THE BREED FILES : 02 // Cane Corso

This is part two of a series of blog posts aimed at providing information on a variety of dog breed to help you decide which breed of dog is right for you.

Cane Corso’s are a powerful, athletic breed best reserved for more experienced dog owners. Although they’re known for their intense, intimidating looks, they are a highly intelligent and affectionate breed with an interesting history. They are close descendants of the Canis Pugnax, which has been dated as far back as Ancient Rome where they were utilised as war dogs, marching into battle alongside Roman legions. Perhaps this incredible history contributes to their stoic and calm demeanour!

Why You Should Choose a Cane Corso

As stated earlier, Cane Corso’s are best in the hands of an experienced owner. They are inherently territorial and protective, meaning it’s easy to raise an over-aggressive Corso if they’re not trained properly from a young age. However, if you’re capable of providing adequate training, they are a truly incredible breed. Throughout their long history they’ve been utilised as war dogs, large-game hunters, guardians and farm dogs making them top tier workers – if you can keep them entertained with plenty of stimulating work & training, you will have a wonderful relationship with this breed.

These dogs can be quite bossy and imposing, making it imperative there is a strong and consistent leader within the household that the Corso respects. If this is the case, they’re a wonderful family pet that loves affection. As a biproduct they make great guard dogs – their intimidating looks mixed with their devotion to their family puts them near the top of the list of protection breeds.

In terms of shedding, Corso’s are on the lighter side, especially in comparison to other large breeds. Although they shed their undercoat year-round, they’re considered low to moderate shedders with a short, double layered coat. They will need brushing once a week, and preferably daily during their shedding season in the leadup to the colder months. Overall, they are very easy to groom as long as you stay on top of it.

The Cons

There are no downsides to any breed, just certain factors that should be taken into consideration when choosing your companion.

Like many larger working dogs, they require lots of daily exercise, both physical and mental. They need a minimum of 1-hour of physical activity per day (although they’ll never turn down more) with plenty of mental stimulation too. They are such an intelligent breed that if you don’t fulfil their intellectual needs, a Corso may display undesirable behaviours such as being irritable or destructive.

Drooling and Corso’s have an interesting relationship as it varies heavily from dog to dog. In comparison to other Mastiff breeds, Cane Corso’s have much tighter skin and tend to not drool nearly as much, but there are many Corso’s who are prolific droolers. It is dependent on the size of their jowls – the longer/floppier their jowl is, the less effective it’ll be at retaining that treacherous saliva.

Due to their affectionate/devoted nature and their need for constant companionship, they do have issues with separation anxiety. If your Corso will be left alone for many hours each day, it is possible your dog will express its discontent in destructive behaviours – they’ve been known to rip up entire sofas when left alone too long! With their impressive physique the sky’s the limit in terms of how much damage they could cause to the household, so perhaps a less socially dependent breed would work best if you’ll be away from home for long stretches.

Cane Corso FAQ

• What is the average lifespan of a Cane Corso?
  The average lifespan is 9-12 years, considerably shorter than that of smaller breeds.
  
• Are Cane Corso’s aggressive?
  Their ancient history as war dogs means they’ve been bred to be loyal protectors, but with a responsible owner they are incredibly loving.
  
• How big are Cane Corso’s?
  Full grown females average between 58-66cm tall, weighing between 40-45kg, with the males growing to between 62-70cm and weighing between 45-50kg.
  
• Can Cane Corso’s live with other dogs?
  Yes and no. Corso’s are a very dominant breed, so if there are other dominant breeds in the household, there will likely be high aggression. When they live with less dominant breeds, they are are very relaxed and will often get on well with them.
  
• Are Cane Corso’s good for first-time owners?
  Due to their stubbornness, they aren’t recommended for first-time owners. They’re highly intelligent and can be easily trained, but only if the correct respect training is carried out early on. If a Corso doesn’t respect its owner, they tend to make up their own rules and feel as though they’re the boss of the household.
  
  

Thank you for reading edition TWO of The Breed Files. Stay tuned for more information on your favourite breeds!