Cane Corso Bloodhound: Info, Pictures, Traits & Facts
By Brooke Bundy
Updated on
| Height: | 23–28 inches |
| Weight: | 80–110 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 9–12 years |
| Colors: | Black, Brindle, Fawn, Gray, Red |
| Suitable for: | Families or individuals with an enclosed yard |
| Temperament: | A guardian over their people, tolerant of young children but possessing a decidedly stubborn streak towards their parents |
Scouting out a Cane Corso Bloodhound mix can be a challenging task. The Bloodhound has been inspecting English grounds for hundreds of years and has been a favorite of the American South since before the Civil War. Meanwhile, the Cane Corso has been vigilantly watching over Italian villas for the past millennium, but they only recently set paws on American soil in the 1980s. Intentional litters of Cane Corso Bloodhound mixes are still rare, but you might want to sniff through your local shelters and online pet adoption databases for a surprise litter that needs a home.
Cane Corso Bloodhound Puppies
4 Little-Known Facts About the Cane Corso Bloodhound Mix
1. The American Kennel Club officially acknowledged the Cane Corso in 2010.
Although the breed had existed since the days when gladiators fought, changes in agricultural practices and the two world wars nearly wiped them out. Italian breeders revived the Corso during the 1960s and 70s. The Cane Corso entered the United States for the first time in 1988.
2. Both Bloodhounds and Cane Corsos need a job.
Bloodhounds have scoured the grounds of English nobles since the Reformation but have more recently been involved in detective work. The intuitions of a Bloodhound are so sound that they’re considered evidence in American courts. The Cane Corso has worn many hats through history, whether they’re war dogs leading the charge with blazing buckets of oil, hunters of wild boar, herding dogs, or vigilant protectors of the country estate. Nowadays both breeds and their mix serve as pets, but they still need daily mental and physical stimulation to feel fulfilled.
3. Cane Corso is a Latin name which means “guard dog of the courtyard.”
You’ll find that your Cane Corso Bloodhound mix will be the guard dog of the backyard as well, alerting you of any intruders with their baying bark. They might defend you and your family if the need arises.
4. In 2022, a Bloodhound named Trumpet won the Westminster National Dog Show.
This was the first time a Bloodhound had taken home the coveted prize. So far, Cane Corsos haven’t won a Best in Show, but they’re still new to the show ring, so hopefully they will in the future.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Cane Corso Bloodhound Mix 🧠
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
On the sociability scale, the Cane Corso Bloodhound ranks 3/5. This number reflects their perceived reactions to strangers, children in their family, and people outside of their “main human”, whether that’s a spouse or someone else in the home. Like most dogs, the Cane Corso Bloodhound remains fiercely loyal to their favorite person, but they’ll usually bond with the entire family. Due to their protective nature, they’ll likely bark at strangers, but they should simmer down at your command. Afterward, they might even try to introduce themselves properly to the newcomer.
Bloodhounds are particularly good with children. They typically have patience and tolerance for little kids’ antics, such as talking loudly in their face or pulling their tails. The Cane Corso’s loyal nature may make them excellent guardians. Even so, the Cane Corso Bloodhound mix towers over little children, growing up to 110 pounds and weighing no less than 80 pounds. It’s especially critical for large dogs to receive proper training while they’re young to prevent behavioral problems down the road, especially since both breeds tend to be stubborn towards their owners. Children should also be instructed not to push the dog’s patience, especially since this is a large breed that does have the capacity to hurt them, even if they probably wouldn’t.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Depending on their individual personality, a Cane Corso Bloodhound mix may tolerate and even act inviting towards other dogs in the house. Smaller dogs may not be the best idea though since the Cane Corso is a large dog who could hurt a petite creature, such as a terrier.
The Bloodhound has a voracious prey drive, and so does the Cane Corso, so adopting a cat isn’t advisable. They may get along with a feline if raised with one. However, since the Cane Corso Bloodhound is a huge dog who was bred to chase and kill, it’s not really safe to raise both under the same roof. You shouldn’t adopt the cat or the Cane Corso Bloodhound unless you’re confident it’s going to work.
Things to Know When Owning a Cane Corso Bloodhound:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
Being a large breed, the Cane Corso Bloodhound will require a lot of food. You might be tempted to buy cheap food to keep the costs down, but we suggest investing in a high-quality fresh food or a well-balanced diet recommended by your veterinarian to help them live their best and longest life.
Exercise 🐕
The Cane Corso Bloodhound mix has a moderate amount of physical energy. Given their ancestors’ history as working and hound dogs, they also need to be stimulated mentally to prevent becoming bored and destructive. The Bloodhound has a notoriously long puppyhood, so this breed may require more exercise than most in order to curb unwanted behaviors, such as destroying shoes and barking excessively. Aim for 1–2 hours of daily exercise for this breed. Ideally, a fully fenced-in backyard or dog park works the best because it allows them to engage in vigorous sniffing sessions while they roam. However, you’ll need to make sure the area is completely secure since the Bloodhound won’t stop their mission once they’re on the trail.
Training 🎾
This breed is highly trainable but requires early engagement to thrive. Bloodhounds and Cane Corsos possess a stubborn spirit that can try to force a submissive human to yield. You’ll need to establish yourself as their master early in the relationship so that they’ll listen to obedience training.
Grooming ✂️
Aside from the pools of drool, you’ll find the Cane Corso Bloodhound to be very easy to groom and clean up after. They have a short coat that sheds only moderately. You’ll need to bathe them when they’re excessively dirty, or about every other month. Other than that, just keep their teeth brushed daily and their nails trimmed as needed.
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Cane Corso Bloodhound is considered to be a relatively healthy breed with few breed-specific health concerns. However, here are a few conditions to watch out for:
- Ear and skin infections
- Bloat
Bloat
When humans say they feel bloated, most times we mean something along the lines of, “I just ate too much pizza, and now I feel fat.” Unfortunately, bloat means something different in the dog world. Bloat is when a dog’s stomach painfully expands with gas or dangerously twists, usually after eating a large amount of food. It can be a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical care.
Ear and Skin Infections
A Cane Corso Bloodhound mix’s adorable wrinkles may hide pockets of moisture, which can breed bacteria. Some signs of an ear or skin infection include a foul smell similar to moldy bread, a low-grade fever, or obvious discomfort, such as scratching excessively or yowling when touched. In ear infections, the inside flap of the ear will often be red and warmer than usual.
Male vs Female
There are no really obvious distinctions between genders, except a female Cane Corso Bloodhound will generally weigh between 15-30 pounds less than a male. Both sexes should give you their unconditional love, although female dogs might bond closer to a male human and while males might bond closer to a female.
Final Thoughts
The Cane Corso Bloodhound mix will enjoy roaming the grounds of your backyard, as long as it’s fully enclosed. As faithful scouts and protectors, they will likely make good family dogs. However, they’ll need to be trained and socialized early since they have a serious stubborn streak. As large dogs who bark and drool a lot and require 1–2 hours of daily exercise, they may not be an ideal fit for apartment living, but will thrive in a rural area with plenty of open space.
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