Want to learn how to transform your Cane Corso’s behavior? Click here to find out how.
The Cane Corso has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years. While this breed can make a great family companion it is important to choose the right dog and start obedience training right away.
Because of their popularity there are many breeders of this breed who contribute to health and temperament problems due to a lack of breeding skill. Seek out reputable breeders when choosing your Cane Corso.
Origin
The history of the Cane Corso breed is shrouded in mystery. The Cane Corso is likely to have descended from the same root stock as the Neapolitan Mastiff, the infamous Roman war dog “Canes Pugnax”.
This breed was used originally on farms for stock control and as watch dogs and they were sometimes used as hunters for larger game animals.
The breed nearly went extinct but was saved through the efforts of enthusiasts for the breed in the 1980s.
Appearance and Abilities
The Cane Corso is medium to large molossus dog. Compared to other mastiffs, it is leaner and more finely muscled. They are considered athletic with a balanced combination of speed, agility, and strength.
They have big, strong bones. The male Cane Corso is about 27.5 inches in height at withers and 26 inches for females. They have an alert and attentive expression and oftentimes their face wrinkles to a frown when they are observing.
The Cane Corso has a short and shiny coat that is stiff, dense, and adherent. They have a light undercoat that thickens when in cold weather. Acceptable coat colors are black, lighter and darker shades of gray, lighter and darker shades of fawn, and red. Brindling is allowed on all of these colors.
Temperament and Tendencies
The Cane Corso is a naturally docile breed with an even temperament. They are alert but steady and calm and they will not spring into action unless real threat is present. Their guarding instincts are high and they may seem indifferent at first but they will warm to you as time goes by. The Cane Corso are wired to be suspicious especially to strangers but they will usually remain quiet until provoked.
They are very intelligent and easily trained and they are loyal and devoted to their master and will protect their family at all costs. They are noble and majestic in their actions; their presence is imposing. When they are with his family, they are warm and affectionate even with little children. The Cane Corso is a dependable and faithful companion.
The Cane Corso has an impressively high tolerance to pain. They are bred to guard; but they are not considered a fighting breed but they will not back down to any challenge. They are very courageous and they believes that it’s their purpose to protect their masters and their master’s property.
Training and Care
With strong guarding instincts, the Cane Corso requires early and extensive socialization. Socialization will not make it less of a watchdog but it will make the dog less aggressive and more tentative to spring into hostile action. A poorly socialized Cane Corso will become too aggressive and may lose its composure even to the most trivial things. Lack of socialization will make the Cane Corso believe that almost everything is a threat.
Natural authority must be imposed to the Cane Corso. Always assume the pack leader status. The dog will be happy to serve his leader. If the Cane Corso knows his place in the pecking order it will be easier to train and manage. Well-trained Cane Corsos are wonderful to be around. Owners will feel secure and blessed to have a Cane Corso at their side.
Want to learn how to transform your Cane Corso’s behavior? Click here to find out how.
My dog layla is 5 months and we just got her she is not potty trained and she is very protected of us i need to know how do i get her to start peeing outside instead of inside? I need help really !!!
Renee, have you checked out our free content on house training?
My cane corso is female she is 7month its so wise and i want her to be aggresive how can i do it
Hello i have a cane corso 7-8month she is female she is very afraid of everything she is so weak how can i make her aggresive to bite other dogs ppl etc….
Hi, I’m taking on a cane corso from a family member. The dog has bitten two people. I have an established group of dogs. What can I do to improve the dogs behaviour and make him less likely to bite strangers?
My cane corso is 2 1/2 years old. He is very kind but pees everytime he meets someone new. Sometimes even when he sees me for the first time in a day. My main problem is he will not listen to sit when we are in situations with other dogs. He lunges and I can not hardly contain him, he is 100 lbs of muscle. What can i do to train behavior of obedience while around other dogs?
Hi , just got a cane corso puppy she is two months , love the dog but all she does is want to bite , she doesn’t bite hard but at the same time I have theee kids I want want them to get scared ! When I walk she always comes by my foot to trap on and bite how can I change her ways ?
I have a 1 year old cane corso im having trouble with him pulling when walking..and being to friendly ..i dont want him mean ..but i do want him to be on point..when need be
Hello,
I am contacting you about my 5 year old Cane Corso, Bane. Bane is a wonderful dog who is so loving and a great family member in our young family. He is an amazing big brother to my 2 year old son and loves my husband and I. We made sure to get him training and socialization at a young age and beyond because I knew this breed could be a complicated one. I grew up with Mastiffs and had a bull mastiff before him. We got Bane when he was 12 weeks old, he was neutered when he was 6 months old. Bane has never been aggressive towards people and shows much patience with our toddler (we do make sure our toddler respects his space). He has no food aggression and wont even blink an eye if any of us go for his food while he is eating it. Bane has always had a hard time with leash aggression but is normally friendly when off leash with dogs he knows. Before we had our son we would take him to the dog park and he would do great. After I got pregnant we tried several times to take him to the off leash park and he became very protective to a point where we stopped going. While I was 8 months pregnant we were attacked by a large pit bull, I was all alone with the dogs owner no where in sight. Since then we have been approached by countless dogs off leash on our walks and have been attacked recently by a dog aggressive Healer that got loose. Bane always walks away fine from the attacks but I cant say the same for the other dogs (considering his size). Today we were approached by a neighbors dog who got loose and it always starts the same…they sniff, then Bane lunges and the fight begins. Bane does fine at a doggy day care with many other dogs as long as we are not around. When on a walk Bane walks right by my side with a loose leash. He obeys my command when approaching another leashed dogs to “leave it” and we usually step away from the dog or have him sit as they pass. If they get close he does lunge. We live in a Tiny House (300 sq ft) so walks are very important and they happen regularly. We can no longer let him off leash in fear of another dog approaching him. I am at a loss here. We love him and everyone always comments on how good of a dog he is. Someone mentioned a muzzle but he already looks intimidating enough and I fear what that would do to him mentally. PLEASE HELP!
I have a 6 month old cane corso. She barks and whines everytime i put her to bed (kennel) shes been going there since she was 8 weeks old. Ive tried ignoring, treating, toys, spraying her with a squirt bottle, my clothes, an ood alarm clock, and even a bark collar. Ive tried even kenneling during the day a little at a time. Nothing works she screams for hours on end neighbors are complaining and im at wits end. I love her but i dont know what to do to sooth her. I thought she may grow out of it. Ive even kenneled her with other dogs so she didnt feel alone. Please help!!