Cane Corso
A powerful Italian guardian with a calm, steady presence that is devoted to its family and watchful with strangers.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 64–68 cm · Females 60–64 cm
- Weight
- Males 45–50 kg · Females 40–45 kg
- Life expectancy
- 9–12 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Black, Grey, Fawn, Red, Brindle
- Bred for
- Guarding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Italy
- FCI
- Group 2, no. 343 · Pinschers, molossers & mountain dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 5/5 – Very high |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with cold | 2/5 – Low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- have experience with large, protective dogs
- can invest in training and socialisation
- want a calm, devoted guardian
Think twice if you …
- are a first-time dog owner
- share your home with small pets or other dominant dogs
- cannot manage a strong 45 kg dog on the lead
Care
Temperament
Confident, even-tempered and very attached to its family, with a natural guarding instinct. With strangers it tends to be reserved and alert rather than friendly.
Exercise
Around an hour or more of daily walking plus some structured activity, such as obedience, tracking or controlled fetch games, keeps it fit and settled.
Grooming
The short coat only needs a weekly brush and sheds moderately. Expect some drool, especially after drinking.
Training
Responds well to calm, consistent and reward-based training started early. Socialisation with people, places and other dogs is essential for such a strong guardian.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, eyelid problems such as entropion or ectropion, and bloat are seen in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow, eye and heart results on both parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
- Heart
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Cane Corso comes from southern Italy, where it guarded farms, drove cattle and helped hunt large game. As rural life changed it nearly disappeared, and enthusiasts rebuilt the breed from the 1970s onwards using the dogs still found on farms in Apulia and nearby regions.
Living with a Corso means sharing your home with a strong, athletic dog that wants to be close to its people. It is usually quiet and composed indoors, but it notices everything and is protective by nature. It needs an owner who can provide clear leadership, steady socialisation and enough daily activity for a working dog of its size.
Did you know?
The name is often linked to the Latin 'cohors', meaning guardian or protector of the farmyard.