stamina and eagerness to please. These protective, intelligent dogs need lots of exercise, mental stimulation, training and socialization to be healthy, happy and well-mannered, but the effort is worth it for dogs that provide love and loyalty in return.¹

Pets Best offers dog insurance plans that can help pet parents cover the cost of unexpected health issues that arise with their Cane Corso. Policyholders have access to veterinarians through the Pets Best 24/7 Pet Helpline, so they can get answers to questions and ensure their Cane Corso receives the best care.

Sources/Citations

1. “Cane Corso," American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cane-corso/, accessed November 1, 2023.
2. “Cane Corso," (8/2022), Great Pet Care, https://www.greatpetcare.com/dog-breeds/cane-corso/, accessed November 1, 2023.
3. “Official Standard of the Cane Corso,"(6/2010), American Kennel Club. https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/CaneCorso.pdf, accessed November 1, 2023.
4. “Grooming Your Cane Corso," Cane Corso Association of America, https://www.canecorso.org/grooming.html, accessed November 1, 2023.
5. “Is the Cane Corso Right for Me?" P. Green and A. Rodriguez, Cane Corso Association of America, https://www.canecorso.org/is-the-cane-corso-right-for-me.html, accessed November 1, 2023.
6. “Common Cane Corso Health Concerns," S. DeMoss and A. Wildmoser, Cane Corso Association of America, https://www.canecorso.org/health.html, accessed November 1, 2023.
7. “Bloat: Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus in Dogs," K. Williams and E. Ward, VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bloat-gastric-dilatation-and-volvulus-in-dogs, accessed November 1, 2023.
8. “Puppy Proofing 101: Complete Guide to a Safer Home," J. Brown (2/2022), Great Pet Care, https://www.greatpetcare.com/new-dog/how-to-puppy-proof-your-house/, accessed November 1, 2023.