Cane Corso vs Neapolitan Mastiff

A Cane Corso
Photo: Marta García, juan Manuel Morato
A Neapolitan Mastiff
Photo: 3268zauber; derivative work by Anka Friedrich

Side by side

Cane Corso
Neapolitan Mastiff
Adult weight
Males 45–50 kg (99–110 lb); females 40–45 kg (88–99 lb)1
Males 60–70 kg (132–154 lb); females 50–60 kg (110–132 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 65–75 cm; females 60–68 cm2
Lifespan
Median 8.1 years3
Median 9.3 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Short coat1
Short coat2
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)5,6
Cherry eye (far more likely); Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely)5,6
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Neapolitan Mastiff is larger on average: about 60 kg (132 lb) as an adult, against 45 kg (99 lb) for the Cane Corso.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Neapolitan Mastiff lives longer: a median of 9.3 years, against 8.1 for the Cane Corso.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Cane Corso: cooperative, with its own ideas; Neapolitan Mastiff: decides for itself) and on intelligence (Cane Corso: learns readily, likes games; Neapolitan 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.

Neapolitan Mastiff
Pinschers & molossoids · Giant

In temperament the breed is calm and steady with its own family, loyal and dignified, and watchful and reserved with strangers. It is protective by nature and tends to stay quiet unless provoked.

The Cane Corso page →The Neapolitan Mastiff page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Cane Corso
Neapolitan 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
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Cane Corso
Neapolitan Mastiff
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Cane Corso
Neapolitan Mastiff
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Neapolitan Mastiff grows to the heavier adult, about 60 kg against the Cane Corso's 45 kg.
Cane Corso
Neapolitan Mastiff
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More comparisons

Compare the Cane Corso with
Cane Corso vs RottweilerCane Corso vs Dogue de BordeauxCane Corso vs MastiffBlack Russian Terrier vs Cane CorsoDogue de Bordeaux vs Neapolitan MastiffCane Corso vs Estrela Mountain DogAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·