Cane Corso vs Dogue de Bordeaux
Side by side
Cane Corso
Dogue de Bordeaux
Adult weight
Males 45–50 kg (99–110 lb); females 40–45 kg (88–99 lb)1
Males 50–68 kg (110–150 lb); females 45–54 kg (100–120 lb) (a peer-reviewed UK cohort)
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes3
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Outward-drooping eyelid (far more likely)6
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog
Which suits you
Size
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a little larger on average: about 54 kg (120 lb) as an adult, against 45 kg (99 lb) for the Cane Corso.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Dogue de Bordeaux lives longer: a median of 11.1 years, against 8.1 for the Cane Corso.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Cane Corso: affectionate on its own terms; Dogue de Bordeaux: a lap or leaning dog) and on intelligence (Cane Corso: learns readily, likes games; Dogue de Bordeaux: easy-going, simple routines).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Cane Corso
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
The Cane Corso is calm and watchful, reserved with strangers and closely attached to its family. It is intelligent and responsive to training, with a strong protective instinct.
Dogue de Bordeaux
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant
At home it is calm and even-tempered, and it forms a strong bond with its family. Its standard describes a vigilant, courageous guard that is slow to provoke and not aggressive by nature.
Breed traits
Day to day
Cane Corso
Dogue de Bordeaux
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Cane Corso
Dogue de Bordeaux
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Cane Corso
Dogue de Bordeaux
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Dogue de Bordeaux grows to the heavier adult, about 57 kg against the Cane Corso's 45 kg.
Cane Corso
Dogue de Bordeaux
More comparisons
Compare the Cane Corso with
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 8Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 9American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
Parts of this page were written by AI ·