The Cane Corso is one of those breeds that will leave you speechless with its power and beauty. No matter which Cane Corso color we’re talking about, all of them look majestic. But such powerful and strong dogs also need the right care while they are still puppies. Many people who get this breed don’t even know how to take care of Cane Corso puppies. We don’t need to tell you that this is a big mistake.
If you’re thinking about getting a Cane Corso puppy you should do a lot of research. It’s important that you prepare yourself well. For example, did you know that Cane Corso puppies between eight and twelve weeks old need four meals per day?
So, in this article, you’ll learn all that there is about raising a Cane Corso.
You can also learn more about all the beautiful colors of this breed:
- Cane Corso colors: All the beautiful shades
- All Black Cane Corso: Frighteningly Beautiful
- Cane Corso Blue: Do They Even Exist?
- White Cane Corso: The Italian Mastiff
Cane Corso puppies – The right care
Before we learn more about the care of Cane Corso puppies, let’s first talk about the breed in general.
Cane Corsos are obedient, playful, and fond of children. That is if you train them well. With consistent training and early socialization, the Cane Corso puppy can grow into a confident and loyal companion.
These dogs make great guard dogs because they do not tolerate strangers – whether humans or animals – in their territory. But they are not aggressive, just willing to defend their territory and their loved ones no matter what.
They are large and very muscular dogs. But, it’s their size and weight that make them stand out. A full-grown Cane Corso female weighs between 88 and 99 pounds. Males are of course bigger and weigh between 90 and 110 pounds! This breed is not only heavy but very tall too! Males are between 25 and 27.5 inches at the shoulders, whereas females are between 23.5 and 26 inches.
Now that we know a bit about this breed, let’s see what the best way to raise Cane Corso puppies is.
Seven tips for raising Cane Corso puppies
As we’ve already mentioned early socialization and training are important with all breeds. But, it’s especially crucial with such large breeds.
We have three very important tips to help you raise your Cape Corso puppy.
1. Set boundaries and crate train
Good behavior is learned. If you want your dog to listen to you and be obedient, you have to teach them that. For dogs to learn what they can and can’t do, you have to set boundaries. You have to let them know what is expected from them. Let’s be honest, there is nothing worse than a dog that is out of control.
If your dog doesn’t listen to you, then even simple tasks as walks will be a nightmare. So, make sure your dog understands who is in control. Knowing that dogs need routines might be helpful when setting up boundaries and rules. For example, teach your dog that he has to sit and be calm when you’re putting on a leash.
It’s important that your dog understands who the boss is from the beginning.
Another aspect of setting up boundaries and rules is crate training. Now, we know that some people are against it, but there is no reason for that. In fact, crates are like dens for puppies. Dogs in the wild have dens so they feel protected. And the same applies to puppies. They should view their crate as a safe space where they can have a minute for themselves. But, crated can also be a teaching tool for you.
But, it’s important to know how to discipline your dog! Puppies can frustrate us easily because they simply don’t want to listen. But, staying consistent and patient is key. They will do a lot of mistakes, but that’s the process they have to go through in order to become obedient and well-behaved dogs. So, don’t view mistakes as something negative, don’t scold them or yell at them. Stay calm and try to use positive reinforcement as much as you can.
2. Socialization and beating separation anxiety
We can’t say it enough, puppies need socialization, but fighting separation anxiety is just as important. When you have a small puppy it’s hard to hear them cry. The first reaction we have when our puppy is crying is to comfort them. We think they are sad because we’re leaving, so we turn around and pet them.
But, what if we told you that by doing that, your puppy is learning they can control you. And what did we say about control?
Puppies need to know who is in control (btw. it’s you!). Another reason why tending to our dogs the moment they start crying is bad is because you’re creating a needy dog and a pup with separation anxiety.
Socialization can help your pup be more confident, and less scared and anxious when they have to be home alone. How? Well, let’s see what socialization is. Your puppy didn’t get to know the world around him yet. Everything is new and scary.
By introducing them to different people, animals, dogs, places, experiences, and so on, they will become more and more confident in themselves. But, they will also learn to trust strangers and strange animals instead of being scared and attacking them.
If you want your puppy to be a confident dog stat is good around people, especially children, other animals like cats, dogs, then you will have to socialize them.
3. Feeding and playtime
Training, socialization, and obedience are important. But don’t forget to choose the right food for your dog. Cane Corso puppies need a healthy and balanced diet. It doesn’t matter if you decide to feed your dog dry or wet food, it’s just important that they get all the needed nutrients.
There are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Serve your dog’s food at room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold
- Change their water often and give it to them in a clean bowl
- Never feed your dog leftovers, human food usually contains too much fat and too much seasoning
- Remember that dogs don’t need a lot of variations in their meals. They can be fed the same diet, day after day, without becoming bored
You can learn more about human foods in our “Food category” or check out the following articles:
- What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?
- Can dogs eat honey? How safe is it really?
- Can dogs eat lettuce and should they even eat it?
- What fruits can dogs eat and which are toxic?
- Can dogs eat seaweed? Read before you feed
- Can dogs eat pancakes? The surprising truth
- Which Food Is Good Or Bad For Dogs?
Lastly, don’t forget to have fun with them too! Cane Corso puppies are active dogs, so they love to run and play. That’s also a way for them to get rid of all the excess energy. If you don’t do that, they will become destructive.