The Red Cane Corso is a beautiful canine. They have a short red coat, and a large muscular body. They are extremely loyal, and make an excellent family pet.
Red Cane Corso Facts
Red Cane Corsos are an ancient breed. They are strong, eager to please, and highly protective of their loved ones. They have an unmistakable intimidating appearance, but a gentle, calm nature.
Red Cane Corso Appearance
Red Cane Corsos are rarer than most colors. The red coloring is caused by pheomelanin. All red Corsos have the same genes for pheomelanin. However, how the color is expressed varies widely.
Red Cane Corsos range in color from a light champagne color to a deep rich mahogany. They have a black mask on their face, that doesn’t extend beyond their eyes.
In addition to their red color, they have a square head and broad chest. They are heavily muscled. These factors give them an imposing appearance, which helps with their guard dog status.
Red Cane Corso History
The Cane Corso originated in ancient Greece. It’s thought that they are descendants of the original Molossus from Greece. Other Molossus breeds include Dobermans and Mastiffs.
The Romans discovered the Cane Corso, and were enamored with them/ They brought them home. Eventually, the Cane Corso fought alongside soldiers in the Macedonian War.
After the war, the Corso found other ways to be useful. They became hunters, farm hands, and, of course, guard dogs.
Unfortunately, it was believed the breed became extinct during the 1900s. Until a chance encounter revealed that they were still around. They were rediscovered in Italy, and Corso lovers began to rebuild the breed.
In 1984, the first Cane Corso club, Society Amorati Cane Corso (Society of Cane Corso Lovers), was founded. The club is still active today.
Red Cane Corso Price
The price of a red Cane Corso is impacted by several factors. These include age, pedigree, and whether or not it’s registered.
They range in price from $800-$6,000, with the average registered Corso puppy costing about $2,100.
Red Corsos are at the lower end of the price spectrum in terms of color. A red Corso puppy will cost about $1,900 on average. A fawn Corso is the least expensive, at $1,600, while a gray Corso will cost $3,000.
Prices will also vary by the age of the Corso. Adults are typically $300-$500 cheaper than a puppy.
Males are a bit more expensive than females, costing $100 more on average. This is because they are thought to have stronger guarding instincts.
Registered Corsos cost about $500 more than unregistered Corsos. If you don’t plan to breed or show your Red Cane Corso, you may be fine with an unregistered pooch. However, you should keep in mind that registered dogs have undergone health checks that reduce the risk of the puppy having genetic health issues.
Lastly, their pedigree can greatly affect price. A red Cane Corso from a prestigious bloodline will cost much more than the average Corso.
Red Cane Corso Rarity
Red is a rare Cane Corso color. It’s not considered as rare as gray, but both colors are created by recessive genes. A Corso can only be red if it gets the pheomelanin gene from both parents.
The parents may be red, fawn, or black. If both parents are red, they will produce red puppies. If they are another color, but carry the pheomelanin gene, some of the puppies will be red.
Red Cane Corso Life expectancy
The Cane Corso life expectancy has an interesting connection with color. In general, Corsos have a life expectancy of 9-12 years. There are rare instances of Cane Corsos reaching 18 years old.
Brindle Cane Corsos have an average life expectancy of 10 years. Solid c colors, including red, have a life expectancy of 9 years.
It is important to remember that breeding and proper care have as much of an impact, if not more, on the lifespan of your Corso than their color.
Red Cane Corso Size and weight
Corsos are a large breed. They have an elegant and imposing appearance that makes them excellent guard dogs, and beautiful to look at.
The average weight for Corsos is 100 pounds. Their weight ranges from 90-120 pounds. Females weigh between 85-99 pounds. They stand 23-26 inches tall.
Males are a bit larger, weighing between 90-120 pounds. They are 25-28 inches in height.
Their bodies are heavily muscled, and they have a large bone structure. However, they are also surprisingly active and agile.
Red Cane Corso Health
The Caen Corso is considered a healthy breed. However, like any pooch, there are a few health conditions you should be aware of.
Joint Issues
Joint issues are an issue for nearly all large dog breeds. Corsos are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. However, genetic testing can tell you how likely your Corso is to develop these issues. Proper nutrition and appropriate exercise can help reduce the risk.
Eye Conditions
Cane Corsos are also prone to a few eye disorders. These are all issues with their third eyelid. Cherry eye occurs when the third eyelid swells, causing a red mass.
Entropion and ectropion are other eyelid disorders. These occur due to problems with the ligaments around the eye.
Bloat
Any dog can develop bloat. However, it is more common in large breeds, particularly those with large chests. Bloat occurs when gas gets trapped in the dog’s stomach.
As food digests, more gas gets trapped, causing pressure to build. If not treated quickly, this pressure can cause the stomach to twist.
Bloat is a life threatening condition that occurs very suddenly. A Corso could go from healthy and playing to deceased within a few hours.
Red Cane Corso Behavior/Characteristics
The Red Cane Corso may look majestic or even intimidating. However, they actually have a very calm and gentle personality, unless they or their family members are in danger.
Their name means bodyguard in Latin. This sums up their personality very well. They are typically observant. They can be a bit reserved, but they are affectionate with family, and should be relatively friendly with well-meaning strangers.
It’s important to understand that Corsos need a job to do. They must feel useful in order to be happy and fulfilled.
Red Cane Corso Tempermant
Unfortunately, the Cane Corso has an undeserved reputation for being aggressive. They are surprisingly tolerant, and do well in new situations, as long as they are properly trained and socialized.
The American Temperament Test is often used to evaluate individual dogs. Their scores are recorded, which gives information about the breed as a whole. . This test measures several factors, including stability, aggressiveness, and friendliness. Protectiveness and self-preservation instinct is also measured.
88% of Cane Corsos pass this test, compared to 85% of Golden Retrievers. This means that the Corso truly is gentle and not easily provoked.
How to care for a Red Cane Corso
A red Cane Corso is an incredible dog. However, they do have specific needs that must be met to avoid behavioral issues or health problems.
Mental and Physical Exercise
The Cane Corso needs at least 1 hour of exercise each day. 2 hours is ideal. This can include brisk walks or runs.
In addition to physical activity, they must have mental stimulation. They are intelligent, and need their mind exercised as much as their body. In fact, it’s believed that mental activities expend as much or more energy than physical activity.
Mental exercise can include playing games with them, teaching them new commands, and puzzle toys. An obstacle or agility course is an excellent way to provide both mental and physical exercise.
Training
Corsos love to please, and they are highly trainable. However, if they aren’t trained properly, you may find that they are the ones running the household.
One reason why training is important is their massive size. Once they are an adult, it’s nearly impossible to force them to do something they don’t want to do.
If you are walking them and they want to go somewhere else, you’ll go along for the ride.
Their protective nature also makes training essential. If you don’t teach them friend from foe, they will make up their own mind. If they feel threatened, proper training can keep them from making a costly mistake.
Socialization
Socialization is just as important for training. Remember, these dogs were born and bred to be guard dogs. This can be a wonderful thing. However, you must teach them to be comfortable around other dogs as well as people.
This will prevent them from deciding someone is a threat just because they are a stranger.
Socialization should begin early in the Corsos life, and continue throughout their lives. Puppy play dates and trips to the dog park are a good way to socialize them.
Give Them a Job
As mentioned previously, a red Cane Corso must have a job to do. They are similar to humans in this way. We all feel better if we have a job to do. For a child, this may mean cleaning their room or doing their homework. For adults, it can include employment. Jobs can differ widely, but they all provide a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
This is true for the Cane Corso as well. What the job is isn’t very important. However, it is important for them to have a job. Giving them a job helps provide mental stimulation, and gives them a sense of purpose.
Some Corsos have the job of guarding the house or the family. They may even be tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the children. They can help out with farm tasks as well.
If you want to keep it simple, even learning new commands and tricks can be a job for a Corso.
How do you buy a Red Cane Corso?
You have a few options if you want to buy a red Cane Corso. You can adopt, or purchase a puppy from a Corso breeder.
Adopting a Cane Corso
Adopting a Cane Corso allows you to give a home to a pooch who may not find one otherwise. Dogs who are adopted are often the most loyal, its as if they understand that you are rescuing them.
However, it may be difficult to find a Cane Corso at your local shelter, particularly a red one. Puppies are also difficult to find when adopting.
There is another option if you want to adopt, however. You can contact Cane Corso Resuce, Inc. They specialize in rescuing, adopting, and fostering Cane Corsos. Check out their website, or give them a call at 814-68-CORSO.
Purchasing a Cane Corso from a Breeder
Most people choose to purchase a Cane Corso from a breeder. This allows you to find a Corso that meets your needs and wants. If you have your heart set on a Red Corso puppy, this is probably the best option.
There are many breeders online, but not all of them are reputable. You should check out the Cane Corso Association of America, or CCAA. They have a breeder directory with breeders around the country. Any breeder listed on the website has been vetted. You can also look at the AKC’s directory to find a reputable breeder.
No matter how you find your breeder, you should look out for a few things. Avoid any breeder that focuses heavily on color. Temperament and health should be the main priorities for any breeder.
You should also look out for breeders who sell non-standard colors as rare, and charge a higher price for them. These colors disqualify a Corso from being registered. There are also health issues that are common in non-standard colors, which is why the AKC doesn’t recognize them.
Even the most reputable breeders can produce Corsos outside of the recognized breed colors. However, ethical breeders aren’t trying to breed for these colors. Unethical breeders do breed for these colors, without considering the health of the dogs, or the purity of the breed.