Cane Corso and Rottweiler Mix: A Complete Guide

Individually, both the Cane Corso and Rottweiler breeds are well known for their watchful guard-dog personalities. Both breeds also have strong ties to the Roman Empire, being put to work in fields, and forests for herding and hunting respectively.

If a Rottweiler and Cane Corso are bred together, the resulting mix is the Rotticorso – a large dog that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its parents.

These energetic dogs can be frightening when they barrel past, but the reality is these dogs are loving and devoted family dogs with proper training.

Read on to learn more about the hybrid Rotticorso, as well as its parent breeds, the Cane Corso and Rottweiler.

Cane Corso, Rottweiler, and the Rotticorso Comparison Table

	Cane Corso	Rotticorso	Rottweiler
Height	23.5-27.5 inches	22.5-27 inches	22-27 inches
Weight	88-110 pounds	95-110 pounds	80 to 135 pounds
Life Expectancy	9-12 years	9-12 years	9-10 years
Colors	Black Fawn Gray Red Black brindle Chestnut brindle Gray brindle	Black Black brindle Black and mahogany Black and rust Chestnut brindle Gray Gray brindle Red	Black and mahogany Black and rust Black and tan
Coat Type	Smooth, double coat, short-length	Double coat Short to medium-length	Double coat Short to medium length
Affection levels	Pretty affectionate Average playfulness	Very affectionate Pretty playful	Very affectionate Pretty playful
Shedding Level	Less shedding	Moderate with heavy shedding in summer	Moderate with two intense shedding sessions in spring and fall
Temperament	Very protective	Very protective	Very protective
Health Issues	Bloat Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Heart conditions Eye disorders Demodex mange	Hip dysplasia Elbow dysplasia Heart conditions Eye disorders Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP)	Elbow dysplasia Hip dysplasia Eye diseases Heart conditions Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy (JLPP)
Trainability	Pretty easy to train	Pretty easy to train	Very easy to train
Exercise	Pretty high energy	Pretty high energy	Average energy levels
Friendliness to People	Alright with strangers	Alright with strangers	Alright with strangers
Friendliness to Dogs	Alright with other dogs	Alright with other dogs	Alright with other dogs
Drooling Levels	Average drooling	Average drooling	Average drooling
Mental Stimulation	Average mental stimulation	Higher mental stimulation	Very high mental stimulation
Barking Level	Average barking	Average barking	Barks to alert

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About Cane Corso

Among the largest dog breeds in the world, Cane Corsos often measure almost 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh over 100 pounds at maturity.

Modern-day Cane Corsos are much sleeker and more graceful than their warrior ancestors who charged enemy frontlines with flaming oil containers.

In the relatively peaceful aftermath of conflict, the Cane Corso was adapted to other lines of work. They were famous guard dogs of farms and chicken coops but were also used to herd livestock and even hunt wild boars in the forests of Europe.

The breed faced extinction through the end of the 19th century and up to the mid-20th century thanks to factors like the Industrial Revolution, which led to a greater reliance on machines overworking animals. These days, the breed gets most of its attention as a watchdog for families.

Unlike most large dog breeds, the Cane Corso is more vocal and will bark at more things than just to alert its family to potential dangers. This doesn’t stop them from being great family dogs when trained right though.

Early socialization and basic commands will go a long way in preventing this potentially intimidating breed from being labeled as a threat.

These dogs are also popular with those who don’t want to be vacuuming dog hair every day as they have a short, smooth coat that doesn’t require much grooming and sheds less than other breeds.

About Rottweilers

Even though Rottweilers have a negative reputation, thanks to poor media portrayal and misleading statistics, the breed still ranks as number eight among the 204 officially recognized breeds by the American Kennel Club in popularity.

In fact, with the right training and loving environment, these large dogs are outright goofy. They will be playful and silly while thinking that they are cuddly, little lap dogs when the day is done.

Rottweilers used to work as cattle dogs as far back as the Roman empire but that role ended with the invention of cattle cars and the proliferation of railroads during the 1800s. Instead, the breed has found purpose in all sorts of other tasks, especially as police dogs and guard dogs.

They have also played key roles as guide dogs and emotional support dogs more recently and were even among some of the most recognized search-and-rescue breeds at tragic events like the fall of the World Trade Center.

These muscular, tall dogs are suitable for families with a little bit of living space and a yard. If some time is taken to properly train them, they will be gentle playmates and guardians for children and will not establish bad relationships with other family pets. Eager to please and not unreasonably energetic, they are great for all walks of life. 

About The Rotticorso Dog Mix:

Because Rotticorsos is a newer hybrid or designer breed from two well-established parent lineages, most of their attributes are derived from which parent they take after more.

These impressive dogs often strike a balance between the two parents, usually measuring a little shorter than either parent but weighing about the same as mom and dad.

Big dogs with strong prey instincts like the Rotticorso aren’t the best choice for novice dog owners, but they are eager to please when training and socialization exercises are fun and their human family is heavily involved.

When all is said and done, they can be great family pets for those with slightly older children and some space for them to let out their inner goofball nature.

Are Rotticorsos a Healthy Dog Breed?

Assuming that the Rotticorso’s parents were screened for genetic health conditions, the Rotticorso is generally a healthy dog breed only suffering from the common issues its parents can develop.

The biggest concerns to watch out for are conditions common to most large dog breeds and include gastric dilation volvulus (GDV also known as bloat) – which can occur if the dog gets too excited and is exercised soon after a meal – and canine hip dysplasia as they get older.

Does Rotticorsos Need a Lot of Exercises?

The short answer is, yes.

Both of the parent breeds were working-class livestock herders and sometimes hunting dogs – they were bred and built to have high stamina thresholds for that purpose.

A once-daily walk is the bare minimum exercise this dog should receive but will greatly benefit from a second walk on the same day as well as some games like “catch” in a spacious, well-fenced yard. A tired dog is a happy, well-behaved dog.

Something to keep in mind when you are exercising a Rotticorso is its size. If there is some play in the house, they could easily knock something over by accident like a bull in a china shop. Even outdoors some caution must be taken if you also have smaller pets or young children.

The Rotticorso may unintentionally bowl over those that get in the way of playtime, or the same small children and pets may end up underfoot during a mad chase for a ball. It’s best to make sure any playtime is supervised so no one involved gets hurt.

Conclusion

When getting a Rotticorso puppy, it is imperative to socialize and train them early on to help them not abuse their size and weight as they grow.

Once they learn their place (and maybe some new tricks) they will quickly become a loyal, furry friend that poses no threat, even to strangers.

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