Mixing breeds is a common way of combining different traits specific to certain types of dogs to bring about a new temperament and physical appearance.
The Cane Corso breed, also known as the Italian Mastiff, commonly mixes with other large dogs, often within the Mastiff family.
Similar physical characteristics and compatible personality traits make a Cane Corso mixed with English Mastiff mix a fierce companion.
Let’s take a deeper look into the details of a Cane Corso vs English Mastiff and how the individual strengths and weaknesses come together in this powerful combination.
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Table of Contents
Cane Corso Traits
Cane Corso has a life expectancy of up to 12 years, reaches up to 27.5 inches tall while weighing up to 110 pounds, has a smooth and short coat that comes in a variety of different colors, and very protective nature.
The high intelligence level that comes with Cane Corso makes this breed relatively easy to train.
This dog requires a lot of exercise and interactive activity to keep up with its energy level. It also presents less drool and shedding than other similar breeds and fewer health concerns.
The origins of Cane Corso lie in ancient Rome with intensely loyal warrior dogs.
The breed’s ancestors mixed with other Italian canine variations, like hunting and farming breeds, to create the inherently protective and dominant Cane Corso guard dog.
Cane Corso requires specific training to manage its massive size and domineering stubbornness and to direct its job-related energy to a productive role within a household.
They have an inherent distrust of strangers and tend to only show their warm side to those in the inner circle of their daily life.
While they will show respect and affection to their owner and family, they also naturally challenge everyone around them.
Mastiff Traits
Mastiffs are even larger than the formidable Cane Corso, weighing up to 230 pounds. Because of its sheer size, a Mastiff’s life expectancy is lower than average at 6-10 years.
English Mastiffs come with more drool, shedding, barking, and health concerns than the Italian Mastiff. They’re also protective but with heightened playfulness and affection.
This breed comes from a similar background to Cane Corso. Mastiffs worked as hunters of exceptionally large game, in addition to fighting alongside Roman warriors and protecting land.
A Mastiff doesn’t need a job in its family. This loving and laid-back dog mostly wants simple affection and attention from its companions. It needs less physical activity than Cane Corso but more engaging play with its owners.
Mastiff Cane Corso Mix
The physical result of an English Mastiff mixed with Cane Corso is a very large dog that falls somewhere in the middle of each breed’s height and weight averages.
They tend to reach up to 180 pounds and 28 inches. Their size alone requires consistent and thorough obedience training to avoid overpowering their owners.
The short coat can come in any solid or partial coloring. Most commonly, this breed is black, gray, fawn, or apricot brindle. The dark “mask” that comes on English Mastiff is also present in this mix.
The parent breeds share hunting and guarding origins. Comprehensive socialization and training in puppyhood are critical with a Mastiff Cane Corso mix. Without this, their instincts might cause harm.
In terms of temperament, this mix carries the stubbornness of Cane Corso, high levels of affectionate playfulness of Mastiff, and deep-seated protectiveness synonymous with both breeds.
Cane Corso’s impact on the personality is heavy, but its high-alert intensity calms down by joining the friendlier English Mastiff. Activity level is also a characteristic that the English Mastiff influence subdues in this mix.
Cane Corso Mastiff History
In ancient Roman times, both breeds’ ancestors saw brave and bloody work on the battlefield and in barbaric entertainment in massive amphitheaters.
The fierce devotion of Italian Cane Corso to championing a given task and the Mastiff’s intimidating physical authority brought great popularity to the breeds.
Expert horsemen favored English Mastiffs for their ability to hunt and fight alongside horses successfully. The English Mastiff is the parent breed to many other widely popular breeds like St. Bernard, Great Dane, and Rottweiler.
Contrarily, a Tibetan Mastiff was not historically chosen as a battle dog. Given the Cane Corso’s history of combat, the breed would likely have a leg up on its counterpart in a Tibetan Mastiff vs Cane Corso fight.
Cane Corso, which loosely translates to “catch-dog,” developed from Italian war dogs to farm guardians because of their impressive ability to hunt and restrain massive game, like bears and boars.
A natural curiosity formed about what a hybrid of these proud and powerful dogs could become. The Cane Corso English Mastiff mix was born out of the quest to find the most elite guarding and hunting dog of the time.
Modern Life of a Cane Corso Mixed With English Mastiff
The blending of these complimentary personalities makes a Mastiff Cane Corso mix an excellent family dog and dutiful guardian.
This breed is great with familiar children and most pets but requires close supervision with unfamiliar children and smaller pets.
This working breed is a natural protector and hunter that can read harmless roughhousing or running around as an opportunity to intervene. Small animals and kids can quickly become collateral damage from the Mastiff Cane Corso’s size.
With cautious awareness and extensive obedience training, there’s no reason that this mix can’t peacefully and lovingly coexist in a household with family and other pets.
That being said, this breed doesn’t work well for someone with little or no experience owning a large dog. It also isn’t meant for small apartment living lacking necessary space.
The overall health and comfort of the home won’t be in balance without an appropriate living area, even though this breed doesn’t require tons of exercise.
Grooming needs are minimal, the disposition is gentle and patient, and health concerns generally stick within the confines of the dog’s size. They are highly trainable and extremely loyal companions.
Special Skills
Owners often train their Cane Corso Mastiff in agility and use them in sports or competitions. This breed also responds exceptionally well to specialized protective training.
Agility
This breed marries the hulking muscle of a Mastiff and the tenacity and leanness of Cane Corso into one exceptionally smart and powerful animal.
The working background of both presents an innate drive that makes this mix a fierce competitor with overwhelming brawn.
Intensive agility training pushes a Cane Corso Mastiff to perform strongly in structured events and everyday work environments.
These make excellent farm and hunting dogs, and honing their agility skills increases the impact of their natural abilities.
Guarding
Rooted in their war dog ancestry, guardianship runs deeply through this breed’s heart and mentality. They will naturally protect their owner and family, but specialized training enhances this attitude to an inspiring level.
Whether a large area of land, like a farm or other commercial property, or an average suburban home, the Mastiff Cane Corso can learn to smartly patrol the perimeters and warn of any potential threats they perceive.
It’s wise to instill specific commands for employing force against another animal or stranger posing a threat since these are large and strong dogs with an inclination towards aggressive responses to danger.
Health Concerns
Most potential health problems in a Cane Corso mixed with English Mastiff coincide with the dog’s size, which means hip and joint challenges, heart conditions, and gastric issues.
Elbow and hip dysplasia commonly impact the mobility of this breed.
It’s a painful condition where the joints don’t function properly and requires powerful medication or intense surgery where they perform a total replacement of the affected bones with plastic or metal implants.
Large breeds are prone to this issue because of excessive growth rates and how exercise impacts the forming joints during these growth periods.
The best way to avoid dealing with this is to get your Cane Corso Mastiff mix from a credible, reputable breeder who screens parents for this specific health problem before creating offspring since it transmits genetically.
Gastric torsion is another primary concern for this dog. This is a life-threatening bloat condition in large dogs with deep chests when too much fluid or oxygen fills their stomach at once.
Eating too quickly, eating only one large meal a day, playing or exercising immediately after eating, and eating out of a bowl that’s too high could all cause this condition, but the actual cause isn’t known.
Severe heart problems like cardiomyopathy and mitral valve disease are also present in this breed. A heart circulating blood throughout its massive body is prone to thinning and weakening over the years.
Heart disease in dogs isn’t preventable, aside from heartworm, but prompt diagnosis and treatment can potentially increase the pet’s life expectancy and quality of life.
Other less common health concerns for Cane Corso Mastiff are bone cancer and corneal erosion.
Any dog weighing over 75 pounds is more likely to get bone cancer. Corneal erosion almost always results from direct physical trauma to the eye and can be chronic if it isn’t properly treated.
Appropriate Play
Knowing the right interactive activity to provide for your pet makes a huge difference in their behavior and demeanor. Having the best Cane Corso toys and space for this Mastiff mix fosters a healthy attitude and well-being.
Allow this breed to spend independent time outdoors so they can patrol the fence or property line, which stimulates them mentally and physically.
They also need fetching games with balls or frisbees, and if the obedience training you follow allows for tug, rope pulling works well for them.
Make sure to schedule play and exercise at least an hour after feeding to prevent bloat. Structured walks exceeding one hour daily will keep them lean and lessen the pressure on their heart and joints.
Conclusion For “Cane Corso English Mastiff Mix”
It’s no secret that the Cane Corso mixed with English Mastiff is aesthetically, physically, and intellectually impressive.
We’ve broken down the origins, characteristics, and requirements of both parent breeds to reveal a powerful, devoted animal with a series of desirable skills and attributes.
Knowing the challenges of having a massive dog that favors protectiveness, you must consider every implication of bringing one into your household and family.
You must enter this ownership prepared for the expenses and responsibilities mirrored by the dog’s size.
It takes time, patience, and money to train and socialize this breed properly so that they and those around them maintain health and safety.
If you have experience owning, caring for, and thoroughly training a large and domineering breed, you could find the perfect faithful companion in a Cane Corso Mastiff mix.
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For more English Mastiff Mixes, check out the video below:
