Cane Corso Behaviour and Temperament
The Cane Corso temperament and personality provides a strong-willed and very powerful dog that is highly intelligent and as such requires strong leadership and complete confidence from their owners.
This is an ancient breed and is absolutely NOT recommended for novice or first time dog owners. The breed has seen a surge in popularity since the banning of the XL Bully, but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.
Well versed dog handlers, behaviourists and responsible breeders will tell you that the Cane Corso can make a fantastic companion and family dog. As with any breed, this comes down to the owners ability to sufficiently raise and socialise the Cane Corso in a calm, safe but firm manner.
Personality Traits:
- Loyal & Protective
- Energetic
- Strong Willed & Intelligent
The Cane Corso is incredibly loyal to its family, more so than most other mastiff breeds. They have an immovable commitment to the family pack. They love their people, and they will protect their homes.
Positive Attributes
Throughout its long history, the Cane Corso has been predominantly used as a guard dog, and is incredibly efficient in this role.
The Cane Corso is affectionate to its owners and immediate family.
Due to its strong bond with owners, the Cane Corso takes to training very well. That said, owners must be extremely confident in their commands and provide clear and consistent leadership from puppy through to adult.
This breed loves to work, and ideally need a good amount of space to roam. They are perfectly suited to people who may live on a farm or own a small holding, giving them the opportunity to work will allow them to thrive off of the mental stimulation and exercise.
In the home, they tend to be calm and relaxed, but achieving this requires regular daily exercise.
The Potential Negatives
Because of its loyalty to their family, the Cane Corso can suffer from separation anxiety. This means you need to find a balance in order to spend time with your Corso to ensure it doesn’t become anxious and destructive. To do this, training and leadership from a young age helps, but also practicing separation from the family in a positive way will help them to stay calm and balanced.
The Cane Corso can be very strong willed and has a high prey drive. If they are not well socialised around other animals, this could lead to the chasing of the neighbours cat and potentially livestock, resulting in seriously injuring or even killing them.
Opinions vary, but in my experience as a behaviourist, the Cane Corso is not the best suited breed to have around small children. If they are raised into a family that already has children, they tend to be fine but when bringing a new addition such as a first time child into the family, experience and competence is essential, and should be done with the assistance of a qualified behaviourist that is familiar with the breed.
Finally, if you are thinking of getting a Cane Corso, I would recommend choosing from a reputable breeder that is actually breeding genuine line dogs. The Cane Corso is a big commitment, and as such, a reputable and experienced breeder will be able to set you off on the right path.
Get in Touch
Azz Rainey has worked with a large number of dog behavioural issues over the years, including, separation anxiety, destructive behaviour, aggression, reactivity, high prey drive, extreme fear and resource guarding.
Working in Oxfordshire, Gloucester, Swindon and Evesham as well as the surrounding areas to provide one to one sessions with dog owners in their own home.
If you need help managing your Cane Corsos Behaviour, don’t hesitate to get in touch below.
Or reach out to me on WhatsApp
