Cane Corso vs Mastiff

A Cane Corso
Photo: Marta García, juan Manuel Morato
A Mastiff
Photo: ocean yamaha

Side by side

Cane Corso
Mastiff
Adult weight
Males 45–50 kg (99–110 lb); females 40–45 kg (88–99 lb)1
Males 73–104 kg (160–230 lb); females 54–77 kg (120–170 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 70–77 cm; females 70–77 cm3
Lifespan
Median 8.1 years4
Median 9 years4
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes5
15 months, both sexes5
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
Pinschers & molossoids6
Coat
Short coat1
Short coat6
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Cherry eye (far more likely); Inward-rolling eyelid (much more likely)7,8
Bone cancer (far more likely); Blood-vessel cancer of the skin (far more likely)9
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Mastiff is much larger: about 77 kg (170 lb) as an adult, against 45 kg (99 lb) for the Cane Corso.
Temperament
They differ most on prey drive (Cane Corso: likely to chase small pets; Mastiff: usually fine with small pets) and on intelligence (Cane Corso: learns readily, likes games; Mastiff: 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.
Take the breed matcher

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.

Mastiff
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

By nature it is calm, dignified and good-natured with its household, while staying watchful and reserved with strangers. It tends to guard by its presence rather than by aggression.

The Cane Corso page →The Mastiff page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Cane Corso
Mastiff
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Needs an experienced owner
Needs steady training
With people
Cane Corso
Mastiff
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
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
Mastiff
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Mastiff grows to the heavier adult, about 79 kg against the Cane Corso's 45 kg.
Cane Corso
Mastiff
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0501001502m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Cane Corso with
Cane Corso vs Neapolitan MastiffCane Corso vs RottweilerCane Corso vs Dogue de BordeauxMastiff vs Saint BernardGreat Dane vs MastiffBullmastiff vs MastiffAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·