Cane Corso Price – How Much Will It Cost To Have One in 2022?

The Cane Corso, or Italian Mastiff, is a strong and noble dog breed that was almost wiped out in the mid-twentieth century.

After a group of enthusiasts among dog owners banded together to revive the breed in the 1970s, they have only grown in popularity. They are loved as both family pets and guard dogs. In fact, the breed name roughly translates to “the bodyguard”!

This is not a beginner’s dog. As a breed, they need intensive training and care. They need a job to focus on or they can become extremely destructive.

It’s traits like this that push up the Cane Corso price above that of a regular dog breed.

In this article, we will talk you through how much you should expect the Cane Corso price to be to buy one and discuss the most common expenses associated with owning one of these incredible dogs.

What Is the Price of a Cane Corso?

Cane Corso Puppy

Cane Corso Price – Puppy

The price will usually be between $900 and $2,000.

This is for one that has a good pedigree and health checks but isn’t of a high enough standard to show. This doesn’t indicate that there’s anything wrong, only that they don’t fit the breed standard to show level.

Those that are show quality are generally sold for $2,500 to $4,000 but may rise as high as $8,500 (if they have a superior pedigree which drives up their price). A pedigree is a proof to dog owners that the dog is purebred and comes from an excellent line.

A breeder of show-level pedigrees will have had to pay more for the use of the male dog.

There will also be the running cost that comes from keeping them at show level condition. The net effect is that a show-quality Cane Corso is more to breed and going to pass that on in the purchase price.

Cane Corso Price – Dog

If you are more interested, there is always the option of taking on an adult breed Cane Corso. Rescuing a dog is an extremely rewarding experience – some Cane Corsos find themselves in rescue centers through no fault of their own.

The average Cane Corso price for adopting and adult is between $250 to $500.

This price usually covers work that the center has done with the dog including spaying or neutering, health checks, and some basic obedience training. The center will also be able to give you a good idea of whether or not this dog breed is a fit for your lifestyle.

You can also find rescue centers that focus solely on Cane Corsos. Their website lists those in your area.

Remember, taking on an adult dog may be difficult. Some have had traumatic histories that could cause behavioral issues. Obedience training is vitally important and should be taken into consideration when making the decision to adopt an adult.

Cane Corso Price – Service Dog

The Cane Corso dog breed wasn’t nicknamed “the bodyguard” for nothing. They are formidable watch dogs – strong, powerful, and naturally highly protective over their family members.

Many people believe them to be the best guard dog breed for property and personal protection.

Having a professional guard dog should not be taken lightly. If it’s something you are interested in, you should find a professional company that is experienced in training. The Cane Corso price for a fully trained protection dog is between $8,500 and $13,000.

Factors That Impact The Cane Corso Price

Cane Corso Close Up

When you’re buying a Cane Corso, there are lots of factors to consider that will have an impact on the price of your dog.

It’s important to think hard about what you want from your Cane Corso. This section will help you understand how best to spend your money.

Age

Unless you’re talking about a fully trained protection dog, the most expensive Cane Corso price is going to be between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks. This is the prime time for buying and it’s when breeders will charge the most for them.

If the breeder doesn’t manage to sell all in the 8 to 12-week window, they tend to lower their price. Once they are a year old, the Cane Corso price greatly reduces.

Coat Color

The coat colors that the Cane Corso is most likely to show are black, grey, red, fawn, and brindle.

Most coat colors are acceptable within the breed standard for Cane Corso. When the breed was being developed by breed enthusiasts, they wanted to produce a larger variety of beautiful colors.

Occasionally you do find coat colors that are not accepted by the breed standard, for example, ‘blues’. These are slightly cheaper than those with traditional coat colors.

Gender

There is not much difference in the Cane Corso price of a male and female. Males tend to grow larger than females and will need more food (this is really the only extra expense). Females are recommended for first-time Cane Corso dog breed owners as they have a sweeter, calmer nature.

Lineage and Bloodlines

The lineage of your puppy will greatly impact their price. If you have a dog that has a show winning bloodline (that the breeder can prove), the Cane Corso price will increase.

In one way this is good as show breeds have to have excellent temperaments so you’re sure to receive a dog with a great character. On the other hand, many breeders who don’t breed show quality still have excellent puppies with wonderful personalities. You just have to be sure to do your research into your breeder.

Location

Traveling to pick up a dog is always going to raise the cost. The further away your breeder is located, the more expensive it will be to pick up. Some breeders even offer flight packages to have the dog flown over to you.

We would always recommend going over to see the puppy first and traveling back with it if you are able to. This way you can be sure of what you’re buying.

Breeder Practices

The Cane Corso is an American Kennel Club certified dog breed. This means breeders are held to a certain standard if they want to be registered with the American Kennel Club.

Remember, the higher the welfare practices, the more expensive the pup will be. Registered breeders are going to charge more because their care is more expensive.

Unregistered breeders may be able to charge less but they may also have lower welfare standards.

Certification and Warranties

For a show-quality dog, it’s definitely worth buying a puppy with all the fancy certifications and proof of bloodlines. These will improve your chances of doing well in the show dog world.

If you don’t want to show yours, it’s really not as important to have all the certificates. And of course, dogs without certificates will be significantly cheaper.

Long Term Ownership Costs

Cane Corso

The Cane Corso price itself is not the only price you have to pay. There are many different expenses needed to keep a dog healthy and happy. Much like children, there’s a hidden expense to dog owners that need to be considered.

Training

Their obedience training is incredibly important. These dogs are intelligent, protective, and affectionate towards their owners and family members, but if you’re not careful they will easily end up owning you.

It’s a breed that needs training from the moment they come home. Signing up for group classes and individual training sessions is a must. This will cost you between $20 (group) to $100 (individual) per session.

Obviously, this is different if you’re bringing home a fully trained personal protection dog. The trainer will spend a couple of days handing the dog over to you and teaching you their commands. They will also help settle the dog in and this all comes with the Cane Corso price.

Grooming

The Cane Corso doesn’t require a huge amount of grooming. Their coat is short and sheds twice a year (in spring and fall). Regular brushing should keep their fur healthy and clean. As they are a large dog breed, you may not have the facilities to bathe them. In this case, a professional groomer is going to be a big help.

It’s a breed that doesn’t need grooming very often and once every couple of months should be more than fine. Groomers will also clip nails and brush teeth if this is something you’re nervous about.

Grooming will start at $50 per session.

Health Care and Veterinary Bills

Vet checkups should happen yearly and will usually cost between $20-$75. The Cane Corso is well known for being an extremely hardy breed. The only conditions they’re prone to are hip dysplasia, bloat, and entropion.

  • An operation for hip dysplasia is likely to cost $1,500-$6,000 in vet expenses. Medication for pain relief is going to be quite expensive too as they’re heavy dogs coming in at 90 to 120 lb.
  • If your dog develops bloat, it’s going to cost $1,500-$7,500 to fix. Making sure they’re eating small meals more frequently as this should help reduce the risk of bloat.
  • Entropion is when the eyelid is shaped abnormally and may cause damage to the eye itself. This will cost vet expenses of $300-$1,500 to fix.

Although they are a relatively healthy breed, the possibility of one of these conditions appearing should not be overlooked. Having good insurance is the best way to manage vet expenses.

Insurance

The Cane Corso is considered one of the most expensive breeds to insure – this is mainly due to their large size.

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Breed Specific Conditions

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Some companies even refuse to cover this breed, so you should do some research into this before getting one.

Food and Treats

The Cane Corso is a large dog breed and they need plenty of food to keep them healthy.

High-quality kibble is recommended for this breed and they will need 4-8 cups of it a day. The exact amount they need will depend on their weight and level of activity. The more active the dog, the more they will need to eat.

A 30lb bag of dog food contains 120 cups of dog food. If your Cane Corso eats 6 cups a day, that bag will last you around 20 days. Assuming that the price of a bag is $50, you’re going to be spending almost $1,000 on dog food each year. That’s not including treats which you will have to buy as these dogs will need them for positive reinforcement training.

Miscellaneous

The last items to consider are items like the dog’s bed, bedding, water and food bowl, lead, collar, harness, dog tags and toys.

These items are important, but don’t feel like you have to spend huge amounts of money on them. Your dog will appreciate a good bed but won’t care if their collar doesn’t match their harness.

Think carefully about where to spend your money.

How To Find A Reputable Cane Corso Breeder

Cane Corso At Park

Finding a reputable breeder for a Cane Corso is important as these dogs have some character traits that can be difficult to manage.

Good breeders only breed dogs that display personalities that fit the breed standard. A Cane Corso should be intelligent, affectionate, loyal, confident, and protective. An overprotective nature that could lead to aggression is not a good trait and a good breeder will not breed with a dog that shows this trait.

Bad breeders just breed to make money and will be producing dogs that are substandard. When you are looking for a breeder, look out for warning signs such as selling puppies that are under 8 weeks old. Also, it’s not a good sign if they always have puppies available. A breeder that seems to be trying too hard to sell the puppies is likely to be a poor breeder.

Good breeders will breed in a clean and safe environment, and they will be able to provide you with the correct paperwork and health checks for your puppy.

This should include hip scores. They will also be able to tell you about any health issues and assist you with training and diet advice. Many good breeders have contracts that ensure that dog owners have to take them to obedience training classes and return agreements.

Summary

The Cane Corso is a noble dog but they’re not for a first-time dog parent.

This is a powerful breed that takes an experienced hand to shape it into a loving companion. But with consistent socialization and training, these dogs make wonderful pets for the right dog owners.

Now you have a general idea of how much these dogs will cost, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether you should bring one into your life and that of any family members.

It takes a specific type of character to truly live happily with this majestic dog breed.

Cane Corso Price FAQ?

How much does it cost to register my Cane Corso puppy?

AKC registration starts at $33 and can rise to $87 depending on the package that you choose.

How much should a Cane Corso puppy cost that has grand champions on both sides?

A top-quality dog with exceptional breed lines generally starts at $2,500 and can go as high as $8,500.

What’s the buying rate of Cane Corso puppies per year in the USA?

There are no official recorded numbers. In terms of Cane Corso price, the most expensive is between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks. This is the prime time for buying and it’s when breeders will charge the most for them.

Highest appraised Cane Corso in the World?

Again, there is no official recorded highest appraisal, and as above the most important factor is the quality of the breed lines. Another very important factor is coat color, with black being the most sought after because they make the dog appear more menacing.

About Thomas Woods 224 Articles
Thomas has been a dog lover since he was 6 years old when his parents got him a rescue Labrador. Since then his love for dogs has lead him to study Animal Behavior & Welfare. He now keeps a six year old English Bullmastiff and educates pet parents through his online publication Perfect Dog Breeds.

7 Comments

  1. Yes I just laid to rest my faithful friend Achilles about 3 months ago, he was a 85 pound pit bull he was 12 years old my second pit. I’ve been doing a lot of research and I’ve fallen in love with the Cane Corso and I’m ready for another friend.

    • So sorry for your loss.. Just curious if you ever found a new friend, and if so if it was a cane corso?

  2. Questions A breeder is telling me her puppies with breeding rights cost 2300. And ears crop another 300.00 So I wS asking about the warranty. They only say 3 days. This makes me worry. I READ FROM A FEW more breeders they offer life time warranty on some of there health defects or 26 months is this a sign of someone just trying to sell should I run.

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