Puppy Preparations

Key Considerations For Cane Corso Ownership

Is A Cane Corso Right For You?

This is an essential question for aspiring Cane Corso owners, as this breed is not for the faint of heart. Here’s a great resource from the Cane Corso Association of America titled “Is The Cane Corso Right For Me”, which can help you find your answer

Do You Have The Right Environment For A Big Dog?

While Cane Corso’s do spend much of their time sleeping, resting, and patiently watching their territory to ensure the place is at peace, when they want to roam they are powerful forces of nature. Space to spread out is essential for a fulfilled dog. If you have a house with a yard and an active lifestyle, then your Cane Corso will have plenty of opportunities to run around. However, if you live in a studio apartment and prefer to spend weekends inside rather than out and about, then a Cane Corso may not be the best fit.

Puppy Prepping Your Home!

So, you have a great space for a Cane Corso – now we need to make sure that space is prepared for a puppy that will put on over 100 pounds in a year or two. Here is our puppy shopping guide to help give you an idea of what you’ll need to make sure your Cane Corso is well resourced

Puppy Purpose

A Cane Corso is, by definition, a working dog. Like us, they are most fulfilled when they have a clear purpose. That purpose may change over the course of their life, but it’s important that they have one. Here is our short list of likely roles for a Cane Corso in your pack:

Family Dog (Property Guardian)

Farm Dog (Livestock Guardian)

A Cane Corso is an excellent livestock guardian for our fellow country folk who have animals that need protection from predators. At our farm in the plains of Colorado, we have some livestock, primarily horses and chickens. So, we’ve got a dog, Braulio, who works for us as a dedicated livestock guardian. More than any of our Corsos, he loves to be outside, laying in a shady spot with a vantage of the whole property. This role is great for a Corso, because no animal in their right mind would want to pick a fight with these badasses.

Show Dog (Breeding Prospect)

Iconic Corsos are kings and queens in show business. Many of our dogs are award winners, and we take pride in their propensity to succeed on the big stage. If you’re hoping to get into the dog show world or breed your Corso, then you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. These dogs are smart, but sometimes a bit obstinate - to do well in show, they must be very well trained. We love helping people who have aspirations to participate in the dog world, so be sure to connect with us about where to start!

Puppy Training Protocols

At Iconic Corso, our contract explicitly requires that our puppies are trained. These dogs are too big and powerful to be left to their own devices without good direction. In fact, there was a major period of the breed's recent history in which they were thought to be dangerous due to the fact that people simply expected them to behave well without any training. Part of our mission is to end this misconception, and the only way we do it is through enabling the Corso Community to properly train their pups.

We offer multiple options for training, and all our clients get discounted training services!

Puppy Start ($1,000)

Basic obedience training recommended for every puppy. This 2 week program, which takes place during the 7-9 week of the puppies life, establishes positive behavior influences.
We teach the dogs the foundational commands of “Sit”, “Come”, and “Stay”, as well as start the leash training process. Dogs who go through the Puppy Starter program will be taught the basics of crate training so they can feel secure while being transported. Additionally, the dogs are taught confidence as they’re exposed to highly intentional socialization situations where they mingle with fellow puppies and older dogs alike, learning what it means to live in a pack environment.
If you’re planning on putting your Corso to work as a guardian, you may be considering ear cropping and tail docking. We can help you safely and humanely achieve this with your puppy but it must be done in this same two week time period (7-9 weeks).

Puppy All Star ($2,500)

Advanced obedience training for dogs with a mission. This 5 week program (7-12 weeks) gives a Corso a fundamental understanding of their place and purpose in the world, which helps them live a more fulfilled life and be assets for their owners.
This training builds on the basic obedience training provided in the starter program, adding important aspects like complete potty training, heel training, and recall training. Commands like “Down” and “Place” are established here, helping owners have better control of these big animals.

Litter Group Lessons ($500)

These group lessons take place every Saturday for 6 weeks. The curriculum centers on basic obedience and standard socialization practices that owners and dogs should know to be the best community members they can be.
Additionally, it’s a great way for the puppies to play with their brothers and sisters. We’ve had handfuls of customers end up becoming friends through these training sessions and start scheduling regular puppy playdates long after the group lessons end.

Board & Train ($1,000 / week)

Planning vacations when you have a pet requires extra consideration. While services like Rover provide options, the unique needs of a Cane Corso might not be well understood by all caretakers.
At Iconic Corso, we offer specialized doggy boarding that understands and caters to the specific needs of Corsos, ensuring they receive the best care while you’re away. Beyond that, we work with them to develop the skills of a working dog so that they come back to you sharper than you left them!

Puppy Health And Wellness

Nutrition

Supplementation

Socialization

Socialization is critical for developing a well-adjusted and confident Cane Corso. Regular interactions with different people, dogs, and environments help them understand their place in the world. Puppy classes, park visits, and pet play dates are excellent for social exposure. Our five kids love to play with our Corsos, help train all our dogs, and especially love spending time with the puppies. So, luckily, your new puppy has already had plenty of exposure to little ones and their shenanigans, cultivating both patience and playfulness, but be sure to keep this up if you want an especially child-friendly Corso.

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)

Early Neurological Stimulation is a practice used by breeders to enhance the development of puppies through mild stress exercises. This method has been shown to increase disease resistance, heart rate, and stress tolerance, providing lifelong benefits. Incorporating ENS practices from an early age can give your Corso a significant advantage in terms of health and temperament.

Exercise

Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining the health and happiness of your Cane Corso. Due to their energy levels and size, Corsos require ample space to run and play. Daily walks, structured playtimes, and appropriate training activities help keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Exercise also strengthens your bond with your puppy and helps instill good behavior. One key consideration that many people don’t think about at first is that these big goofballs grow too fast for their own good, sometimes. When your puppy is a few months old and rapidly gaining size, their bones are often still soft and weak. Though they are big enough to jump in and out of your truck, it’s wise to be cautious with them in these major developmental times.

Testing

If you’d like to do official health tests on your Corso for show/breeding or personal purposes, then it’s important to prepare for it in advance. Preliminary testing must take place when the puppy is 4 months old; then, official health testing is done at 24 months old. These tests can screen for common genetic conditions and ensure that your Corso is healthy and ready for breeding or competition. We can guide you through the reasons and processes for these, so be sure to ask us about why health tests may be a good idea for your corso.