The Cane Corso is a large breed mastiff-type dog with muscular body, protective nature, and a big heart. If you are thinking of getting a Corso, you might find our Cane Corso size chart useful.
The Cane Corso originates from Italy. In ancient Rome, these dogs fought alongside Roman soldiers and provided them with fresh game.
In later years they worked on farms guarding livestock, property, and people. The Cane Corso is still a working dog and needs lots of mental and physical stimulation.
Corsos look imposing, but they are intelligent and intensely loyal dogs. Corsos are 27 inches tall on average and weigh between 80 and 120 pounds. They have a short, darks coat and very muscled bodies.
These dogs are not for first-time owners because they need a firm hand and proper guidance throughout their lives.
When Do Cane Corsos Stop Growing?
A large breed like a Cane Corso takes a long time to reach full maturity.
Both male and female Cane Corsos will be almost two years old before they are fully grown. They will reach their maximum height and weight by the end of 19 months.
By that time, actual growth has slowed so much that it’s barely noticeable. In fact, most of these dogs will already be fully grown by the time they are 19 months old.
If you keep weighing your dog throughout its first year of life, you notice that it will have reached half its adult weight around six months.
Cane Corso Size Chart
If you have never owned a Cane Corso, you might be unfamiliar with this breed’s growth rate.
Our Cane Corso weight chart will help you to compare your dog’s weight and height with that of the average Cane Corso of a similar age.
It is a simple and effective way to ensure that your dog is within the accepted weight and height range for its age.
All you need to know to use the Cane Corso size chart effectively is your dog’s exact age. It’s then a simple case of looking at the chart and comparing your dog’s weight and height with the figures on the chart.
For instance, if your dog is a three-month-old female, it should weigh around 28 pounds (13 kg) and be around 18 inches (45 cm) tall.
Please note that your dog doesn’t have to be exactly this weight or height. All dogs are individuals, and figures do differ slightly from dog to dog.
Cane Corso Weight Chart
| Age | Male Weight lbs | Female Weight lbs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Months | 15 lbs - 22 lbs | 13 lbs - 18 lbs | ||
| 3 Months | 25 lbs - 35 lbs | 22 lbs - 32 lbs | ||
| 4 Months | 37 lbs - 48 lbs | 33 lbs - 46 lbs | ||
| 5 Months | 45 lbs - 65 lbs | 42 lbs - 57 lbs | ||
| 6 Months | 60 lbs - 72 lbs | 48 lbs - 63 lbs | ||
| 7 Months | 72 lbs - 80 lbs | 55 lbs - 70 lbs | ||
| 8 Months | 80 lbs - 90 lbs | 60 lbs - 75 lbs | ||
| 9 Months | 85 lbs - 96 lbs | 65 lbs - 80 lbs | ||
| 10 Months | 88 lbs - 104 lbs | 70 lbs - 85 lbs | ||
| 11 Months | 90 lbs - 108 lbs | 75 lbs - 90 lbs | ||
| 12 Months | 92 lbs - 110 lbs | 78 lbs - 95 lbs | ||
| 2.5 Years | 95 lbs - 120 lbs | 80 lbs - 100 lbs |
Cane Corso Puppy Development Stages
Birth – 2 Weeks
Your puppy will have hair all over its body, but its eyes and ears will be closed. It can’t walk but can drag itself on its front paws to get milk from the mother.
The important thing to know is that a newborn puppy can’t regulate its own body temperature and needs its mother’s heat or some form of artificial heat to stay alive.
It is completely dependent on its mother for survival.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
A lot happens during this time. The eyes and ears are now open, and the puppy can move about.
At 3 – 4 weeks, it can regulate its body temperature, and the first teeth are cut. By four weeks it will start getting most of its nourishment from puppy food.
At around 8 weeks, puppies usually enter their new home and start living with their owner.
By 3 months, your dog will experience fear and will need to be thoroughly socialized.
4 Months – 9 Months
At about four months old, a puppy loses its puppy looks and starts looking like a dog. At this age, it’s imperative to keep training your dog.
You can take your puppy on short walks when it reaches 5 months and start socializing it with other puppies.
By 6 months, your dog should ideally have reached about half its adult weight. Your dog will reach sexual maturity at the age of 6 months. Males will start to lift their legs, and females will go through their first heat cycle.
10 Months – 18 Months
Your dog will start developing a thicker adult coat and will keep putting on weight. During this time, it will start showing territorial behavior, and your dog may show fear towards new situations, other animals, or people.
Keep building confidence by continuing training.
Adult
The adult Cane Corso is a large dog. Large breed dogs like the Cane Corso weigh more than 55 pounds as adults and need food to maintain and improve their quality of life and decrease the risk of chronic disease.
Older dogs, particularly large and giant breed dogs, tend to develop bone and joint disease, so it’s imperative to feed your dog top-quality dog food and let it get regular exercise.
How Big Do Cane Corsos Get?
Many owners of young dogs have this question. Fortunately, there are a few ways to determine how big your dog will eventually get.
Any of the following factors will give you a good indication of your dog’s eventual size.
- Look at the parents. If your puppy’s parents are large dogs, the chances are good that your dog will also be large. Conversely, if they are small for the breed, your dog will most probably also be on the small side.
- Follow the weight chart. You can determine your dog’s approximate adult size by comparing its age and weight to the corresponding figures on the Cane Corso weight chart. If your dog at six months weighs the same as a six-month dog according to the chart, you can be pretty sure that your dog will eventually reach the right weight and size for the breed.
- Look at your dog’s paws. If they look large for its size, your dog is shaping up to be large for its breed.
- Consider DNA testing. DNA testing is the most accurate prediction of a dog’s eventual size. These tests are now possible because scientists have discovered and isolated the genes responsible for body size in dogs.
Male vs Female Cane Corso Growth Chart
You will notice from the Cane Corso size chart that the female dogs weigh slightly less but are the same size as the male dogs.
For instance, at 6 months, the females weigh around 55 pounds and stand 23 inches tall, while the males weigh 66 pounds and stand 23 inches tall.
It’s easy to see how your dog compares to other dogs of the same gender and age by using the Cane Corso growth chart.
If you have a female dog, simply look under females for the weights and heights at the age your dog is now.
Will Neutering/Spaying My Cane Corso Affect My Dog’s Growth?
Veterinarians suggest owners wait until their large breed dogs have reached full maturity before neutering or spaying them.
So, wait until your dog is about eighteen months old before you let it undergo the procedure.
Recent medical studies involving large and giant breed dogs such as Labrador Retrievers or Great Danes suggest that early spaying and neutering may be detrimental to dogs.
That is because the procedure causes delayed closure of growth plates resulting in longer, thinner bones, which may increase certain types of musculoskeletal health problems.
Female dogs may also have a higher risk of urinary incontinence if spayed before their first heat cycle.
For large breed dogs, veterinarians now recommend that owners wait until their dogs are fully mature before spaying or neutering.
This means dogs should be between twelve to eighteen months old and female dogs should have completed their first heat cycle.
Rottweiler Vs Cane Corso Size
The Cane Corso and the Rottweiler are both regarded as large dogs. They are very similar in size and weight.
The Cane Corso male typically grows about 25-27 inches tall, and females reach about 25-26 inches. Their average weight will be 95-120 pounds for males and 80-100 pounds for females.
Rottweilers are very similar in weight and size. Males grow to around 24-27 inches, and females grow to around 22-25 inches. The male dogs usually weigh between 95-135 pounds and the females weigh 80-100 pounds.
Factors That Affect Cane Corso Growth
Genetics & Gender
Being a purebred dog, Cane Corsos tend to be more prone to some genetic health problems. In particular, the Cane Corso is susceptible to canine hip dysplasia, which can lead to degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis.
If you decide to share your family life with a Cane Corso, you must be aware of this and be prepared to give your dog proper nutrition and enough appropriate exercise to help minimize the risk of hip dysplasia.
Nutrition
The Cane Corso is a large dog with the nutritional needs of a large animal. Your dog should receive commercially manufactured high-quality dog food, supplemented with home-prepared food.
Because these dogs tend to suffer from hip dysplasia, which is agravated by extra weight, take special care that your dog doesn’t put on extra weight.
In this regard, be stingy with treats. You can use them for training, but be wise about the treats you choose.
Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.
Physical Activity & Health
Cane Corsos are working dogs and need a lot of exercise. This is not a dog to get if you are not prepared to take it out for a run twice a day.
This is a breed that you can take with you on long walks, hikes, and bicycle rides.
Remember, these dogs were active on the battlefield; they were bred to be active.
In addition, these are highly intelligent dogs, so they need mental stimulation to be happy and content. Either that or a real job, but don’t leave them with nothing to do.
How Much To Feed A Growing Cane Corso Puppy?
Puppies, especially large breed pups, require very nutritious food to help them grow. They also have endless energy, which requires a certain amount of calories.
To start with, at the age of one to three months, your Cane Corso puppy will need between 1 and 2 ¾ cups of food. Large-breed puppies need 3 to 4 meals per day.
As they grow older, the amounts increase. When your dog is four months old, it will need 2 ⅓ to 3 ¼ cups.
By 6-8 months, it will need 3 ⅓ to 5 ½ cups of food. From about nine to eleven months, your puppy will need about 4 ½ to 6 cups.
How do you know exactly how much is right for your dog? Use the weight chart to determine if your dog is on course to reach its ideal weight and adjust its portions accordingly.
Do Cane Corsos Experience Growing Pain?
Some dogs, particularly giant and large breeds tend to suffer from disorders of the bones and joints when they are still growing. These disorders generally appear any time between the third and twelfth month of the dog’s life.
These conditions, in particular, panosteitis, osteochondritis dissecans, and hypertrophic osteodystrophy can be very painful.
You will know your dog is suffering from growing pains if it moans when you touch it or tries to pick it up. You’ll also notice that your dog is reluctant to go for a walk or play in the backyard.
Fortunately, most dogs grow out of this stage and return to their happy selves after some time. However, watch your dog carefully. If it’s very uncomfortable it might need some medication to help with the pain.
What to Do If My Cane Corso Is Not the Right Weight?
This is another opportunity to make use of the Cane Corso growth & weight chart. If you suspect your dog is not the right size, consult the chart to confirm your suspicions.
If your pup is significantly heavier or lighter than the average Cane Corso weight, consult the chart to see if your dog is over or underweight.
If the difference in weight is not significant, don’t worry. Puppies grow at different rates.
However, if the difference is significant, consult your veterinarian to determine what the problem may be.
It is unlikely that your dog will have a weight problem if you follow the suggestions for healthy portions and don’t give your dog too many treats.
How to Properly Weigh My Cane Corso?
A simple way to weigh a dog is to first weigh yourself and record your weight. Then, pick up your dog and weigh the two of you together. Lastly, subtract your weight and you will know how much your dog weighs.
If your dog is too big to weigh like this, you can buy a dog scale online. Some large pet supply stores also stock them.
You should weigh your puppy at least every three to four weeks during the first four to six months of its life. Thereafter you can weigh your dog once every six months to check that it is healthy.
Cane Corso Genetics and Common Health Problems
Corsos are generally a healthy breed, but they are prone to certain health conditions. Like other large dog breeds, the Cane Corso is prone to suffer from hip dysplasia.
You can take precautions by not allowing your dog to ever get overweight as the extra weight will exacerbate the condition and any joint problems the dog may develop. Also, avoid high-impact exercise, which can be hard on the joints.
Other typical health issues include eyelid abnormalities such as entropion, ectropion, cherry eye, and demodectic mange.
Deep-chested large dogs like the Cane Corso are also at risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), also called bloat. It is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists.
You should take these factors into consideration when acquiring a Cane Corso. Buy your dog from a reputable breeder who has completed the OFA’s recommended tests and can provide you with a certificate of health.
Your Corso may never get any of these diseases, but it’s better to know about the potential health issues your dog may face later in life.
Final Words
Cane Corsos are wonderful dogs. When you get one, you will have a fiercely loyal companion who will protect you and your family effectively for many years.
Keep in mind that this intelligent dog needs thorough socialization from an early age and lifelong training.
Never lose sight of the fact that these dogs were bred to fight on the battlefield and protect farmers, their families, and property. Your Corso is not a dog that will be content to lie around doing nothing.
Give it something useful to do, spend enough constructive time with it, and you will share the same satisfaction that so many owners get from living with the Cane Corso.
