How smart are Cane Corsos?
Cane Corsos, also known as Italian Mastiffs, are imposing dogs that are impressive for their size and musculature alone. But what about intelligence? Are Cane Corsos smart, or are they more of a slow dog breed?
Cane Corsos are intelligent and can learn new commands quickly. However, they are also stubborn from time to time and have no interest in doing “sit” or “down” just because you want them to. But the versatility of the dogs alone proves that they must be intelligent. Cane Corsos were used as guard dogs by the police, as watchdogs for farms, and also for hunting big game. Nowadays, they are also found more and more often as family dogs.
Are Cane Corsos smart?
Cane Corsos are original guard dogs with a strongly developed territorial behavior. Cane Corsos are considered smart and obedient. This is also reflected in their wide range of uses.
However, their use as police dogs or hunting big game also indicates that these dogs must be intelligent if they can take on various tasks and be able and willing to cooperate with humans.
Cane Corsos are easy to train and learn new commands relatively quickly. They still remain molossers which are considered to be a bit slower. Of course, this is not comparable to a Border Collie.
Intelligence is difficult to measure and especially to compare in dogs. So how many repetitions a dog needs until it performs the command safely? Of course, you can measure how fast a dog learns a new command.
Then one can measure with which probability a dog executes a known command. Stanley Coren used this method to measure the intelligence of dogs.
This method of measurement measures obedience and working intelligence.
However, the eager-To-Please is a significant factor in this method that is not considered.
Dogs that will do anything for their human or a treat naturally do very well. Stubborn or stubborn dog breeds like Bulldogs or Molosser tend to do worse.
Just because a dog doesn’t execute a command the first time doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t know what is intended. He doesn’t want it at that moment.
However, no data is available for the Cane Corso, or is not listed in the ranking.
According to dog experts, the Cane Corso has 3 out of 5 stars on the intelligence scale. This is, in my opinion, a super value in the upper midfield.
Why are Cane Corsos intelligent?
Another indication of intelligence is instinctive intelligence. This is where the Cane Corso scores high.
Cane Corsos are probably among the best guard dogs around. They immediately notice when someone unknown approaches and are on alert.
They can quickly tell if it is a threat or not. Just your reaction and behavior they know how to interpret. This ability to analyze situations based on their owners’ behavior definitely makes the Cane Corso an intelligent dog. Or don’t you think so?
But its use as a police dog also proves that the Cane Corso must be intelligent. Police dogs are known to be very trainable to work in close contact with humans.
Are intelligent dogs easy to train
Cane Corso can be easy to train. The emphasis is on the can.
Because they can be very stubborn at the same time and make your education exhausting.
Cane Corsos tend to dominate or try to take the lead themselves. So you must be consistent and demand your commands. Your dog must accept you as the pack leader.
Consistent does not mean that you have to get physically tough but that you insist that your command is carried out. He must go if you send your Cane Corso to his blanket.
If he doesn’t go, you take him to his blanket. And if he leaves the place of his own accord, you bring him back. Lovingly, but consistently. Always once more than the dog.
Cane Corsos know quickly what you want from them. But there are situations when you have to tell them 5 or 10 times and insist it be done.
Realted Cane Corso articles:
I would not say that raising a Cane Corso is difficult. I would call it exhausting at times. You have to A: know what you are doing and, more importantly, B: do it consistently.
If I send our dogs to the blanket with a command, the Cane Corso bitch will try to leave the place 3 to 5 times as soon as I turn around. My job is then to bring her right back.
Conclusion: Are Cane Corso smart?
Yes, Cane Corsos are smart dogs and learn new commands relatively fast. However, they are also stubborn and don’t always see fit to follow a command without question. So their eager-to-please is not as strongly developed as that of a Border Collie or Golden Retriever.
@ Boguslavovna-depositphotos.com (Contributed image)

Marco
I am Marco, and I am very lucky to live with 3 big Mastiff-type dogs. In this blog, I want to share all my experiences and knowledge about dogs.