The Cane Corso excels as a guard dog as this breed is known for being fearless and wary of strangers. It has a strong protective instinct, is dominant and territorial, so it needs an experienced and clear leader who is in control. Otherwise, it will gladly take charge, which can quickly become demanding with such a large and strong dog. It is therefore recommended that you have experience with territorial dog breeds before getting a Cane Corso. If properly trained and given the necessary exercise it needs, your Cane Corso will be kind and harmonious with a stable temperament.

The Cane Corso needs a lot of exercise for its body and mental stimulation for its brain. In addition to regular walks, you should also set aside 1.5 - 2 hours of exercise daily. If it is given a job, it will do it with pleasure, such as carrying dog poop. You should also expect to spend a lot of time on training and obedience training.

The Cane Corso is a trainable and intelligent dog breed. It needs to be well-socialized from a puppy, as it can quickly become dominant towards both people and other dogs. As it has a strong guarding instinct, this can be difficult to train away, but with consistent training and positive reinforcement, you can make a Cane Corso a slightly more relaxed dog.

Weight and Size

A male Cane Corso weighs around 45 - 50 kg and has a shoulder height of around 64 - 68 cm.

Females are slightly lighter, weighing between 40 - 45 kg, with a shoulder height of approximately 60 - 64 cm.

Lifespan

9 - 12 years

Hereditary Diseases

It is common for some dog breeds to be more prone to hereditary diseases than others. For the Cane Corso, the biggest problems are elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia. Other known diseases in the breed include Wobbler syndrome (instability of the cervical vertebrae).

The Cane Corso has a short, dense coat and requires little grooming. It sheds little. The coat comes in many color variations such as gray, tan, black, fawn and brindle (tiger stripes).

When choosing dog food for a Cane Corso, one should select a type of food that is adapted to the dog's health and lifestyle. For these large dogs, there is also a greater risk of bloat, an acute condition where the stomach twists and expands.

The exact cause of bloat is not fully known, but one can try to prevent it by dividing the dog's meals, ensuring the dog has rest before and after feeding, and making sure the dog does not gobble up all the food at once.