Cane Corso Progression: Growth Chart, Milestones, and Training Tips

The cane corso is a regal, powerful, and striking canine friend. They are known for being fiercely dedicated to their caregivers, and providing unending companionship to those they love. In addition to this, their unique beauty can stop you in your tracks. When you pair these traits together, it’s no wonder so many people are interested in becoming cane corso parents. And future owners will need to know all they can about cane corso progression.

While the cane corso is an impressive breed, they are not ideal for first time dog owners. The cane corso requires skilled training from involved pet parents, and those willing to offer them the daily stimulation they need to thrive.

To help you determine whether or not the cane corso is right for your family, we discuss everything you need to know about the breed below. Ranging from a month-to-month growth chart to the type of training they require, we discuss it all!

Brief Cane Corso Summary

When people see a cane corso, the first thing that often comes to mind is power. This pup was originally bred in Italy to hunt large game and guard their owner’s property, and they are even believed to be descendants of Roman war dogs. This breed is known for being hardworking and confident, and while these are wonderful traits, they can be difficult traits for first time pet owners to manage.

Since the cane corso is a powerful and confident dog, this means they require a confident and skilled dog owner. The cane corso can be a wonderful and loving companion to have in your home, but they will require proper stimulation each day to prevent boredom, as well as training that is firm and consistent.

Cane Corso Weight and Growth Chart – Month to Month

With a dog as large and powerful as the cane corso, you will want to know what to expect as they grow into adulthood. While you likely already know that they are giant-sized dogs, it’s still helpful to have an idea of what you will see throughout the first two years of life.

Let’s break down the cane corso’s growth below, from the time they are born to the time they reach two years of age.

As you can see, the cane corso does an impressive amount of growing during the first two years of their life. Their ultimate size can vary based on the sex of your cane corso, but overall, you can always expect massive growth spurts.

When Should My Pup Stop Growing? 

While many small breed dogs will stop growing around the one-year mark, the cane corso needs a bit more time to reach their ultimate size. Most giant breed dogs will often grow until they reach two years of age, and this is no different for the cane corso.

Your growing corso will achieve most of his growth throughout his first year of life, but you cannot determine his ultimate size until he hits that two-year mark. Some cane corso dogs will fill out a bit more in the six months to follow, but this should not be anything drastic.

How Big Will My Dog Be When He Is Fully Grown?

If you plan to adopt your very own cane corso, then you will want to know just how big your cane corso will be when she is fully grown. The ultimate size can vary based on whether or not you have a male or female, but there are size averages you can expect.

Most cane corso dogs will weigh anywhere from 88-122 pounds when fully grown. Some cane corso dogs will fall slightly out of this range, but you should always expect your cane corso pup to reach an impressive size. If you want the most accurate estimate of how big your cane corso will be when fully grown, then we always suggest seeing your puppy’s parents in person.

When Should My Cane Corso Stop Eating Puppy Food?

Huge dogs need all the growth support they can get throughout puppyhood. Puppy food contains ingredients that support the puppy as she grows, ranging from added calcium for bone support to extra calories needed to match metabolism. The cane corso grows rapidly throughout the first two years of life, so the nutrients in puppy food are essential during this time.

Your cane corso may continue to grow until she reaches two years of age, but she will have completed much of her rapid growth by the time she reaches 18 months of age. For this reason, we suggest feeding your cane corso puppy food until she is 18 months old. Once she reaches this age, you can then transition over to an adult diet made for giant breed dogs.

The Biggest Cane Corso Ever Recorded

While there does not appear to be a cane corso that is officially listed as the largest on record, we did come across one that has made quite a name for himself. A cane corso named Bronx has not only tipped the scales at a whopping 166 pounds, but he’s also known for being incredibly lovable. With his massive size and sweet nature, it’s no wonder this pup is so popular!

When Should My Pup Start Losing Puppy Teeth?

Have you ever wondered if your cane corso loses baby teeth just like people do throughout childhood? The answer to this question is yes, but there are slight differences in the process.

When your cane corso puppy is around three weeks old, you may see his puppy teeth begin to grow from his gums. These puppy teeth will continue to grow for the next few weeks, giving him a mouth full of puppy teeth by the time he is six weeks old.

These puppy teeth will stick around for the next three weeks, but they will begin to fall out once your cane corso puppy is three months old. This occurs due to permanent teeth growing in beneath baby teeth, which cause the puppy teeth to fall out as the permanent teeth push through. This will take place for the next three to four months, but your cane corso should have all of his permanent teeth by the time he is six months of age. This means he should stop losing teeth around this time.

When To Start Training

As we mentioned above, the cane corso is not an ideal breed for a first-time dog parent. Not only does the cane corso’s massive size require an owner that feels confident in handling them, but their independence and confidence require a firm and skilled trainer. If you are interested in bringing a cane corso into your home, we highly suggest that you feel confident in training a large canine companion.

If you are ready to dive into your cane corso’s training journey, you may wonder when you need to start. Most dogs are open to a basic training process once they reach two months of age. As long as your pup is at least two months old, you can begin training! This is when you can begin to teach basic obedience, as well as offering well-rounded socialization.

What Commands Should I Teach First?

Once you begin to train your companion, you may wonder which basic commands you should start with first. While every home will vary on which commands are most necessary for your dog, these are some basics that we recommend focusing on first for your cane corso.

• Sit
• Stay
• Lay down
• Come
• Drop it

The above commands are typically easy for a cane corso to pick up on, while still being incredible beneficial in helping your pup become a well-rounded canine friend. In addition to implementing basic obedience commands from the start, we also highly suggest socializing your cane corso from the moment they enter your home.

The cane corso is known to be aloof around anyone that is not in their family, which can ultimately lead to fear and aggression if they are not exposed to any unfamiliarity. In order to make sure your cane corso is a safe canine companion, we suggest bringing them around new people, new animals, new sounds, and new environments.

Just keep in mind that while meeting new dog friends is important for your growing cane corso, it is not safe to bring them around any unfamiliar dogs, or unvaccinated dogs until they are fully vaccinated against parvovirus, canine distemper, and rabies. Your pup will need to complete their puppy vaccination series in order to be fully protected against these viruses, so until then, stick to familiar dogs!

When Should My Cane Corso Be House Broken?

If you are planning to adopt a cane corso puppy, you may be worried about the dreaded potty training process. Potty training is often a pet parent’s least favorite part of training, but thankfully for the cane corso owner, they tend to catch on quickly!

As long as you dive into the housebreaking process from the moment you adopt your cane corso, most can be fully housebroken within three to five months of their potty training being put into place. As long as you are consistent and patient, your cane corso will catch on in no time!

When Will My Dog Start To Calm Down?

If you have an energetic cane corso puppy on your hands, you may wonder when they will finally start to calm down. Though this will vary with every canine friend, most cane corso dogs will start to calm down once they reach three years of age.

It’s also important to remember that daily exercise and mental stimulation is essential in helping your cane corso work off any pent up energy. In most cases, your cane corso should get at least 40 minutes of daily exercise to remain fulfilled. Getting enough daily exercise can help to prevent any unwanted hyperactivity.

Common Health Conditions Seen in the Cane Corso

If you are a proud cane corso parent, then you can typically expect an average of 10 to 12 years of happiness with your cane corso at your side. Though most will live a healthy and happy life, there are a few health complications that the cane corso is more prone to experiencing. You cannot always prevent these issues in your pup, but being aware of them can allow you to jump into action the moment they develop.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia occurs when the dog is born with an abnormal formation of their hip joint. This abnormal formation causes the hip joint to be much looser than it should be, eventually causing the hip to rub and grind with each step the dog takes. Not only can this be painful, but it can cause serious damage to the dog’s hip joint over time. Some of the most common symptoms of hip dysplasia include joint stiffness, limping, difficulty getting up from a lying or seated position, hesitance to jump on furniture, muscle wasting around the hips, changes in gait, and leg sensitivity.

Arthritis

Many large breed dogs struggle with arthritis due to their fast growth period, so the cane corso is no different. Many vets will recommend giving your cane corso joint supplements from the moment they are one years old, as this can help to protect the joints as the years pass. Some of the common signs of arthritis include joint stiffness, stiffness when waking up in the morning, limping, difficulty getting up and down, joint swelling, and leg sensitivity.

GDV (Bloat)

Due to the cane corso’s deep chest, they are more at risk of developing gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV. This life-threatening condition occurs when the stomach flips on itself within the dog’s chest cavity, trapping the contents of the stomach and preventing blood from flowing past the stomach. This is a fatal complication and requires immediate vet care to save their lives. Common signs of GDV or bloat include sudden lethargy, weakness, trying to vomit but nothing is produced, abdominal swelling, pale gums, and collapse.

Epilepsy

The cane corso breed is more at risk of developing idiopathic epilepsy, which refers to a form of epilepsy that occurs without a known cause. Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures in dogs, but it can lead to other strange neurological symptoms as well. Epilepsy can be managed long term with medication, so it’s best to have your cane corso assessed by a vet from their first neurological symptom.

Picture of Puppies

Picture of the Cane Corso Around 6 Months

Picture of a Fully Grown Cane Corso

Do you think the cane corso is the right pup for your family? Be sure to review the information that we discussed above, and you can have the tools needed to help your cane corso pup thrive!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © xkunclova/Shutterstock.com