Whether you’re considering getting a Cane Corso or you’ve already welcomed one into your family, you may have found yourself asking the question ‘do Cane Corsos shed?’ The good news is, that while the answer is yes, you’re looking at low to moderate shedding as opposed to high, which will make keeping your home clean that much easier!
Cane Corsos have a noble lineage that dates back to ancient Roman times and they have strong protective instincts, which is not surprising given that their name means ‘bodyguard dog’ in Latin. They certainly live up to it too, displaying intense loyalty and devotion towards their humans.
But while they’re eager to please and highly intelligent, they can be assertive and wilful, so early training and socialization is a must. The Cane Corso is also a very confident dog and they’ll need an equally confident owner to ensure they know their place in the pack.
Because they’re so gentle and affectionate with their tribe, Cane Corsos make wonderful family dogs, but like with most breeds, they do shed and it’s worth understanding their shedding habits and grooming needs so that you’re aware of what having one in your home will be like.
Below, we give you a comprehensive rundown of how much the Cane Corso sheds, whether they shed more at particular times of the year, how to groom your Cane Corso and some helpful tips to minimize shedding, so that you know exactly what to expect. Let’s take a look…
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Do Cane Corsos shed?
The short answer is yes, Cane Corsos do shed, but nowhere near as much as many other large breeds. The Cane Corso has a short, double-layered coat and their undercoat varies in length depending on the climate they live in. They’re classed as low to moderate shedders who molt year-round.
While for most of the year the Cane Corso will shed lightly, you’ll notice this increases during shedding season, which occurs twice a year in the spring and fall. During this time, expect to find a lot of extra fur around - we recommend investing in one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair to help make keeping your living spaces fur-free that much easier.
You’ll find the Cane Corso sheds about the same amount as other large, short-haired breeds like the Greyhound and Bullmastiff, but significantly less than large dogs with thick coats, like the German Shepherd. So, if you’re wanting a big breed but don’t want excessive shedding, the Cane Corso is a great choice.
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What causes the Cane Corsos to shed the most?
As we’ve seen, the Cane Corso for the most part is a low to moderate shedder, but there are things that can influence both the frequency and the degree to which they shed that are worth being aware of:
Season: You’ll notice an increase in the amount of shedding during the two shedding seasons of the year - spring and fall. In the spring, the Cane Corso sheds their undercoat to ensure they won’t be too hot in the summer months and in the fall they shed their thin summer fur to allow their warm undercoat to come through again.
Age: A Cane Corso puppy will shed a lot less than an adult dog and a senior dog will be likely to shed more than an adult dog.
Climate: Depending on whether you live in a warm or a cold climate, your Cane Corso will be more or less prone to shedding. A Cane Corso that lives in a cold climate will grow a longer and thicker undercoat than a Cane Corso that spends most of the year in a warm climate and this means they’ll molt more in shedding season.
Diet and exercise: Believe it or not, diet and exercise can have an impact on how much your Cane Corso sheds, so ensuring they get proper nutrition and plenty of exercise is key. A deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals can cause molting and overweight dogs can also have issues with their skin and coat.
Fleas: Protecting your pooch by regularly applying the best flea treatment for dogs is vital, not just for their health and wellbeing but also because fleas carry diseases that can influence how much your pup sheds.
While you’ll always have some degree of shedding with the Cane Corso, bearing the above factors in mind can help keep it from becoming excessive.
How to groom your Cane Corso
The great thing about the Cane Corso is that they’re very low maintenance in terms of their grooming needs, requiring little more than a brush one or twice a week with one of the best dog brushes for most of the year.
You’ll want to up the frequency of those grooming sessions during the spring and fall shedding seasons where there'll be a lot more fur flying around. We recommend daily brushing at these times as this will help you catch all the hair that’s about to fall out before it ends up all over your floors.
In terms of which grooming tools to use, a bristle or rubber brush is an excellent choice for the Cane Corso as both of these do a great job of massaging the coat and distributing the natural oils. During shedding season, you may find you need a deshedding tool in addition to your regular brush.
Tips to minimize Cane Corso shedding
While low to moderate shedding is to be expected year-round if you own a Cane Corso, there are some things you can do to help keep all that molting to a minimum. Here’s a few of our favorites:
Regular brushing: One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent excess shedding is to ensure you brush your Cane Corso once or twice a week during non-shedding periods and daily during shedding season. Brushing will help remove loose and dead fur and cut down on the amount of hair you’ll be finding around your home.
Feed them a healthy diet: Making sure you’re feeding your Cane Corso the best dog food is another way you can help reduce shedding. Look for formulas that are high in vitamins and minerals, particularly omega 3 & 6 fatty acids which do a brilliant job of nourishing the skin and coat and strengthening the hair.
Bathe them less: Bathing your dog too often during shedding season can make the rate of shedding increase, which is definitely not what you want! Stick to once a month, unless they’ve got themselves really dirty and need freshening up.
Choose the right shampoo: When you do bathe your Cane Corso, you’ll want to invest in one of the best dog shampoos. Look for one that is high in Vitamin E and has moisturizing properties as this will help loosen the dead hair and make that brushing session extra fruitful.
Speak with your vet: If you feel like your Cane Corso is shedding more than you think they should be, have a chat with your vet who will be able to rule out a hormonal imbalance or any other underlying health conditions.
