Caring for your Cane Corso

Feeding:

When you buy your puppy, the breeder should provide you with a diet sheet that details exactly how your puppy has been fed. You will be at liberty to change that food, together with the frequency and timing of meals, as the youngster reaches adulthood, but this can be done gradually. Cane Corso are not especially difficult to feed, but care should be taken that pups are not allowed to put on weight too quickly. We choose to feed our dogs a raw food diet which consists of horse, beef,chicken, kangaroo, rabbit, fish, ofal and a good quality veternary recommended Large breed puppy/dog food. Cane Corso should be fed at least an hour before any strenuous exercise, many prefer a two hour gap. We also feed our pups raw dog bones, brisket, beef and large marrowbones. These bones also help to keep the teeth in good condition, but they must always be checked for splinters and carefully removed when they begin to get worn down.

Feeding Tips:

Dog food must be served at room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.

Fresh water changed often and served in a clean bowl.

Never feed your dog leftovers, from the dining table, as this food usually contains too much fat and too much seasoning.

Dogs must chew there food, soups and stews should be avoided.

Except for age related changes, dogs donot require daily variations. They can be fed the same diet, day after day, without becoming bored or ill. We do however, choose to mix it up for them!.

Grooming:

Although the Cane Corso is a short haired breed, some grooming is essential to keep the coat in a good, healthy, clean condition. Every owner will have there own preference we choose to use a pure bristle brush or rubber brushes we brush them regularly in short sessions on a daily basis. Regular and thorough grooming is essential during times of shedding is a must. Provided the coat is well cared for, Cane Corso only need baths occasionally.

Ear cleaning - the ears should be kept clean with a soft cotton ball or pad.

Nail clipping - Rule of thumb if you can hear your dogs clicking on the floor when he walks, the nails are too long.

Bathing - Bathing is important for healthy skin and a clean shiny coat. Once again if you accustom your pup to being bathed as a puppy, it will be second nature by the time he grows up

Exercise:

Cane Corso need plenty of exercise but just like most larger breeds, they should be engaged in strenuous play as youngsters. Cane Corso puppies should not be over exercised during the crucial period of bone growth. However, they should be allowed free running in a suitably safe area. In adulthood, plenty of exercise is essential to keep the dog's muscles in tone. A combination of exercise on both hard and soft surfaces will help to keep toenails trimmed and feet in tight condition.

Bear in mind that an overweight dog should never be suddenly over-exercised; instead he should be encouraged to increase exercise slowly. Also keep in mind not only is exercise essential to keep the dog's body fit, it is essential to his mental well-being. A bored dog will find something to do which generally manifests into some type of destructive behaviour. In this sense, exercise is essential for the owner's well-being!!

Training your Cane Corso:

Reap the Rewards - If you start with a normal, healthy dog and give him time, patience and some carefully executed lessons, you will reap the rewards of the training for life of the dog. The two of you will find immeasurable pleasure in the companionship you have built together with love, respect and understanding. Dog's respond to love, fairness and guidance, just as children do. Become a good dog owner and you become a better parent. An adult dog of this size, if not trained, would be very difficult to control. Early training of the Cane Corso is essential in developing a politely behaved, reliable adult.

Cane Corsos are easy to train they are very intelligent and willing to please. Training a corso is a joy, they are so quick to learn. They can become dominant, becuase the Corso will always want to be the most dominant dog in the group. When raised with older dogs, by the time he/she reaches maturity, the Corso will usually be the Alpha. This requires the the owner to be able to be firm with training and discipline, obedience classes may be advantageous. This breed is not for a quiet mild natured person. It is also not for the first time dog owner, unless you are the assertive type.

Crate Training: We find the crate a highly effective way to train our puppies and we can not recommend this enough. We feed them in their crates, sleeping in crates as well. This is their safe haven a place that they go to to eat and sleep basically and where they can have their own time out. All the crates are large so they happily will fit in them when they are fully grown. In addition, a crate can keep your dog safe during travel and perhaps most importantly, a crate provides your pup/dog with a place of his own in your home - in our house affectionately known as the "doggie bedrooms". The only time our pups ever spend more than an hour in the crates is at bed time. They have soft bedding, a favourite toy and usually a raw hide bone to keep them happy, these things are removed at night time.

Fear Aggression: Pups that are subjected to physical abuse during training commonly end up with behavioral problems as adults. One common result of abuse is fear aggression, in which a dog will lash out, bare his teeth, snarl and finally bite someone by whom he feels threatened. Fortunately, fear aggression is relatively easy to correct, but it would be much better to control your puppys early experiences and avoid stressed situations.

Socialising:

If socialised properly from a puppy, they are a people loving breed. Cane Corsos will bond close to his family and he is content to stay close to home with his pack. They are friendly with people and quite "wiggly". Our Corsos meet our guests with a smile and a wiggle. We get our Corsos to meet as many new people as they can. If this breed is not raised with lots of socialisation, they can be quite shy and aloof. With lots of socialisation and training they do get along with other dogs, this is especially true if they are exposed to parks and dog clubs on a regular basis. Most of the time Corsos get along great with the same or opposite sex and with dogs that are altered and do not act dominant.