Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix: Info, Pictures, Traits & Facts

This beautiful, large dog was developed by carefully breeding the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Cane Corso with each other. As a mixed breed dog, the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback takes on a few of the temperament and personality traits of both parents, but they have their own breed-specific traits.

Understanding both the Cane Corso and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is important when it comes to learning about their offspring, but we must also look at the mixed breed themselves to understand exactly what one should expect as a potential owner. We put together this comprehensive guide designed to give you perspective about the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix.

Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix Puppies

These dogs are full of life and adventure. They are energetic, usually easy to train, and generally healthy, and they have an impressive 12- to 15-year expected lifespan. They can also be sociable when exposed to new people and places.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix

1. They Are Excellent Hunters

Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Cane Corso were developed to hunt, which makes the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix a natural hunter themselves. They possess strength, agility, stamina, and an overall sense of adventure that makes them more than capable of taking down badgers, boars, coyotes, bears, and even lions!

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2. They Are Awesome Household Guardians

Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mixed dogs come from a lineage with a history of guarding farms and homesteads against intruders. Their sheer size alone is enough to make any intruder think twice about entering a property that they shouldn’t. If that doesn’t work, this mixed breed will warn intruders away with barking and growls.

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3. They Are Generally Quiet Dogs

Unless there is a threat to deal with, the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix is generally a quiet dog that does not feel the need to communicate through barking. Instead, they tend to prefer using their body language to communicate with their human companions.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix

This mixed breed is intelligent, loyal, fun-loving, and independent. The average Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback stays close to their human companions and usually enjoys social situations at home and in public. These dogs are eager to please and yearn to spend some of their time working, whether that means protecting property or hauling a load of dead leaves to the compost pile in the yard.

This is a strong, fast dog that loves showing off their agility skills through outdoor games like fetch. Their independence can make them occasionally display a strong-willed personality. They can be assertive due to their Cane Corso lineage, but they understand their pack order and will always obey their owners when properly trained.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

These versatile dogs can make great pets for families of all shapes and sizes. When trained and socialized as a puppy, the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix can get along well with children and has patience when it comes to interacting and playing games with family members. This mixed breed likes attention but is independent enough to be fine at home alone while everyone in the family is at school, work, and social functions. Due to their large size, they can accidentally injure young, small children during playtime, so they should always be supervised until the kids are old enough to participate in training.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix can get along with other animals, but they are natural hunters of small and large animals, so they must be trained and socialized at an early age. If introduced to a household with existing pets as a puppy, they can learn to enjoy the company of other dogs and cats. They should be introduced to other dogs outside of the home while still puppies to ensure that they can get along well with strange dogs in public settings as they age to adulthood.

Things to Know When Owning a Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix

There are several important things that potential owners should know about the Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback before deciding whether to integrate one into their family dynamic. Diet, exercise, training, grooming, and potential susceptibility to health problems should all be considered. Here is what you need to know.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These dogs are known for being scavengers, and they will grab any food on tables and counters. However, their susceptibility to becoming overweight means human foods should be kept away from a Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix whenever possible. At least 90% of this mixed breed’s diet should be made up of high-quality food that contains protein as the main ingredient

Both commercial and homemade food is acceptable, but homemade meal plans should only be developed under the guidance of an experienced veterinarian nutritionist. If commercial food is chosen, age- and breed-specific options are recommended to ensure that a proper balance of nutrients is being consumed. Commercial food can be found specifically for puppies, adults, and even seniors. Less than 10% of a dog’s diet should be snacks, including store-bought options and human foods. All foods other than what’s served at mealtimes should be considered treats.

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Exercise 🐕

These are strong, athletic dogs with plenty of energy, so they require a moderate amount of daily exercise to stay happy and healthy throughout their life. Every day should start with a long walk of at least 30 minutes, followed by another 30 minutes or more of vigorous activity later. While walking is a fun pastime for this mixed breed, they enjoy partaking in many other types of activities that will provide them with the exercise that they need.

Specifically, most Cane Corse Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs love to run, making them great companions for bicyclists and joggers. They also enjoy adventures on the hiking trail and can easily keep up on a daylong hike if plenty of water is available and a few breaks are offered. These dogs also enjoy camping, visiting the dog park or the beach, and spending time in their own fenced yard playing with balls and in the sprinklers.

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Training 🦮

Obedience training is crucial for this large, strong breed. Without it, they can become overbearing and unruly, especially once fully grown. It should start as early as 8 weeks or as soon as you bring your puppy home for the first time if they are already more than 8 weeks old.

Training should start with the basics: come, sit, and stay. Once these are mastered, other things, such as item retrieval, weight pulling, and even search and rescue, can be taught, as these dogs are smart enough to understand such concepts. They also tend to be quick learners when they are engaged in the training that they’re participating in.

Agility training is popular among Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix owners. These dogs have athletic builds and working dispositions that make them shine on the agility course. Many dogs of this mixed breed can win obedience and agility competitions if training is made a priority starting when they are puppies.

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Grooming ✂️

Due to their Cane Corso heritage, this mixed breed has a double coat that sheds year round. They shed most during the spring months, so daily brushing during this time is recommended to minimize shedding and to get rid of dead hair and dander. The rest of the year, a weekly brushing should be enough to keep your Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback’s coat shiny and healthy.

These dogs don’t have long coats, so haircuts and trims are not necessary. They should get enough exercise to keep their nails naturally trimmed, but if not, you should use a nail grinder over a cutter when manually trimming their nails. Bathing is only needed when outdoor activities result in dirt and/or mud getting stuck in their coat.

• See Also: 11 Best Dry Dog Shampoos

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Health & Conditions ❤️

This mixed breed is generally healthy during all stages of life. However, there are certain health conditions that both the Cane Corso and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are susceptible to, which makes these mixed dogs susceptible to the same things. While the risk is low for most dogs, it does depend on the specific dog in question. Therefore, all owners should be aware of the possible health conditions that could present themselves at some point.

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Male vs. Female

The most obvious difference between male and female Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs is their size. Males tend to be taller and thicker than females. Also, female dogs are more independent than males and can be harder to potty train, but this depends more on the particular dog than anything else. Otherwise, male and female Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgebacks are similar in terms of personality and temperament.

Final Thoughts

The Cane Corso Rhodesian Ridgeback mix is a strikingly powerful dog with a warm personality. This mixed breed is smart, loyal, and can get along well in a variety of different household environments. But they need plenty of exercise, extensive training, and early socialization to realize the best versions of themselves.

This dog is not for everyone, as adventure and daily outdoor activity are crucial. If you’re more of a homebody or you spend a great deal of time outside of the home when your dog can’t be with you, this breed can be a challenge to keep happy and well-disciplined. If you enjoy daily walks and other outdoor activities and you don’t work long hours or maintain a vigorous calendar full of commitments, this might just be the perfect dog for you.

See Also:

• Cane Corso Bloodhound: Info, Pictures, Traits & Facts
• Cane Corso St. Bernard Mix: Info, Pictures, Traits & Facts

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Featured Image Credit: Cane Corso- Eudyptula, Shutterstock; Rhodesian Ridgeback- Frank Schrader, Pixabay