The Rottweiler dog breed is an incredibly popular choice of the pet dog and has been for many years.
The Cane Corso (pronounced “caw-nay coor-so”) is becoming more popular as more people guard and protect dog breeds for themselves and their families.
But since the Rottweiler breed, in particular, has specific known genetic (heritable) health issues, some breeders have started crossbreeding Rottweilers to add genetic diversity and strengthen the breed line for future generations.
The Cane Corso is a very complementary dog to crossbreed with the Rottweiler. These dogs share similar qualities and traits and can make excellent protection dogs. Now read on to learn everything you need to know about the Cane Corso Rottweiler.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix
The Cane Corso Rottweiler mix is sometimes nicknamed the “Rotticorso” or “Italian Mastiff.”
This hybrid dog breed is considered emerging, which means it is a relatively new dog breed.
The Rotticorso is a strong, intelligent, and highly protective guard dog. These dogs are best suited to experienced dog owners and handlers.
See a Cane Corso and a Rottweiler Side by Side
The Cane Corso and the Rottweiler are popular with individuals and families seeking a guarding or protection dog.
This YouTube video shows how each dog breed stacks up in some critical areas, including good with kids, suitable for life in small spaces, life expectancy, and more.
This can help you better understand what a puppy with genes from both dog breeds might grow up to be like.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Dog Breeds History
If you want to guess what your adult Rotticorso dog might be like, the best place to start is with the reason each parent dog breed was developed in the first place.
Studying the history of each parent dog breed gives you insight into what type of work these dogs have traditionally done and what their relationship with people has been like.
Cane Corso History
The Cane Corso hails from Italy, but the breed’s developmental history stretches farther back than that – to the time of the ancient Greeks.
Today’s Cane Corso is thought to have descended from ancient molosser and mastiff dogs, considered the largest and mightiest dog breeds throughout history.
As the Canadian Mastiff Club points out, these dog breeds typically have shortened muzzles with broadheads and chests, “big-boned” frames, and thick, loose skin.
The modern Cane Corso may have evolved through crossing molosser dogs with Neapolitan Mastiffs, the largest mastiff dog breeds.
Cane Corso dogs and their ancestors have a long history of service in incredibly brave and valiant jobs ranging from military K-9s to service dogs, guarding and police dogs, herding and droving dogs, and hunting dogs.
They are also fabulous personal guarding and protection dogs for individuals and families.
Rottweiler History
While the Rottweiler dog breed is generally associated with the town of Rottweil in Germany, these dogs come from Germany by way of Italy, as Vetstreet explains.
Rottweilers also have a similar working and herding dog background to the Cane Corso.
These dogs were used as livestock herding and guarding dogs, first by the Roman legions and then by German livestock butchers, which is how the Rottweiler became known as the “butcher’s dog.”
Rottweilers would accompany butchers and drovers taking livestock to market, guarding the herds and the people from wild animal predators and human poachers.
Rottweilers are still a top choice for guarding and protecting animals and people. They are also a top choice for military, police, security K-9s, service dogs, and family guard dogs.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix Personality & Temperament
When choosing a dog, whether purebred or hybrid-bred, you want to know as much as you can about the breed’s personality and temperament before making that commitment.
This helps you determine if your needs and the dog’s temperament traits are a good potential match. For example, if you are an athletic, active person, you may want to choose a firm, energetic dog who can enjoy these activities with you.
As you will learn in this section, the Cane Corso Rottweiler loves to stay active, whether working at a K-9 job, competing in canine athletics, or just going on outdoor adventures with you.
Cane Corso’s Personality and Temperament
The Cane Corso has two personalities: one for strangers and one for their people. This is by design, and it is something all guarding and protection dog breeds tend to exhibit.
As the American Kennel Club (AKC) explains, the Cane Corso is affectionate, loving, loyal, and protective of their human family.
But with unknown people and animals, the Cane Corso is nothing short of a force of nature. Aloof and reserved under the best circumstances, these dogs will not hesitate to step in when they believe that defending is called for.
Cane Corsos, like most guarding and protection dogs, need to be with their people. Getting a Cane Corso, another dog for the company, will not be a substitute for being with you.
Rottweiler Personality and Temperament
As the American Rottweiler Club points out, the Rottweiler has a strong personality that can border on headstrong during late puppyhood and early adulthood.
Like the Cane Corso, the Rottweiler can have two completely different temperaments based on whether they are with their human family or if strange people or animals are around.
Rottweilers need to live with people. They crave human companionship and won’t be happy without it, even if they have another family dog to play with.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Size, Height, and Weight
The Cane Corso Rottweiler mix will be a large breed dog. Big-boned, tall, broad, and strong, it is essential to consider every aspect of your dog’s housing and transportation before committing to one of these enormous dogs.
Cane Corso size, height, and weight
As the Cane Corso Association of America (CCAA) highlights, a full-grown Cane Corso can easily stand 28 inches tall and weigh over 110 pounds.
Rottweiler size, height, and weight
The Rottweiler can vary in size based on gender by as much as 20 pounds and a full two inches.
Adult female Rottweilers averagely weigh between 80 and 100 pounds and stand 22 to 25 inches tall (paw pads to withers).
Adult male Rottweilers can easily weigh 95 to 135+ pounds and stand 24 to 27 inches tall (paw pads to withers).
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Training and Exercise Needs
Training and exercising a working dog hybrid like the Cane Corso Rottweiler mix must be done correctly to avoid injury and trauma to both body and mind.
Both parent dog breeds are sensitive and can be high-strung, as many protection dog breeds tend to be.
Large to giant dog breeds like the Rotticorso must also not exercise too intensely until they reach their full adult height and the soft growth plates in the bones are closed up and hardened.
This can make managing a rambunctious growing puppy a challenge on every front, which is worth considering before choosing a Cane Corso Rottweiler puppy.
Cane Corso Training and Exercise Needs
These dogs are known to be people-centric with a strong people-pleasing drive, which can make them easy to train in the hands of an experienced dog trainer. They crave the company of people and are eager participants in all kinds of canine athletics.
But for first-time dog owners and beginning dog trainers, the late puppyhood/early adult dog years can sometimes feel like a match of wills between you and your dog.
Rottweiler Training and Exercise Needs
Rottweiler dogs need a firm and experienced a yet positive hand during training and socialization to learn how to respond appropriately to strangers in neutral and threatening situations.
Rotties are naturally high-energy and playful with “their” people. They need outlets for their physical and mental energy.
Canine athletics, K-9 training, and sensory and puzzle toys are great ways to keep a Rottweiler happy and healthy.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Coat Care, Shedding & Grooming
With the rise of so-called “hypoallergenic” dog breeds, many potential dog owners want to know whether the dog they like will shed or not.
The truth is, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed. All dogs shed, but some shed less visibly. Unfortunately, neither the parent dog to the Rotticorso falls into this category, as we will describe in this section.
Cane Corso Coat Care, Shedding, and Grooming
The Cane Corso is an actual working K-9 with the double layer, protective working-dog coat to prove it. The coat is short and straight but very thick.
The outer coat layer is coarse and water-repellant to keep the dog warm, dry, and protected from sunburn, pests, and abrasion.
The inner coat layer is thick, soft, and warm. It provides insulation during cold weather to shed big clumps in the warm season.
This is called the “coat blow.” When it is time for the coat blow, you will want to keep your vacuum cleaner and lint roller handy.
Rottweiler Coat Care, Shedding, and Grooming
The Rottweiler also has a short, thick, straight, double-layer working-dog coat.
Once again, the outer layer is primarily designed to protect the dog from weather, pests, and injury. The inner layer is insulated to keep the skin warm and dry.
Rotties also go through a seasonal coat blow when the undercoat sheds in big clumps.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Longevity & Health Issues
It is essential to only work with a hybrid dog breeder who takes breed health and longevity seriously.
As you can see from the lists below, both the Cane Corso and the Rottweiler have very similar genetic health issues.
Many of these health issues are associated with a limited gene pool, which typically arises when a dog is bred too closely to a specific appearance standard.
While hybrid puppies benefit from the increased genetic diversity of crossbreeding programs if both breeds have the same basic health issues, only pre-testing the parent dogs can rule out passing the same health problems to the puppies.
Cane Corso’s Longevity and Health Issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Cane Corso parent dog should be tested for each of the following heritable (genetic) health concerns:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Cardiac issues.
- Eye issues.
- Patellar luxation.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis.
The Cane Corso typically lives anywhere from nine to 12 years.
Rottweiler Longevity and Health Issues
According to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) database, the Rottweiler dog parent should be pre-screened to verify they do not have any of the following heritable (genetic) health issues:
- Hip dysplasia.
- Elbow dysplasia.
- Eye issues.
- Heart issues.
- Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis & Polyneuropathy.
The Rottweiler has a life expectancy of nine to 10 years for general purposes.
Cane Corso Rottweiler Mix: Is This the Right Dog For You?
The Rotticorso is a high energy, high prey drive, strong protection, and guarding dog.
These dogs need to be the center of their people’s lives and need lots of physical and mental exercise to be happy and healthy.
But if you have a lifestyle where you love to stay active and athletic and want your dog to join you in that, the Rotticorso might be your perfect companion canine!
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