Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. They contribute unique energy to a house and open their people up to social opportunities that wouldn’t exist but for your routine dog walk.
But dogs can also trigger allergies, and in households where that’s a problem, the question ‘Are Cane Corsos hypoallergenic’ is important when looking for the right dog for your family.
So, how hypoallergenic are Cane Corsos?
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Are Cane Corsos Hypoallergenic?
The short answer is no. While hypoallergenic dogs exist, Cane Corsos don’t make the list. However, because of their sleek, short-haired coats, many people mistakenly believe Cane Corsos are hypoallergenic.
There are several reasons this belief is unfounded. Let’s discuss in further detail why Cane Corsos aren’t hypoallergenic.
Cane Corsos Produce Lots of Dander
The primary reason Cane Corsos aren’t hypoallergenic is because of their high dander content.
Typically, when people have dog-related allergies, it’s not the dog they are allergic to; It’s the dander.
But what is dander?
Simply put, dander is the dead skin and hair follicles that accrue in a dog’s coat. When they shed, dogs shed dander along with their hair or fur.
Hypoallergenic dogs have a naturally low level of dander. That isn’t true of Cane Corsos.
Cane Corsos Have Fur Not Hair
One of the things that makes hypoallergenic dogs hypoallergenic is that they have hair. There isn’t much difference on a cellular level between fur and hair. Both come from the protein keratin.
However, what makes hair hypoallergenic is that it grows indefinitely. Fur reaches its designated length and falls off your dog to be replaced by a new strand. That’s what causes shedding.
Conversely, hair can grow to extraordinary lengths and never falls out. That’s partly why certain dogs require elaborate and routine grooming rituals. It’s also what makes hypoallergenic dogs so compatible with allergy sufferers.
Cane Corsos Shed Excessively
The other reason Cane Corsos aren’t hypoallergenic is that they shed routinely and excessively.
Cane Corsos, like many short-haired dogs, have a double-layered coat. So, there’s the overcoat, which is the coat you see. It’s solid, white, piebald, or whatever the genetic lottery dictated for your Cane Corso. But there’s also the undercoat.
Undercoats are short, dense, and less obviously present. Despite this, the undercoat contributes significantly to your Cane Corso’s shedding habit.
Since dogs can’t don or shed layers the way humans do, they regulate body temperature through their fur. That’s why some groomers discourage cutting your Cane Corso’s coat in warm weather.
It also causes shedding because as the weather changes, so does your dog’s coat. The undercoat lengthens or shortens depending on whether your Cane Corso needs extra insulation for a cold winter or a lighter, more comfortable summer coat.
So, while your Cane Corso sheds year-round, their shedding is at its most excessive in spring and autumn.
Crucially, while there are things you can do to mitigate shedding, you can’t stop it completely. Consequently, the American Kennel Club does not consider Cane Corsos hypoallergenic dogs, and they aren’t ideal companions for anyone with severe allergies.
What If I Have Mild Allergies to Dogs?
Even though Cane Corsos aren’t hypoallergenic, it may be possible for dog-allergic people to live with them.
This largely depends on the severity of your allergies. While people who react strongly to dogs won’t enjoy life with a Cane Corso, they may be suitable if your worst symptom is occasional sneezing.
However, to make life more comfortable for you and your Cane Corso, there are things you can do to manage their shedding habit and control your symptoms.
Wash Your Cane Corso Often
Our dogs would disagree, but baths are necessary if you want to live comfortably with a non-hypoallergenic dog without being at the mercy of perpetual allergies.
That’s because baths are an excellent way to remove excess fur and dander before your Cane Corso gets the chance to lovingly distribute it all over the floor, sofa, or bed.
Routine washes also help keep your Cane Corso’s skin healthy, and that, in turn, reduces their dander. There are various ways to do this but some of the most effective include:
- Omega-3 food supplements
- Sensitive skin shampoo for dogs
Groom Your Cane Corso Regularly
While you’re bathing your reluctant Cane Corso, also take the opportunity to groom them.
Usually, short-haired dogs don’t need the same kind of grooming attention as, for instance, a Standard Poodle. But if you have your heart set on a non-hypoallergenic dog despite your allergies, then grooming is essential.
Cane Corsos have two coats, and their undercoat is an excellent place for dander and hair to become trapped.
Regular grooming lifts whatever fur the bath didn’t wash down the drain. It also helps prevent mats from developing in your dog’s coat.
At best, mats are unsightly. At their worse, they cut off circulation to your Cane Corso’s skin, causing lesions and risks of secondary infections.
Ideally, you should start routine grooming in puppyhood. It helps familiarize your Cane Corso with the routine and feel more comfortable with the equipment you use.
But if you rescued your Cane Corso or acquired them from a non-allergic former owner, that may not be an option.
With that in mind, take your time grooming your Cane Corso. It’s important to reduce their opportunity to shed, but it’s equally vital that they feel comfortable with you.
Give Your Dog a Designated Sleeping Area
Another way to manage your allergies is to give your Cane Corso a room of their own. Well, you don’t have to be quite that generous, but it helps significantly if you don’t share the bed with your dog.
This can be difficult for soft-hearted owners. Nothing looks as sad and rejected as a spurned canine.
But Cane Corsos are infamous for their shedding; the places that get the brunt of their shedding habit are their sleeping quarters. So, if your Cane Corso sleeps on your bed, that’s where all the fur and dander will gather.
It won’t matter to the dog, but it will drastically impact your allergies.
And don’t feel too hard-hearted. Dogs are den animals by instinct, so giving them a pen to sleep in dovetails with that instinct.
It also creates a safe space for your dog. They can retreat there to do everything from hiding a beloved toy to seeking solace from a thunderstorm.
As a bonus, you won’t wake up with clogged sinuses.
Use an Air Purifier
Another effective way of keeping on top of your Cane Corso’s dander and shedding is by installing an air purifier.
For the best outcome, you want a system with a HEPA filter. It will help catch the dander and stop it from circulating through your house.
Clean Regularly
If your canine companion is less than thrilled at the prospect of a regular bath, their humans may be underwhelmed to discover that one of the best ways to manage shedding from Cane Corsos is to clean often.
That said, it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. An automated vacuum, like a rumba, can pick up loose fur on your behalf.
You can also reduce how much you clean by limiting your dog to a handful of rooms in the house. This works particularly well if you decide early on to keep your Cane Corso away from carpeted areas.
However, that may not be tenable, depending on the size of the house. With that in mind, you’ll also want to keep a lint roller or damp washcloth handy, so you can brush down your Cane Corso’s favorite sleeping spaces.
Would Buying a Cane Corso Mix Make Them More Hypoallergenic?
Since the answer to ‘Are Cane Corsos hypoallergenic’ is no, it makes sense that your next question might be about investigating Cane Corso mixes.
However, the hypoallergenic potential of a Cane Corso crossbreed depends on several factors.
Dog Breeds
The first of these is the type of dog the Cane Corso gets cross-bred with. As you now realize, not all dogs are equally hypoallergenic. If the truth be told, there’s no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog, just dogs that are less allergy-inducing than others.
So, the important question becomes, has the Cane Corso you are considering been parented by a hypoallergenic dog?
There are various hypoallergenic dogs, and some of these are popular in cross-breeding. These include:
- Poodles
- Bichon Frise
- Schnauzer
- West Highland Terrier
Not all of these will be suitable for mixing with a Cane Corso. It’s also important to remember this list isn’t exhaustive.
Generation Also Matters
The other factor that affects the hypoallergenic status of Cane Corso mixes is what generation they are in the breeding process.
Not all mixed dogs are equally hypoallergenic. Typically, a first-generation mix has a 50% chance of being hypoallergenic. It all depends on what genes the dog expresses.
The further you descend into mixed-breed generations, their hypoallergenic potential increases. Usually, that’s because the breeder chose to emphasize the hypoallergenic traits for prospective dog owners.
So when considering a Cane Corso mix, don’t hesitate to ask the breeder about parentage and lineage.
How Can I Tell if a Cane Corso Mix Is Hypoallergenic?
There’s no guaranteed way to tell if a dog is hypoallergenic. But many reputable breeders agree to send samples of their Cane Corso mix’s fur to you. That allows you to handle it and assess how strongly you react to it.
The best thing you can do to assess your reaction to a Cane Corso, mixed or not, is to visit in person. That enables you to spend time with the dogs and properly gauge how you or your family members react.
If you sense that the allergy response the dog triggers is one you can live with, you can go forward with the adoption and take appropriate measures to control the allergies going forward.
Conclusion For “Are Cane Corsos Hypoallergenic?”
Are Cane Corsos hypoallergenic? Regrettably, the answer is no.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t consider adopting one. As dogs go, they can make loyal, affectionate companions. That’s true even of people with mild allergies to dogs, provided they take the necessary steps to manage the Cane Corso’s infamous shedding habit.
However, they can be more problematic for people with asthma or severe allergies. So, before adopting your Cane Corso, visit with the dogs. See how severe your allergies are, and make your decision then.
You want a dog that can be a lasting companion and that works best when they aren’t unwittingly making you suffer from allergy symptoms.
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