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Breed profile

Cane Corso

Italian guardian mastiff: calm and devoted with its family, watchful with strangers. Needs an experienced, consistent owner and lots of early socialising.

Senior black brindle Cane Corso with natural ears and a greying muzzle standing on a sunlit lawn in front of a hedge
A greying Cane Corso keeping an eye on the garden.Photo: Hughryanjh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
40–50 kg88–110 lb
Height
58–70 cm23–28 in
Lifespan
9–11 yrs
Group
Working
Origin
Italy
Popularity
#11 USNot ranked in UK · 2025

Known for: WatchdogsWorking dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Loyal, Protective, Calm, Intelligent.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Entropion and ectropion
  • Idiopathic epilepsy
  • Demodectic mange

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour or more of structured exercise a day, plus regular training. Weekly brushing, more during seasonal sheds. Feed two meals a day and avoid hard exercise for two hours after eating to cut bloat risk.

A good fit for

Experienced owners with time to train and socialise, and a secure home with a well-fenced garden.

Probably not ideal for

First-time owners, flats, homes with a steady stream of unfamiliar visitors, and anyone who could not hold 45 kg (100 lb) of dog on a lead.

Sources

  1. Cane Corso | Wikipedia
  2. Health | Cane Corso Association of America

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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