The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a rare hybrid dog also known as the American Pit Corso.
You have probably never heard of a Cane Corso Pitbull Mix, but once you have seen this gentle giant, you will not be able to forget him!
These dogs are known for their strong, muscled look as they take after their large parents. Don’t let their large size fool you, underneath this tough exterior is a big-hearted, loyal and gentle pet.
Keep on reading to discover the origins of this rare dog. We also share their temperament, must-know facts and care needs.
| Breed Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Weight | 70 to 115lbs |
| Height | 22 to 28 inches |
| Coat | Short, dense coat |
| Color | Brown, gray, fawn or brindle |
| Shedding | Moderate to low, but not hypoallergenic |
| Temperament | Loyal, defensive and energetic |
| Family Friendly | Not suitable for homes with children or other pets |
| Purpose | Alert, agile guard dog |
| Training | Needs early socialization and positive reinforcement to reduce their aggression |
| Lifespan | 10 to 15 years |
| Price | $1,000 to $1,500 |
Table of Contents
Cane Corso Pitbull Mix Breed Guide
The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a loyal, strong and energetic dog who loves to cuddle as much as he loves exercise. He is a demanding dog who needs an experienced and knowledgeable owner, but in the right house he will be a devoted guard dog and protect his owners.
Their strength, courage and powerful nature makes them ideal family guard dogs.
While their active and energetic nature makes them good working dogs, it also means they need plenty of exercise every day. Aside from daily walks, Pit Corsos also love to run, swim and play games like tug-of-war to use their impressive muscles.
With a parent breed like the Pitbull, there is a stereotype that this mix is aggressive.
Although this mix is fiercely protective of their family and home, when properly trained and socialized they tend to only show aggression towards strangers.
Many of these aggressive stereotypes come from their strong, powerful appearance. The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a large breed and is just as strong and muscled as their American Pit Bull Terrier parent. They have well-defined muscles, especially males who are stocky with a deep, broad chest and strong, thick legs.
Despite their hard exterior Pit Corsos are big softies underneath. Their floppy ears and droopy jowls give you a glimpse of their soft, loving and gentle nature. They can sometimes forget their size and try to climb into your lap for a snuggle.
They are often said to be goofy and clumsy and will do anything to entertain and please you. This can be anything from throwing their toys around, spinning in circles or jumping off the furniture!
Breed History
The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a very new hybrid dog that was first bred in 2016.
As a hybrid breed this dog is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. Even their parent the American Pit Bull Terrier is not recognized. Only one parent is an official American Kennel Club breed.
American Pit Bull Terriers are recognized by the United Kennel Club. These dogs are descendants of Victorian Bulldogs from 19th century Britain.
The ancestral Pitbull was bought to America and further crossed to make a reliable, tough and capable dog for herding wild cattle and guarding livestock. Their strong, athletic, and bold nature made them perfect for this job.
Cane Corsos are the second parent to this mix. They are relatively new to the US having first been introduced in 1988 and were only recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2010.
This breed originates from south Italy and was bred as a strong, sturdy and fearless guard and hunting dog. It is thought that the earliest ancestors of the Cane Corso were used by the Romans as war dogs!
In the mid 20th century a group of Italians wanted to preserve the breed and introduced them to other countries in an attempt to save the breed. This is how they first ended up in the US and they have only grown in popularity since then. Cane Corsos now rank as the 21st most popular dog breed in the US.
Cane Corso Pitbull Mix Size
The Pit Corso takes after their Cane Corso parent as a large dog breed. They weigh 70 to 115 pounds fully grown, and measure 22 to 28 inches from the ground to the shoulder.
Females and males tend to be the same size, but you may find males are sometimes on the upper end of the weight range as they have slightly more muscle mass than females.
A Cane Corso Pitbull might not be as big as other large guard dogs, but they certainly shouldn’t be underestimated. Their huge muscles and stocky build mean they have extraordinary strength which should be considered by anyone considering this dog as a pet.
At 8 weeks old when you get your puppy they will already weigh as much as 30 pounds!
If you want a rough guide for just how big your mix will be when fully grown then simply double their size when they are six months old. For example if your dog is approximately 50 pounds at six months, they will be around 100 pounds fully grown.
Cane Corso Pitbull Mix Appearance
This breed is a hybrid so there are no set standards for their appearance, coat or color.
The United Kennel Club states that the American Pit Bull Terrier can be any color other than merle. The Cane Corso follows stricter rules and must be solid black, fawn, gray or brindle in order to be officially accepted.
Most Cane Corso Pitbull Mixes are either solid black, fawn or brindle.
However, some pups might take after their Pitbull parent and be some other color like blue, white, or brown. A common feature that many Pitbull Cane Corsos inherit is a wide, white stripe starting at their chest and ending just beyond the inside of their front legs. They can also have white feet on one or multiple legs.
Temperament
Cane Corso Pitbull Mixes will naturally be extremely protective of their family and will take on the unofficial role of guard dogs, even when not being trained as one. They are generally quiet and will only bark when alerting to danger such as a stranger on their property.
Their intelligence and eagerness to please makes them easy to train and quick to assess any threats in their home.
When they aren’t busy being a guard dog, they will curl up on the sofa and might even snore a little when they sleep thanks to their droopy jowls.
The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a loyal, loving and exuberant dog who is full of life and eager to please. In the home he is loving, affectionate and will want to climb into your lap for a cuddle, sometimes forgetting his large size
They thrive in the company of humans, which is a trait they get from the American Pit Bull Terrier. They always prefer to be with you whether it be for a cuddle, playtime, or simply sitting with you. They are a continual companion who will always be by your side.
Some mixes can be gentle giants when they have proper socialization and consistent training from puppyhood. However, with both parent breeds being strong, guard dogs, it is no wonder why some Cane Corso Pitbull Mixes are aggressive and dangerous.
This mix does have aggressive tendencies and both parent breeds have been known to attack other animals. They have a natural impulse towards guarding, hunting and fighting.
Consistent and early socialization can help to reduce some of their aggression, but they will always be wary of strangers. This wariness is one of their personality traits and makes them great guard dogs.
The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix will also have a strong prey drive because of their Pitbull parent.
Even when properly trained from a young age they will chase anything smaller than them. They won’t hesitate to chase squirrels, rabbits, cats or even other dogs. Because of this they are best suited to a home without other pets. It is also essential that they are leash-trained and have impeccable recall.
Cane Corso Pitbull Mix Care
This mix is a demanding dog to own and the decision to adopt one should not be taken lightly. They need an experienced and knowledgeable owner who is active and can keep up with their high exercise requirements.
In the right hands they are extremely loyal and hard working. These dogs are willing to work alongside humans and are eager to please.
They best suit an experienced owner who is looking for a working dog for something such as sledding, protection from wild animals or guarding a home.
Given their strong hunting instincts and potential to be aggressive they are not suitable for households with children or other pets. Their strength also makes them less than ideal for first time owners who may not be able to handle up to 115 pounds of muscle.
Someone who does not have previous experience with large, guarding breeds will easily be overpowered by the strength of these dogs.
Training
Even though the Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is an intelligent dog, they will need an experienced owner who knows exactly how to train large, powerful dogs. They are not for novice owners who may struggle to train out guarding and aggressive traits.
These dogs need consistent training using positive reinforcement to ensure their potentially aggressive nature does not become established. Socializing them with other dogs and people needs to begin from a very young age to reduce the risk of stranger aggression.
Diet
Pit Corsos are very active dogs who can burn a lot of energy, even when they are just walking! They will need a kibble designed for a large working breed which will provide them with the energy they need.
They are often greedy and gobble up their food quickly. A puzzle-style feed bowl is a good choice and will make them work for their food. They will need up to four cups of kibble a day, but their entire meal doesn’t have to be given to them as dinner. You can use some as treats when out on a walk and for training.
Exercise
Ideally this dog needs between 1 and 2 hours of exercise a day. This exercise can be in varied forms such as walking, swimming and running. They should be trained to walk politely on a leash as their strong prey drive means they will want to chase almost anything that moves.
Health Issues
The average lifespan of a Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is 10 to 15 years. They are prone to the same health issues as their Cane Corso parent as they are both large, working dogs.
These health issues can include bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) which can affect an otherwise perfectly healthy dog without warning or cause. They are also at risk of hip or elbow dysplasia.
Their Pitbull parent might pass on their sensitive skin to this dog, this is especially true for blue nose pitbulls who have food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually triggered by grass or a certain food or shampoo.
Grooming
A Pitbull mix with cane corso will have a short, dense coat which is like both of their parents.
They are low maintenance and will only need brushing once a week with a soft bristled brush. They may need brushing more frequently during the shedding seasons in autumn and spring to help them shed their coat more quickly, but this is not essential.
Cane Corso Pitbull Mix Puppies
If you have your heart set on finding a Cane Corso Pitbull Mix puppy the best way to find a reputable breeder is through reliable Cane Corso or American Pit Bull Terrier breeders directly.
There are not many breeders that specialize in breeding these pups.
As a rare and unusual hybrid few breeders focus on specifically breeding Pit Corsos.
The best starting point to find a Cane Corso Pitbull Mix for sale is through American Pit Bull Terrier and Cane Corso breeders. They will be able to point you in the right direction to find a reliable breeder.
It is important to find a reliable breeder when looking for any dog, but especially with this hybrid. You want to be able to meet both parents and make sure that neither are particularly aggressive or hostile to you.
A trustworthy breeder will also put their dogs through health testing which will reduce the risk of hip or elbow dysplasia.
The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix will cost between $1,000 to $1,500. You can expect to pay the same for them as you would pay for a Cane Corso. As a rare cross breed you might expect them to be more expensive, but there is little demand for these pups.
If you are on a budget but want a dog as impressive, loving, and loyal as the Cane Corso Pitbull Mix then a rescue is the perfect option.
This hybrid often ends up in rescues and shelters as they are misunderstood and take an experienced owner. Many people get a puppy and soon realize as they begin to grow that they require too much work and are too strong for them to handle.
Adopting from a shelter can be a great alternative to buying a puppy. You can start by checking out some of the rescues below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Cane Corso and Pitbull A Good Mix?
Both the Cane Corso and American Pit Bull Terrier have aggressive tendencies and there is a risk with crossing them that this mix could have an ‘amplified’ aggression. Consistent training and early socialization is essential to avoid these aggressive traits. Even with an experienced and knowledgeable owner the Cane Corso Pitbull Mix might always have these traits no matter the training.
What Is A Cane Corso and Pitbull Mix Called?
There are several names that these dogs go by, but the most common is the Cane Corso Pitbull Mix. Cane Corsos are also sometimes referred to as Italian Mastiffs, so you might find this cross referred to as an Italian Mastiff Pitbull.
Is Cane Corso A Type of Pitbull?
The term ‘Pitbull’ describes a dog descended from bulldogs and terriers. The Cane Corso is not a type of Pitbull and is a type of Mastiff. They are sometimes called Italian Mastiffs.
Key Takeaways
- The Cane Corso Pitbull Mix is a cross between the American Pit Bull Terrier and a Cane Corso. They are also known as a Pit Corso or Italian Mastiff Pitbull.
- Only their Cane Corso parent is an American Kennel Club recognized breed. The American Pit Bull Terrier and this hybrid are not recognized.
- They are a large breed that can weigh up to 115 pounds fully grown. They have well defined muscles that make them strong as well as heavy. Their threatening appearance gives them an air of strength and makes them great guard dogs.
- They are only suitable for an experienced owner who is used to large, guarding breeds who have the potential to be aggressive. With the right training they make loyal guard dogs.
- Even with training their aggressive and guarding tendencies might always be a part of them. An owner should be prepared to live with a potentially aggressive, and highly protective dog.
- These dogs can live for between 10 and 15 years and are at risk of bloat, hip and elbow dysplasia, and sensitive skin.
Other Cane Corso Pitbull Mixes You May Like
Golden Retriever Pitbull Mix
Tri-Color Pitbull
Exotic Bully Dog
Do you have what it takes to own an American Pit Corso?
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