How Much Does A Cane Corso Cost?

Last Updated on December 27, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Animal lovers who want a Cane Corso dog, also known as Italian Mastiff, should know that they are a smart breed, they are active and alert dogs, with protective instincts constantly guarding their owners. Being smart, it is extremely important to take care of them carefully when they are still young so that they learn basic behavioral notions.

Cane Corsos are strong animals, with large adult males easily reaching 68 cm and females reaching 64 cm. The dogs of this breed also weigh 50 kg. The short, glossy coat feels silky and pleasant to the touch. This is the constant that shows the way the this breed of dogs are cared for. The Cane Corso cubs always seem to be thinking, because of the prominent archway and the keen eye, but under this appearance, there is hidden energy and a lot of desire to play.

How much does a Cane Corso cost?

The average price for a Cane Corso ranges between $1,500 and $2,500 when buying a purebred puppy from a reputable breeder. The cost of a Cane Corso puppy from top breed lines, and of course with a superior pedigree, can start from $3,000 to $5,500, but you can expect to spend up to $8,500.

For rarer coat colors, such as blue Cane Corso you can expect to pay from $2,000 to $5,000 and more.

Adoption price of a Cane Corso

You also have the possibility to adopt one from a rescue center. Adopting a Cane Corso is an inexpensive way of getting this dog in your home, and usually costs $350 to $600. When adopting a Cane Corso puppy, or any other dog breed, from a rescue center you can save some money as the center will usually take it upon themselves to neuter the dog or do some basic health checks, costs included in the initial cost of the adoption.

Expenses for a Cane Corso

While the cost of raising a dog may vary depending on the breed, age, health, and lifestyle, both yours and your pet’s, there are several things you will need to consider for the long term when it comes to the health and well-being of a Cane Corso pet.

You should know from the very beginning that a dog comes with certain expenses for maintenance, needing in addition to love and food all sorts of things to keep him healthy.

Below we will try to explain how much does owning a Cane Corso cost besides the initial purchase price, and how you’ll need to budget your money in the long run.

Visits to the veterinarian and vaccination

We say “visits” because while they are puppies, especially until they start to go outside, visits will be quite frequent, every 2-3 weeks for internal deworming and vaccines according to the vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian.

After the vaccination scheme is over, you will see your veterinarian for monthly external disinfestation, and internal deworming every 3 months, which we recommend you have done in the office and at home as a DIY project. There are situations when animals can develop allergic reactions to active products in deworming products such as intense itching, irritation, vomiting, and soft stools.

You will also see your veterinarian annually for rabies vaccination, on-ear toilets, nail clippers, gland vacuum, and whenever an emergency occurs and your dog needs a specialist consultation. These are some of the expenses that will add to your vet bill.

Food and treats

It is very important to provide your dog with the best quality food. The amount of food varies mainly depending on the size of the dog, age, but also lifestyle or daily physical activity. On the back of each food bag, there is a table in which you will find the amount of food your dog should receive in 24 hours that you should divide into 2 to 3 meals a day. On the recommendation of your veterinarian, there are situations when your dog will have to eat a diet food depending on specific pathologies, whether it is dry dog food or wet dog food. Unlike maintenance food, diet food will be more expensive.

Expect to pay around $100 to $120 per month for the food and treats of Cane Corso puppies.

Microchip and dog license

Cane Corso dogs are a very active breed, so having them microchipped will help you find them easier if they get lost or stolen. A dog license helps you too if the dog gets lost, as it will be registered with a national canine registry.

• Microchip – $40 to $60
• Dog license – $10 to $20.

Accessories

When we say accessories, we’re talking about the collar, the leash, the harness plus the toys a Cane Corso may need to consume his excess energy.

• Food and water bowls – $15 to $35
• Bed – $50 and $200
• Crate – $60 and $500
• Leash and collar – $15 to $50
• Toys – $30 and $50
• Poop bags, clothes, and more – $15 to $30
• Grooming essentials like brushes and short hair de-shedding tools – $40 to $180

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the annual expenses of owning a Cane Corso:

Does a Cane Corso need pet insurance?

In order to have a healthy Cane Corso he will need regular checkups at the vet for deworming, external disinfestation, vaccines, and emergency consultations. All these costs for a Cane Corso have an average of $800 to $1,500 with pet insurance. Pet insurance will also help you and the dog, in case he is ill, to get an early diagnosis and treatment.

Additional Costs of owning a Cane Corso

Other additional expenses for a Cane Corso include the following:

Training lessons shouldn’t be missed from the Cane Corso life, even if they are expensive. Trained from an early age, starting at 6 months old, with the best dog training tricks, Cane Corso takes his protective role seriously, becoming the best guard dog. He interacts well with the world around him, he is affectionate and caring with the entire family. Training lessons you can do at a training school with a trainer who will teach you how to behave with the dog after the training lessons are over.

You might also like our articles on the cost of Tibetan Mastiffs, Mastiffs, or Saint Bernards.

Professional training can cost from $100 to $200 per lesson, depending on the trainer’s fees.

Emergency treatment for a Cane Corso can be around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the eventual health condition.

Dog daycare

There will be times when you will have to leave the city without being accompanied by your large dog. As you already know, the dog does not like to stay alone in the house, and it should be taken out for walks at least 2, to 3 times a day. For this, you can confidently call the authorized dog daycares that will take care of your dog for a fee. The price of such a hostel can vary between $12 and $38 per day.

Dog walking services are used more and more due to the increasingly hectic lifestyle. If you have a demanding job, you often leave in delegations, or simply the program is too busy this is the solution. You can hire a dog walker which costs anywhere from $20 to $40 per hour.

Professional dog grooming services for a Cane Corso imply a minimal requirement, as these may include brushing, nail cutting, glands and ears cleaning, and a good wash. For these services, you may pay $30 to $90.

How to save money on Cane Corso care

If your budget is low and you still want to have a Cane Corso as a pet, and at the same time provide him a healthy and good life, you can start by buying him from a reputable breeder. This will save you money and ensure you get a healthy puppy, so there will be fewer visits to the veterinarian in the long run. You can also save money by learning how to train him yourself, groom him, and play more with him so you don’t need to pay for these additional services.

Factors that influence the purchase price of a Cane Corso puppy

When you decide to buy a dog, there are obviously several options, but you have to go for the best one for your budget.

The purchase itself – The cheapest option is adopting a dog. If you don’t have a preference for a purebred Cane Corso and want to give a family to a homeless dog, you can go for adoption. The price of adopting a Cane will cost you a lot less.

Another, but more expensive option is to contact a breeder that has litters of the breed you want. The advantage of buying it from an authorized breeder/kennel is his medical history. In general, all breeders will give you a health card that keeps track of the internal deworming (at least 2 dewormings) and a vaccine against parvovirus that they get at the age of 4-6 weeks. If you buy a pure-breed dog, it will additionally come with a microchip. Based on this microchip, the breeder will declare it to the quinological association and you will receive the pedigree.

The last and most unsafe option that affects the price, sometimes costing the life of the pet, is the purchase from so-called specialized websites.

Breeder’s reputation – This is another key factor, as it reflects the quality of the Cane Corso puppies.

Age – Aduld Cane Corso prices are lower, as breeders sell younger puppies at a higher cost.

Size – Usually, the bigger puppies from a litter are more expensive because they are healthier than the smaller ones.

Bloodline – Cane Corso puppies with AKC Champion bloodline can add $1500 and more, to the final cost.

Final words

If you are looking for purchasing a Cane Corso, you can start by looking for a suitable breeder. In any case, avoid breeders who do not belong to an association and who offer a so-called Cane Corso breed at a low price. Raising puppies requires a lot of knowledge about the breed and an accurate selection of animals in terms of character, type, and health, to avoid negative surprises. This is an investment of time and money that untrustworthy breeders usually do not want to make because they want to fill their own pockets as quickly as possible.