Things To Know If A Cane Corso Is The Right Fit For You!

The Cane Corso is a loyal, intelligent, and loving dog to its family. If you are interested in adopting a Cane Corso, please be prepared to work with a dog trainer weekly for at least the first 6 months you own your new companion. Understand your new companion's needs before you bring her home. While most Corso's are easy to train, dogs in rescue may require socialization and "retraining" in order to thrive. Be honest about what an ideal scenario would be for you and your family, and talk with the rescue to make sure you find a dog that is right for you

How to pronounce the breed name:
Cane Corso is pronounced "KAH-Nay KOR-So" (not "cain corso" or "king Corso"). Most folks use the shortened term "Corso" to refer to the breed. :)

DON’T GET A CANE CORSO if you are attracted to the breed solely for its appearance.
A dog's breed doesn’t make you look more powerful! If you want a dog because you think they look "tough" or "intimidating," this is not the right breed for you. Once Cane Corsos grow out of their "cute" puppy stage, they become ~110+ lb. dogs that require extensive socialization and training by an assertive, yet benevolent owner. They are not "happy-go-lucky" mastiffs; they won't "love" everyone they meet. They are uniquely loyal, protective, sensitive, and serious, and these traits require thoughtful consideration before adopting one.

DON’T GET A CANE CORSO if you don’t plan to educate (train) your dog.
Basic obedience and household rules are non-negotiable for this breed. At minimum, you must teach your Cane Corso to reliably respond to commands such as "come," "lie down," "stay," and to walk calmly on or off a leash. You’ll also need to establish consistent household rules. It’s critical that you, not the dog, make these choices and enforce them. Training requires commitment: attending an 8–10 week series of lessons with a professional trainer, alongside daily short homework sessions, is essential.

Young Cane Corso puppies are eager to please, intelligent, and calm, making them relatively easy to train. However, as they grow into large, strong dogs with assertive and determined personalities, they’ll need ongoing guidance and structure. A well-trained Corso becomes a loving and reliable companion, but if left without rules and guidance, they may make their own—and these won’t always align with your needs or desires.


Many of the CC's that are rescued from pounds and shelters show clearly that they have received little or no basic training, neither in obedience nor in household department; yet these same dogs respond well to such training by the rescuer or the adopter. It seems likely that a failure to train the dog is a significant cause of CC abandonment. If you don't intend to educate your dog, preferably during puppyhood, you would be better off with a breed that is both small and socially submissive, e.g., a Shetland Sheepdog. Such a dog does require training, but a little bit goes further than with a Cane Corso. CC's can, with adequate training, excel at such working competitions as field trials and hunt tests, obedience, agility, and tracking.

DON’T GET A CANE CORSO if you lack a confident leadership style.
Dogs naturally seek a leader in their social hierarchy. Cane Corsos, in particular, thrive under assertive, yet benevolent leadership—calm, assured, and consistent guidance that earns their respect. Without this, a Cane Corso may assume leadership themselves, potentially leading to undesirable behaviors such as territorial aggression or dominance over household members..

CC's as a breed tend to be of a socially dominant personality. You really cannot afford to let a Cane Corso become your boss. You do not have to have the personality or mannerisms of a Marine boot camp Sergeant, but you do have to have the calm, quiet self-assurance and self assertion of the successful parent ("Because I'm your mother, that's why.") or successful grade-school teacher. If you think you might have difficulty asserting yourself calmly and confidently to exercise leadership, then choose a breed known for its socially subordinate disposition, such as a Golden Retriever or a Shetland Sheepdog, and be sure to ask the breeder to select one of the more submissive pups in the litter for you. If the whole idea of "being the boss" frightens or repels you, don't get a dog at all. Cats don't expect leadership. A caged bird or hamster, or fish doesn't need leadership or household rules. Leadership and training are inextricably intertwined: leadership personality enables you to train your dog, and being trained by you reinforces your dog's perception of you as there LEADER.

DON'T GET A CANE CORSO if you want a totally unaggressive and unprotective dog. Most CC's have an assertive and confident personality. When confronted with a threat, a proper Cane Corso will be somewhat more ready to fight than to flee. Thus he may respond aggressively in situations where many other breeds back down. Most CC's have some inclination to act aggressively to repel intruders on their territory (i.e.,your home) and to counteract assaults upon their packmates (you and your family). Without training and leadership from you to guide him, the dog cannot judge correctly whom to repel and whom to tolerate. Without training and leadership, sooner or later he may injure an innocent person who will successfully sue you for more than you own. With good training and leadership from you, he can be profoundly valuable as a defender of your home and family. (See also remarks on stability and socialization below.)

If you feel no need of an assertive dog, if you are embarrassed by a barking dog at your door, or if you have the slightest doubts of your ability and willingness to supply the essential socialization, training and leadership, then please choose one of the many breeds noted for thoroughly unaggressive temperament, such as a Sheltie or a Golden Retriever.

DON’T GET A CANE CORSO if you are unwilling to share your life with your dog.
Cane Corsos were bred to be companions and partners in family life, thriving on close human interaction. They should live indoors with their families and accompany you as much as possible. A Cane Corso exiled to the backyard or kennel may become unsociable, unruly, or deeply unhappy. If you don’t enjoy a dog’s companionship or have the time to dedicate to one, consider a pet with less need for social interaction, like a cat or other solitary animal.