How Much Exercise Does a Cane Corso Need? Breed Necessities & Facts
By Kit Copson
Updated on
It can be tricky figuring out just how much exercise a dog needs because there’s no guarantee that one dog’s needs will be the same as another’s—even if they’re of the same breed. That said, breed is a helpful determiner for getting an idea of how much exercise your dog may need. For instance, the Cane Corso likely needs between 1 and 2 hours of exercise per day.
Let’s explore this further.
How Many Hours of Exercise Should My Cane Corso Have Per Day?
The Cane Corso is a large, impressive, and powerful dog with strong working roots. This breed descends from Roman mastiffs that were used in war and for protective purposes due to their high intelligence, strength, and love of having a job to do. These traits have stuck through the ages and the Cane Corso as we know it today is a dog with a lot of energy and drive.
According to the PDSA in the U.K., the Cane Corso needs at least 2 hours of exercise per day, but this may vary from dog to dog. The American Kennel Club recommends a walk of “at least a mile” twice per day, in the morning and evening. These guidelines are for adult Cane Corsos, mind you.
How Much Exercise Does a Cane Corso Puppy Need?
For Cane Corso puppies, you’ll need to start small and increase the amount of exercise gradually as they get older. There’s a lot of debate as to how much exercise a puppy needs per day and, as a result, there’s no straight answer to the question.
The key is paying attention to your puppy’s needs to make sure they’re not overexercised as this could be damaging to their joints. For this reason, avoid going for jogs and runs with your puppy until they’re a bit older. The American Kennel Club recommends waiting until your dog is around 1.5 years old before doing these kinds of activities.
Some people go by the “5-minute” rule, which means the puppy gets 5 minutes of exercise for each month they age, twice per day. This would mean that a puppy aged 3 months would get two 15-minute exercise sessions every day. It’s best to speak to your vet about this when you first get your Cane Corso puppy.
How Can I Exercise My Cane Corso?
So, your Cane Corso is all grown up into the majestic, powerful, and all-around lovely dog they were meant to be. It’s time to figure out ways to keep their exercise time stimulating and varied. Cane Corsos are dogs that enjoy being kept busy and boredom can result in destructive behavior, so here are some ways your Cane Corso can release all that pent-up energy:
- Brisk walks
- Going for a jog together
- Playing fetch
- Playing frisbee
- Playing hide and seek
- Exploring an off-leash area like a park or forest
- Obedience training sessions
- Agility training
Who Are Cane Corsos Suitable for?
A Cane Corso would be most happy in a family committed to making sure they get enough exercise and are socialized and trained properly. Cane Corsos are typically very affectionate dogs that are rather devoted to their families but, as large and powerful beings with a ton of energy, they can become unmanageable without training and socialization.
The Cane Corso is not really the best breed for first-time owners—someone with experience is likely a better fit for this confident and assertive dog. We see the Cane Corso fitting beautifully into an active family that loves the outdoors, but this isn’t a hard requirement—as long as they get all the exercise, love, and care that they need, they’ll be perfectly content!
In Conclusion
Spending your life with a Cane Corso is a massive commitment—quite literally. If you’re thinking about making a Cane Corso a member of the family, make sure you can commit to the amount of exercise they will need on a daily basis. Though every dog’s exercise needs vary, these dogs are in no way couch potatoes and need plenty of exercise to remain mentally and physically stimulated.
Featured Image Credit: Miroshnikova Arina, Shutterstock
