Category: dog-breed

Breed Overview

The Cane Corso Boerboel Mix is a natural-born leader in the dog world. But it didn’t acquire those leadership traits by chance, given it’s the product of two incredibly powerful mastiff breeds—that is the Boerboel and the Cane Corso.

These two dogs were bred in different parts of the world to serve as guard dogs and help hunters track down big game. They were so proficient at their job that some breeders felt the need to mix both genes.

We wouldn’t say the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix is a “superior” breed to its parents, but it has all the best traits of the parent breeds, and then some.

Cane Corso Boerboel Mix Puppies

You’ll likely struggle to find a reputable breeder who’s in the business of commercially producing this breed. You might find a sales listing after running a quick Google search online, but be sure to do your due diligence with the breeder first.

You can try and approach an experienced Cane Corso or Boerboel breeder, and ask them if they would be willing to try to produce the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix. Even if they aren’t up to the task, they may be able to refer you to someone else.

In case you’re wondering why breeders don’t like producing hybrids all too often, it’s because crossbreeding puts the breed at risk of losing some of its key traits.

Temperament and Intelligence of the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix

The temperament and personality of different crossbreeds are the two factors that potential buyers like to look into before signing any dotted line on a sale contract.

When it comes to the breed’s temperament and personality, they’ll always look calm, exude confidence, and display signs of intelligence. Of course, these are traits that are largely drawn from the Boerboel breed. You’ll also notice that they are more watchful than the typical dog and affectionate to a high degree. Those are the two things that we love most about the Cane Corso parent.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The Cane Corso Boerboel Mix can easily be described as a “Velcro” dog. That’s to say, it will always want to be as close as possible to you or anyone else that makes it feel like family.

Not because it yearns for cuddles, but because it’s loyal and enjoys its owners’ company. Then again, sometimes it may be a lot more independent in nature, a sign that the Boerboel genes are in the driver’s seat.

This breed does exceptionally well as a watchdog, as they tend to be very wary of unfamiliar faces, strange pets, or anything that’s just roaming around the vicinity. The breed is usually great with kids, but only if you train it to be gentle around them. For the training to be effective, they have to be introduced at a very young age.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

Even though the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix possesses an uncanny ability to read its owner’s moods, and the intelligence to understand the commands, it can be stubborn at times. It’s generally an obedient dog, but this stubbornness may be an issue around other pets.

For this reason, smaller pets around one of these dogs can be a problem. These dogs do have a fairly high prey drive and will need a lot of training, dedication, and socialization to get along with cats and other small pets.

Things to Know Before Owning a Cane Corso Boerboel Mix

Food & Diet Requirements

Puppy Diet

The pups have nutritional needs that are way different from their parent’s needs because they have to be fed food that facilitates both growth and development while sustaining their active daily lifestyle.

For example, bone development requires calcium as well as phosphorus minerals. And these are compounds that can easily be acquired from meat. Unfortunately, even though the amount of phosphorus present in meat is more than enough to meet their daily nutritional value, the calcium mineral is insufficient. If you feed your Cane Corso Boerboel Mix a meat-only diet, there is a very good chance that they’ll develop a severe bone condition later on down the road. It’s also important to add that calcium plays a vital role in the development of the nervous system.

Another nutritional element that’s crucial to their growth process is protein. It should account for a larger percentage of their diet, as it’s supposed to help them build a robust muscular system as they grow older.

Their bodies will also need vegetables and fruits, to extract micronutrients such as vitamins D and C. Those two are effective at aiding digestion while facilitating the absorption of minerals such as iron and magnesium.

Adult Diet

A large portion of the adult Cane Corso Boerboel Mix’s diet should be meat. Serve them some organ meat as well, instead of just muscle meat. The latter is still nutritious, but organ meat has a higher nutritional value on a pound-for-pound scale. Organ meats are known to be very rich in fat-soluble vitamins, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and iron.

Don’t forget that it’s not a balanced diet without fruits or vegetables. The kind that offers micronutrients that are meant to help improve their general health and well-being, in addition to fortifying their immune system.

By the way, fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants, which are supposed to manage the risk of developing a chronic oxidative stress-related illness—for example, cancer.

Exercise

The Cane Corso Boerboel Mix loves having a job to do. You must keep it occupied, or it will start displaying aggressive and disruptive behavior.

We already know that handling a high-energy breed is no walk in the park, as they normally require consistent physical and mental stimulation—even a long walk or jog for a couple of miles. They will appreciate any form of exercise that’s designed to ensure that their muscles remain toned and well-stimulated. Exercising will also help keep obesity at bay because they tend to have a high appetite in comparison to other breeds.

Tugging and chasing games are usually recommended to Cane Corso Boerboel Mix owners, who are hoping to help their dogs maintain a healthy weight. The level of intensity that typically comes with such games will help them burn off all the excess calories.

Training

Lucky for us, the two parent breeds are not only versatile in their own rights, but also boast great intellectual powers. These traits go hand in hand with trainability, as a highly trainable dog has to be willing and able to adapt to various situations while obeying commands. The only issue that you might be forced to deal with is the problem of their innate sense of independence. And clearly, they get it from the Boerboel side of the family.

If you are hanging out in public areas with your Cane Corso Boerboel Mix, you have to be 100% sure that they are manageable. You have to teach them to strictly obey the “wait” and “stay” commands at all times, or you might find yourself in a difficult situation. Luckily, this breed normally develops an incredible recall and is ready to abide by the rules if the training method incorporates positive reinforcements.

It’s important to incorporate some separation anxiety drills into your training program. And you have to introduce them as early as possible, as these drills are designed to prevent destructive behaviors.

Grooming

The physical traits of the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix puppies will purely hinge on the genes from the parent breeds. They usually present features that are very similar to those displayed by the Cane Corso and the Boerboel, but as each one of them grows older, their attributes will be more inclined towards one of the parents.

Nonetheless, this breed usually comes with a short coat that’s smooth and glossy. You only have to brush the coat a couple of times a week to get rid of dead hair, while at the same time ensuring that their naturally produced body oils are evenly distributed.

Offering them baths more than once a month is not a good idea, as this could eradicate the protective oil layers that are meant to shield the skin against harsh environmental elements. Without those oils, they gradually develop skin problems such as itching.

Dental hygiene is of prime importance, so you have to brush those teeth every day if possible. Make sure the toothpaste that you’ll be using doesn’t have xylitol. It’s a naturally occurring chemical compound that’s commonly used as a sugar substitute, or an ingredient in the production of various commercial products such as the toothpaste that we use in our homes. This substance is known to be toxic to dogs, as it can cause liver failure, hypoglycemia, or even death.

Health and Conditions

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cane Corso Boerboel Mix

1. The Cane Corso Is an Ancient Breed

The Cane Corso is also called the Italian Mastiff. However, contrary to popular belief, they weren’t initially bred in Italy. As history would have it, these dogs were initially bred to be war dogs by the ancient Greek community. The Romans took them to Italy after conquering the Greek islands.

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2. Boerboels Are African Natives

South Africans were the first to breed Boerboels. To improve their physical abilities, they crossbred some Mastiff-type dogs with the European Bulldog. That was back in the 1600s when hunting big game was popular.

As the years passed, they were eventually trained to serve as farming dogs, before being introduced to us as family dogs. Some of you might not know that “boer” was borrowed from the Dutch language, and it literally translates to “farmer”.

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3. The Cane Corso Name Originates from Latin, Meaning “Bodyguard Dog” or “Robust Dog”

The Cane Corso Boerboel Mix is no different and is known to be an excellent guard dog—if only for its formidable appearance!

Final Thoughts

The Cane Corso Boerboel Mix is not a small breed. It’s conspicuously huge and has an even larger personality. Training this dog properly is of paramount importance, especially if you’re hoping to transform it into an affectionate family dog. Seeing as both parents were bred to be hunters, that strong prey drive will always be hard-wired into its DNA.

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Featured Image Credit: Left – Didkovska Ilona, Shutterstock | Right – Augustinus Martinus Noppé, Pexels

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The German Corso is a mix of two dog breeds, the German Shepherd and the Cane Corso. The German Corso is a large, loyal, intelligent dog eager to please its owners. It’s also quick to protect its family and territory.

With this breed, you get the best traits of a Cane Corso and a German Shepherd. Just like the parent breeds, these dogs can also make great companions if well-trained. Read on to discover more about the German Corso.

Breed Overview

The German Corso is known for its dedication to its family and ability to guard the home. It’s one of the few dog breeds that you can sleep easy with, knowing that it’s on the lookout at all times.

If you are looking for a mixed breed dog with the best qualities of a German Shepherd and a Cane Corso, this is the dog for you. Not only does it harness both qualities, but it is also an incredibly beautiful dog known for its intelligence and protective nature.

German Corso Puppies

The German Corso is a fairly rare designer dog. The puppies can either resemble both parents or take more after one of the parents. The puppies are just as intelligent as their parents and thus require training when still young. Although the adults are highly active and require plenty of exercise, puppies should not be over-exercised to avoid strain on their joints.

You should get a puppy from a reputable breeder, and most charge anywhere from $500 to $1,000. The price will vary depending on the breeder, the dog’s parentage, and your location. Before buying one, you should always ask for an opportunity to see the puppies interacting with the mother. A trusted breeder should also be willing to share with you the father’s details and both parents’ medical records.

Adopting is also a rewarding option, if you can find a German Corso needing a home.

Temperament and Intelligence of the German Corso

The German Corso is highly intelligent. They also have a good temperament—they are playful, friendly, and goofy around their owners and family.

Due to their intelligence, training them is easy. They can pick up training concepts and commands quickly. They are eager to please and are generally incredibly obedient, which is another reason they are easy to train. Training should be gentle, especially when they are puppies. Consider using treats and positive reassurance instead of harsher methods. However, these dogs can be stubborn from time to time.

German Corsos are calm dogs but can be temperamental when it comes to strangers and outsiders and are highly selective about who they deem worthy of hanging around. This is why early socialization of these dogs is essential.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The German Corso is an excellent family dog. With those they consider part of their pack, they tend to get along well, including young children. However, due to their high energy levels, they are not the best pick for elderly owners who cannot give them the right amount of exercise.

They are also friendly and compassionate and do well with children—but supervision is still required with small children. They tend to knock them down due to their high spirits and may not enjoy when their boundaries are crossed. However, they take a parental role with young children and can be used as nanny dogs. They also make fantastic playmates for energetic children.

German Corsos are loving, loyal companions that are devoted to their owners and family and will protect them from harm, even putting their own lives at risk to do so.

Rehomed German Corsos take a long time before they can warm up to new people and acclimatize to the new surroundings and should be handled with care.

Since they are highly energetic and social, the perfect owner of the German Corso is anyone who can provide company most of the day. Otherwise, this dog will suffer from separation anxiety and may act out when the owner is gone by destroying property.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

The German Corso is a friendly breed, and they get along with other canines if they are socialized from a young age. Their ability to get along with another dog will also depend on the temperament of the other dog. If the dog is aggressive, German Corsos tend to get defensive and may exhibit aggressive behavior. Some dogs in this breed also exhibit territorial behavior and may not get along with a dog of the same sex.

The German Corso has a high prey drive, making it incompatible with smaller pets such as cats, birds, and rabbits. If you have them living in the same house, you must keep a close eye on them and separate them when you are not around. Of course, socialization from a young age can help, but their high prey drive can make this challenging.

Things to Know When Owning a German Corso

The German Corso is a large and energetic dog breed and is not recommended for first-time dog owners. Some things you have to know before owning one include the following:

Food & Diet Requirements

The German Corso has no special dietary requirements and can eat most varieties of dog food. However, since they are a large and energetic breed, you must ensure you give them food to nourish and build their muscles and bones. They typically benefit from a high-protein diet with lots of vitamins since they burn calories throughout the day when playing or exercising.

If you are unsure what to feed them, you can consult a vet, who will advise you on what to feed them according to their size and age. However, it’s up to you whether to feed them raw food, dry kibble, or a homemade diet. Always double-check the ingredients and ensure all nutritional needs are met.

Balancing feeding against exercise is essential to maintain a healthy weight. The healthiest shape and size for a German Corso is a lean build; it eases pressure on the vital organs and joints and helps your dog avoid diseases such as diabetes.

Exercise

The German Corso is a highly energetic dog, requiring regular exercise to stimulate it mentally and physically. Teenagers and adults of this breed typically need more hours of exercise than older dogs since they calm down as they age and their energy levels decrease.

You should only consider this dog if you can put in the hours. They need at least 1 hour of strenuous exercise daily, such as playing catch, swimming, and running. If you have a big backyard, you can let them loose and allow them to run until they are tired. Running also will enable them to burn off some steam and calm down.

When dealing with puppies, it’s better to break down the exercise throughout the day to avoid over-exerting them. If you neglect to exercise your German Corso, they can become nervous and agitated and turn to more destructive behavior to burn off the excess energy.

Training

The German Corso is intelligent, obedient, and eager to please, making training easy. They need consistent obedience training as puppies as well as mental stimulation. This dog also needs to be trained not to bite when it’s a puppy—it has a strong jaw and bite strength and might do serious harm when it bites, even when playing unless it’s trained how to bite softly.

The German Corso has a reputation for being focused during training. The adaptability this dog gets from the German Shepherd heritage makes training it a pleasure. You can expect it to top the class in training or puppy classes.

Since it’s a large and easily excitable dog, socialization is a big part of its training. This will ensure it is manageable even when outside the home. It will also help the dog deal with a wide range of situations. Any domineering behaviors towards other dogs or negative interactions with other people can also be mitigated and managed by teaching your dog to obey recall commands.

Prioritizing the “sit” and “wait” command is also important when training this dog. The best training method is positive reinforcement since these dogs love being praised by their owners.

Grooming

The German Corso has minimal grooming requirements and only sheds a couple of times a year. The coat is short and sleek and only needs to be brushed once a week. However, if the German Shepherd heritage includes a long-haired German Shepherd, the coat may be longer, shed more, and require more regular grooming.

Cleaning your dog’s teeth regularly is also essential since it removes tartar and buildup. Also, consider taking them to a professional groomer every 4–6 weeks to maintain their coat health, clean their ears, and clip their nails.

Health and Conditions

The German Corso is a healthy dog with very few health issues. Some of these health issues can be traced back to one parent.

Male vs. Female

Each dog is unique, and gender does not affect the general personality of German Corsos much. However, male and female dogs can sometimes have different dispositions. Generally, male German Corsos are bigger and heavier than females. On the other hand, the female German Corso is more likely to be responsive to training and matures faster than its male counterpart.

The males also tend to be less energetic and standoffish with strangers and outsiders. However, both males and females make excellent guard dogs and loving companions within the home.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the German Corso

1. They make excellent guard dogs.

Given the nature of both parents, the German Corso is very protective of its family. It’s also very distrusting of strangers and will alert you as soon as anyone steps into your property with a loud and formidable bark.

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2. They can be stubborn and strong-willed.

German Corsos can be stubborn and strong-willed, primarily because of their intelligence. If you plan on getting one, you need to be ready to put in the time and effort to train them. Luckily, obedience training is easy for this dog breed.

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3. They are big eaters.

The German Corso is a large dog breed with high energy levels. For this reason, they require a lot of food to sustain them. Giving them a high-quality diet packed with nutrients and calories is vital. Feeding them is easy since they are generally not picky eaters.

Final Thoughts

The German Corso is a popular hybrid since it gets positive traits from both parents. They are loyal and cautious and thus make excellent family dogs. They are powerful and athletic with large muscular bodies to match.

However, people with small kids and pets should be wary about bringing a German Corso into the mix. They have a high prey drive which is what made them excellent hunting dogs in the first place.

If you are considering getting a German Corso, ensure you have enough space to house them and allow them to run around.

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Featured Image Credit: Left – Didkovska Ilona, Shutterstock | Right – Anna Dudkova, Unsplash

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Dogs are essential parts of our society. They offer us unconditional love and loyalty, never-ending companionship, and emotional support when we need it the most. It’s not just little dogs that offer these things, of course. Large dog breeds like the Labrador and Cane Corso mix have all these qualities and more!

Breed Overview

The Labrador Corso is a crossbreed dog, the result of breeding the Labrador Retriever and Cane Corso together. This powerful, rugged breed was born to work. They are compassionate and loyal to their human companions, and they tend to be territorial over the property in which they inhabit, which makes them great guard dogs.

Their temperament is generally loving, playful, social, intelligent, and loyal, but specific personalities can vary depending on the parent breed that a Labrador Corso puppy takes after the most. Since both the Labrador Retriever and the Cane Corso are intelligent dogs, any Labrador Corso that you meet will also be quite smart.

While the average Labrador Corso can look intimidating with their muscular body and broad chest, this is a fun-loving crossbreed that tends to get along well in social settings. These dogs require plenty of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy, and they do best in homes with fenced yards but can adapt as necessary.

Labrador Corso Puppies

Labrador Corso puppies are spritely, full of adventure, and eager to please their human companions, even the children. While puppies, these dogs can’t do much harm when roughhousing with adults and kids. However, as they age, they get bigger and can accidentally injure little ones if not properly supervised.

Their height and weight gains are significant in the puppy years, so they can cause damage without meaning to while just a few months old. That’s not to say that these dogs are viscous or mean, as nothing could be further from the truth. Any incidents are typically out of love and excitement, not aggression.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Labrador Corso

The Labrador Corso is an intelligent mixed dog breed that learns quickly and seems to understand what’s happening around them in social settings. These dogs are powerful and full of energy, so they need daily exercise to keep them balanced. They love to hike, swim, and go on car adventures, just like smaller dogs do.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

What’s great about this large dog breed is their even temperament and fun-loving nature. The average Labrador Corso loves spending time with humans and enjoys playing games whenever there is an opportunity to do so, both indoors and outside. This extremely loyal crossbreed naturally wants to protect their human family members and their territory, so obedience training is a necessity.

Labrador Corsos are not typically aggressive against those they don’t deem a threat, so they must be taught how to determine threats and how to properly react to said threats. That said, these are calm and patient dogs, making them great companions for kids of all ages. They do best in large families, where multiple people have time to spend stimulating their minds and bodies throughout the day.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

The answer to this question is not cut and dry. Yes, the Labrador Corso can get along well with other pets, but they usually require conditioning to do so. Otherwise, they may see cats or other dogs as threats or prey to contend with. Socialization with other animals as a puppy is essential to ensuring that they will get along with household pets and other animals outside of the house when a full-grown adult.

Things to Know When Owning a Labrador Corso

Food & Diet Requirements

The Labrador Corso requires a high-quality diet with plenty of protein to support and maintain their massive size and strong muscles. Commercial food that contains real meat as the first ingredient and isn’t filled with artificial ingredients should provide the nutrients that this crossbred dog needs to experience a high quality of life. It’s a good idea to choose a food that is designed specifically for large breed dogs, as it will be formulated with specific nutrients to support muscle and bone growth and to sustain the muscles and bones throughout adulthood.

Exercise

The average Labrador Corso should get at least 1 hour of exercise daily to maintain strong bones and a healthy mind. The best form of exercise for this crossbreed is walking. They do well with two walks of about 30 minutes each per day. These dogs also enjoy swimming in pools and at the beach, playing fetch at the park, and going on moderate hikes through the mountains and/or forests.

Without enough exercise, these active dogs will look for ways to get rid of pent-up energy, such as excessive barking, roughhousing inside when they shouldn’t, and even being destructive with household items. Therefore, getting them outdoors for leg stretching and heart pumping should be a daily priority for owners of the Labrador Corso.

Training

Due to the smarts of both the Labrador Retriever and the Cane Corso, owners can expect their Labrador Corsos to be intelligent and moderately easy to train. Keep in mind that these dogs tend to know that they’re smart, and they may try to manipulate your training efforts. Their strong will with their sense of humor sometimes results in this crossbreed trying to “trick” their owners into things like giving out more treats than deserved and forgetting to follow through on the execution of commands.

That said, daily practice, patience, and consistency should help ensure that training is a positive and successful experience. Training should start early, when the Labrador Corso is still a puppy. You can start with the basics as soon as the pup is brought home for the first time. It’s important to be firm yet positive while training to avoid confusion and frustration. These dogs do best with praise rather than negative reinforcement.

Grooming

The Labrador Corso is easy to groom due to their short, straight hair. They do shed, but a couple of brushing sessions a week should keep the shedding in check, so the house won’t get inundated with loose hairs. Bathing is not necessary unless their coat gets muddy or dirt/debris can be felt during petting. They may need nail trimming, but their daily outdoor exercise should help keep the nails naturally trimmed.

It’s a good idea to clean their ears with a damp cloth or cotton ball once a week or so. Daily teeth brushing or the administration of dental chews will minimize the risk of gum disease. This crossbreed should be exposed to grooming practices while young, as they don’t particularly enjoy them.

Health and Conditions

As a crossbreed, the Labrador Corso is susceptible to the health conditions that their parents are prone to. However, these are usually healthy dogs that don’t typically experience serious health issues.

Male vs. Female

There are a few things that sex seems to play a role in when it comes to the Labrador Corso. For instance, males tend to be more independent and more protective of their family members than females. Many owners also notice that their female Labrador Corsos are less energetic than their male counterparts.

However, there are no hard-and-fast rules about how a male or female Labrador Corso should behave. Much of a Labrador Corso’s temperament and personality is passed down from their parents. One pup might take more after their Labrador Retriever parent, while another might reflect their Cane Corso parent. Even if two dogs are the same sex, they will exhibit noticeable differences.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Labrador Corso

1. They Wish That They Could Be Lap Dogs

Even though Labrador Corsos have a formidable look, these dogs are gentle giants that love to snuggle with their human family members. If they could fit, they would not hesitate to spend all their time in someone’s lap. Just because they are too big to do so usually doesn’t stop them from trying!

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2. They Are Gentle With Young Children

It’s as though the Labrador Corso is aware of how powerful they are because they tend to go out of their way to remain gentle and patient with young children. They typically put up with teasing, like tail pulling, well, and they rarely become aggressive over things like toys and treats.

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3. They Tend to Take Well to the Water

Like their Labrador Retriever parents, these crossbred dogs tend to enjoy swimming in the water, no matter the source. They’ll happily ride the waves at the beach, jump into the backyard swimming pool, and paddle alongside their companions in a lake. They also don’t seem to mind things like riding in boats and floating on surfboards.

Final Thoughts

Labrador Corsos are awesome dogs that bring so much to the table when it comes to being a household pet and guardian. With plenty of love and training, this crossbreed is fun loving, sociable, adventurous, and well-behaved when spending time outdoors with strangers. These dogs are large in both size and heart, and they tend to easily find their place in the family dynamic.

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Featured Image Credit: Annabell Gsoedl, Shutterstock

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