Despite the overly bad reputation these pups have, Cane Corsos are still fairly popular dogs that are widely loved and requested. However, potential Cane Corso owners don’t realize the importance of good breeders when it comes to buying this dog breed.
Finding a reputable breeder can be essential when it comes to getting the best Cane Corso dog possible. Of course, obedience training is crucial in teaching your dog some manners, but when you have such a large and potentially dangerous dog, it is just as important that you trust the person you’re buying it from.
However, researching a breeder is not as easy or interesting as researching information about a dog breed. There is plenty of unbiased information about the Cane Corso breed, but what about the breeders?
To help you out, we’ve listed 10 Cane Corso breeders with the best possible testimonials. But before we get into that, we’ll also explain why it is important to find a reputable breeder – as well as what that even means.
Let’s begin!
Why Are Cane Corso Breeders Important?
There are many good reasons why you should purchase your new dog from a reputable breeder. While some of these reasons are obvious, most dog lovers aren’t aware of the others.
We’ll go over all of them and explain them thoroughly so you know the importance of purchasing from a trusted source. Of course, you are free to decide on your own, but here are a few things you’ll miss out on if you decide to buy from another place:
A Good Breeder Will Explain What To Expect
If you’ve never owned a power breed like the Cane Corso, it is important to have someone who can guide you through the process of dog ownership. A respectable breeder will always do all they can to educate you on the puppy you’re getting because they care about where their dogs go.
Good breeders aren’t in it just for the money. They don’t want to pressure anyone into buying, and they will make sure you are a good choice for their dogs. This is why they’ll always talk to you and inform you on what you should expect.
In fact, a knowledgeable Cane Corso breeder will even help you pick the right puppy for you. They’ll conduct a brief interview with you to determine what is your lifestyle and what you should expect from your future puppy.
After doing this, they will help you pick a new family member that is the best choice for your needs. For example, if you are active, they’ll find a dog with high energy levels that requires additional exercise. If you spend a lot of time outside of the home, they’ll suggest a dog that doesn’t seem too clingy, and so on.
All of this is because such breeders care for their puppies, and they want to know they’ll be in the best hands possible. Otherwise, they risk giving their pup to someone who doesn’t know how to deal with it. This won’t only end up badly for the puppy and his new owner but also for the breeder, whose reputation might be tarnished.
In fact, a great breeder will offer you advice for as long as you have your new dog. This is a great help, especially for a first-time Cane Corso owner.
They Follow The Breed Standard
All reputable Cane Corso breeders follow the breed standard set by major kennel clubs. This can depend slightly on the location and the kennel club in charge. For example, you have American Kennel Club (AKC), the main kennel club in the US, the United Kennel Club (UKC) in the UK, and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in Europe.
The breed standard is the dog’s required appearance. It includes details such as coat color, length, the dog’s height and weight, as well as body shape.
For example, in the case of these dogs from Italy, the AKC says that these are large working dogs that are usually up to 27.5 inches in height that can weigh more than 100 lbs. Their double coat is short, but it sheds frequently. The recognized Cane Corso colors are black, fawn, grey, brown, chocolate, liver, red, and brindle.
While you can find a purebred Cane Corso that isn’t up to the breed standard, this is quite rare, and a responsible breeder won’t keep on reproducing such dogs.
While this might seem unimportant, following a breed standard actually helps keep the breed true to its roots. In other words, it enables these dogs to do the job they were made to do.
Think about it this way. If a Cane Corso is too small or not powerful enough, he wouldn’t be able to complete all the work its Italian ancestors did. Also, it might not be capable of being a good enough watchdog.
Sure, if you’re looking to simply get a family pet, these traits might not be important. However, Cane Corso breeders are aware that many people want to get this breed for a specific purpose, which is why they need to stick to the breed standard.
They’ll Inform You About The Dog’s History
Photo from: @canecorso_worldwide
All responsible Cane Corso breeders will have pedigrees of all of their dogs. A pedigree is a dog’s family tree, explaining all the notable canines that come from a specific bloodline.
Pedigree is essential if you want a show-quality dog. Without it, you will hardly be taken seriously during a conformation show.
Not just that, but this document will also help you know that you’ve gotten the best dog possible and that your pooch is a good representation of the breed.
They’ll Allow You To Meet The Cane Corso Puppy’s Parents
Another important thing when you want to better understand what you’re getting into is to meet your puppy’s parents. All responsible Cane Corso breeders will allow you to do just that.
All breeders have to allow you to meet the mother dog if anything. Mothers stay with their puppies for as long as possible, and the breeder will always have them in sight.
Some breeders will even have the father, also known as the sire, nearby. If they do, they will allow you to meet him as well.
Meeting the parents is a very important step when it comes to determining the right breeder. Both the mother and father should be friendly, healthy, and good- looking. Your Cane Corso puppy will most likely be somewhere in between both parents, or even an exact copy of one or the other. This way you can know what to expect.
This is especially important when you have a large and potentially dangerous dog breed like the Cane Corso. If the parents show any signs of aggression, this is a bad thing. Training and socializing a Cane Corso is challenging enough without your dog coming to you with a certain behavioral issue.
If a Cane Corso breeder won’t show you the parents or the place where the puppies are growing up, there is likely something wrong. If possible, look for another breeder.
They Produce Healthy Dogs
Responsible Cane Corso breeders care about reproducing the healthiest dogs possible. They are educated on all the genetic health issues the Cane Corso dog breed can have and will do all they can to prevent them from occurring in their bloodlines.
If you purchase from a reputable breeder, you will lower the chances of ending up with an unhealthy puppy that won’t live the entirety of its lifespan.
Cane Corsos live 9 to 12 years, which is quite decent for such a large breed. Responsible Cane Corso breeders are who you should thank for this, as they are the ones who have made certain health problems rare.
This dog breed is prone to several health conditions, such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, eye problems, demodectic mange, and, most dangerously, gastric torsion – also known as bloat. In fact, bloat is the most common cause of death among adult Cane Corsos.
Responsible breeders will conduct all the necessary health tests on their breeding dogs. By doing so, they will make sure their litters don’t suffer from many genetic health problems. While any dog can get sick, Cane Corsos bought from reputable breeders will have fewer chances of falling ill.
In fact, many breeders also provide health guarantees for their puppies. While the terms of the guarantee will vary depending on the breeder, most state that if your dog gets a specific disease before a certain age, you’ll get a partial or complete refund, a replacement puppy, or the breeder will help cover the medical expenses.
They’ll Take Back An Unwanted Puppy
If you decide, for any reason, that you no longer want or that you can no longer care for your Cane Corso dog, a reputable breeder will agree to either help you rehome it or even to take the dog back.
Reputable breeders care about their dogs throughout their lives. No matter why you no longer want or no longer can afford your Cane Corso, a good breeder will always agree to take them back.
While we all hope that it won’t come to this, it’s always good to know that your dog will have a home in case something happens.
How To Recognize A Reputable Cane Corso Breeder
Now you know why reputable breeders are the best possible choice when picking your Cane Corso dog. But the chances are you still don’t know how to recognize a reputable breeder from a backyard breeder or a breeder who isn’t who they claim to be.
Here are a few traits only responsible Cane Corso breeders possess:
They Are Members Of A Kennel Club
Most responsible breeders belong to the breed’s parent club. These are organizations recognized by the AKC or some other major kennel club in your area. To join this club, a breeder has to sign the code of ethics, which usually includes conducting health testing and reproducing only healthy pups.
Another important thing to look for is how involved that breeder is. For example, it’s a good sign if they hold some sort of office, belong to committees, or belong to some local or regional clubs for the dog breed.
While this isn’t a sole criterion, it’s a good place to start. If a breeder doesn’t belong to any club, there is usually something fishy going on.
They Have Experience
The longer the breeder has been in business, the more experience they’ll have. This will also mean it’s easy to find information about them, as they’ll have lots of good testimonials, and their name will be all over dog events.
However, long-time breeders usually have waiting lists, and they might prioritize repeat customers over newcomers. If this is your first time purchasing from that location, this might be an issue, which is why you might also want to consider someone with a bit less experience.
Keep in mind that most serious but new Cane Corso breeders will have experienced mentors, or they’ll cooperate with some bigger names. This is also a good thing to look for.
They Stick To Tradition
We’ve already briefly mentioned this while talking about why good Cane Corso breeders are important. Responsible breeders will always have litters of dogs that are up to the breed standard.
Of course, any breeder might have a litter of non-standard puppies, and they might even actively breed them on the side. However, no responsible breeder would make his name out of breeding Cane Corsos in a merle pattern or albino ones.
This is because there is another reason why the breed standard exists, and that is for the dog’s health. Specific coat colors and patterns and even dog sizes are connected with an increased chance of health issues.
For example, merle or albino Cane Corsos will likely have vision or hearing issues, while teacup dogs are usually runts of the litter or dogs with many genetic defects. No responsible Cane Corso breeder would willingly profit from something that is, essentially, corrupting the bloodline.
They Hold Their Prices Up
As mentioned before, Cane Corso breeders will conduct many genetic testings on their parent dogs. Many will even screen the litters just so they know what they are selling.
Not just that, but many breeders will vaccinate their puppies with their first shot (if the puppy is old enough), and all will begin with early training and socialization. This can help the puppy get accustomed to his new family faster.
However, all of this costs money and time, which is why responsible breeders need to keep their prices up. If a breeder seems to be too affordable to be real, chances are there is something wrong with their puppies.
While a high price is the main reason why many dog owners decide to purchase from backyard breeders, puppy mills, or pet shops, the truth is that what you don’t pay initially, you might end up paying in veterinary bills, and sometimes, even more.
10 Best Cane Corso Breeders
Whether you’re looking for Cane Corso puppies for sale, a dog who’ll be your family companion, or a show dog (or both!), you need to find a dog breeder that is suitable for your needs.
If you’re unsure where to start, you can always check out the Cane Corso Association of America, as they always know the right direction to point you in.
Now that you know what you’re looking for in a breeder, here are 10 of the best Cane Corso breeders you can find in the US:
1. Il Vigore Cane Corso, Illinois
If you’re looking for true Italian Cane Corsos, then you shouldn’t miss checking these dogs out. Il Vigore Cane Corso is a family from Sicily dedicated to breeding these dogs with European bloodlines; their dogs are imported from Milan, Italy, Russia, Hungary, and Spain.
They offer ICCF dual-registered dogs that follow the highest breed standards, including traits such as strength, intelligence, loyalty, protection, but also affection.
They offer both males and females with detailed pedigree descriptions, as well as a huge list of testimonials from families who have decided to bring pups from this bloodline into their homes.
All of Il Vigore’s puppies come with docked tails and removed dewclaws. They also come vaccinated, dewormed, and with a health certificate.
2. Liberty Cane Corsos, New York
According to a high number of satisfied customers, these are among the best Cane Corso breeders in New York. Many of their puppies have taken part in various dog shows – and a lot of them have even been winners.
One thing that makes these breeders stand out from the rest is the extensive amount of information they have on their website. You almost don’t even have to call them for information – everything is listed online.
They also have an up-to-date Facebook page with all the photos of their dogs. They note if any of their puppies come from champion bloodlines.
3. PuppySpot Cane Corsos, California
PuppySpot is a Cane Corso breeder that only breeds dogs that are up to the USDA standards, licensed, registered, and that have passed their internal inspection.
All of PuppySpot’s puppies have passed the health inspection, and they come with a health guarantee. As they are a fairly large business, they usually have puppies available right away, so you won’t spend a lot of time on their waiting list.
They sell Cane Corsos in many different colors and coat lengths, including those rarer variations such as blue or liver.
4. Royal Guardian Cane Corso, Texas
Royal Guardian Cane Corso breeders are a family business. Even their youngest family members help with the socialization and raising of their puppies.
They do all they can to keep the breed true to its Italian roots. In fact, they love their dogs so much that you can find many retired females living on the property as family pets.
They don’t have many litters per year, so their waiting list can be quite long. Not just that, but they won’t allow just anyone to purchase their dogs. They take good care of their puppies, and they don’t want to give them to potentially bad owners.
5. Cane Corso de Italica Terrae, New York
Despite their name, Cane Corso de Italica Terrae sells dogs that are up to all the AKC breed club standards. Their owners, Zoe and Dominick DeVita, wanted to breed Cane Corsos that can be both family dogs and guard dogs, meaning they dedicate a lot of time to the temperament of their puppies.
All of their Cane Corsos are imported from Italy but fit to the American standard for this breed. Also, they train most of their puppies to be professional guard dogs – but they have a few show-quality dogs for sale as well.
6. Fidecore Cane Corsos, Illinois
If you’re looking for Cane Corso breeders who sell dogs from old European bloodlines, Fidecore is the place to go. They began their breeding program in 2003, which is enough time to have produced several generations of purebred Cane Corsos.
Not just that, but they have experience with a few other breeds – most notably Rottweilers and Pitbulls.
The biggest issue is that they only have up to 5 litters per year, so you might have to wait a few months to get your puppy, but it will be worth it. As their dogs are treated as family members from day one, they are very social and friendly.
Their dogs come with docked tails, removed dewclaws, vaccinations, are dewormed, as well as with a 30-day kibble supply and a puppy starter kit. Not just that, but they’ll be available for any information you might need about your dog for as long as your new puppy lives.
7. Odisseia Cane Corso, California
Odisseia is actually a group of Cane Corso breeders who have decided to join forces to give you the best Cane Corsos possible.
Odisseia is a fairly new project, so don’t be surprised when you see that their first litter was in 2019. Despite this, all of the breeders within Odisseia have more than a decade of experience with not just Cane Corsos but other large breeds, such as the Italian Mastiff, as well.
You can find many pictures of their dogs for sale on their website. Not just that, but they also post video tutorials about crate training, obedience training, and other informative topics.
Keep in mind that they don’t ship dogs to faraway areas. In other words, if you don’t live in California, they might not be the best Cane Corso breeder for you.
8. LaFaccia Cane Corso, New York
If you live near Montebello in New York, this might be the perfect Cane Corso breeder for you. Janet and Sal Gigante started their breeding program in 2005, and they have quickly perfected it to create amazing family pets.
This family-oriented breeder keeps all of their puppies indoors, but the dogs also have a 5-acre yard for their daily exercise and fun time. They make sure the dogs have grown up surrounded by people and are as socialized as possible.
Another nice thing this breeder does is that they dedicate as much time as possible to meeting all of their buyers. This helps them find the best dog for everyone.
9. Corinthian Cane Corsos, Oklahoma
This is a serious Cane Corso breeder that is an active participant in show dogs. Their goal is to perfect the breed, making them very selective when it comes to their breeding dogs.
They have a puppy application form that has to be filled in before you can purchase one of their dogs. This is mandatory for getting onto the reservation list.
Just like a few of the other breeders we’ve named, they are rather picky about who can purchase dogs from them. They’d rather not sell their puppies than sell them to families not fit for keeping powerful dogs like Cane Corsos.
10. Dal Cielo Cane Corso, California
If you’re looking for exclusive, high-end puppies, then Dal Cielo might be the right Cane Corso breeder for you. They have over 30 years of experience breeding Cane Corsos, making them one of the oldest Cane Corso breeders in California.
Dal Cielo is a participant in the AKC’s Breeder of Merit program, making them a big name in the breeding industry.
They usually sell show-quality dogs, but they occasionally do have family pets available as well. They conduct health testing on all of their dogs, so you can be certain you’ll get the best dog possible – as long as you don’t mind the long waiting list.
How Much Does A Cane Corso Cost?
We’ve decided not to list the exact price of Cane Corsos for one simple reason: Not all dogs will cost the same. Sometimes, even if you decide to buy from the same Cane Corso breeder, you might notice that not all puppies have the same price.
This is because many things influence the Cane Corso price other than the breeder and the breed. This includes the coat color and whether you’re buying a family pet or a show-quality dog.
Overall, the average price for a Cane Corso puppy is anywhere between $700 and $2,500. However, many of the breeders we’ve listed sell puppies for more because of their quality. In fact, some of the high-quality dogs can cost $8,500 or more!
Cane Corsos are not dogs for everyone. They require a firm hand, plenty of socialization and training, and lots of exercise and mental stimulation. They are strong dogs that can easily overpower a human, so you need to have at least some experience with large breeds.
Still, these pups can make amazing family pets if you’ve socialized and trained them in time. Of course, choosing a puppy from a reputable Cane Corso breeder will help you with that. Some will even have Cane Corso mixes, such as a Husky, Pitbull, or Lab mix, if the purebred dog is too much for you to handle!
So, don’t let the high price turn you away. Buying from reputable breeders is the only way you can be certain your puppy won’t come with certain behavioral or health issues that could take them away from you too soon.
Related articles:
Cane Corso breeders in the UK
Cane Corso breeders in Ontario
Cane Corso breeders in Colorado
