The Cane Corso is a magnificent dog in many ways. It’s massive, strong, fearless, highly protective, and makes an excellent protector. When raised in a caring environment, Cane Corsos also make phenomenal family pets. That’s why it’s no surprise some owners want to let their Cane Corso have puppies. The typical Cane Corso female will deliver between four and six puppies every time she becomes pregnant.

That’s more or less average, although Cane Corsos have been known to have fewer and, in some cases, many more puppies. We have info, tips, and insight into how many puppies a Cane Corso can have and how to help them do it below!

How Many Pups are Possible for a Cane Corso?

The average size litter for a Cane Corso is four to six puppies. However, that’s not to say that a Cane Corso can’t have more. One of the most impressive (and slightly horrifying) examples was a Cane Corso in Russia that gave birth to 19 puppies!

Of course, many other Cane Corsos have had more than six pups because those numbers are only the average. However, determining beforehand how many pups your particular Cane Corso will have is practically impossible.

What Factors Determine a Cane Corso’s Litter Size?

Several things factor into any dog’s litter size, including a Cane Corso. These factors need to be considered before you breed your dog. You should note, though, that none, or all, of the factors below might affect the outcome. Yes, genetics is unpredictable.

1. Your Cane Corso’s Age

Like most dogs, your Cane Corso will reach sexual maturity at about 6 months, but the best time to breed is between 2 and 5 years. That’s when most Cane Corsos are the most fertile. Also, a Cane Corso’s first litter is usually smaller than average.

---

2. The Gene Pool

The deeper the gene pool your Cane Corso has access to, the better. For example, if you can mate your Cane Corso with a male from a different family tree, that’s fantastic. The reason why is simply that inbreeding, over time, causes health problems and smaller litter.

---

3. Your Cane Corso’s Overall Health

It makes sense that a healthier dog will have a healthier and larger litter. That goes for Cane Corsos, also. The healthier they are, the larger their litter will be.

---

4. Your Cane Corso’s Diet

The more nutritious the food you give your precious pet, the healthier it will be and the bigger its litter. A diet rich in high-quality protein, good fats, and antioxidants will help your Cane Corso to have a large litter.

Several other factors, including size, determine how many puppies a Cane Corso can have. It’s long been known that larger dogs have larger litters. These other factors, however, aren’t affected by outside elements like the four above. In other words, Cane Corsos will always be large dogs and have larger litters than small dogs like the Maltese or Chihuahua.

How Many Puppies Can a Cane Corso Have Per Year?

Like most breeds, your Cane Corso, once she’s sexually mature, can have up to three litters a year. Technically, a Cane Corso could have over 18 puppies in a year (or more). However, most Cane Corso breeders do their best to keep the litters to two per year or fewer.

The reason is that pregnancy, whelping, and nursing puppies are a huge physical strain on a Cane Corso, putting a lot of wear and tear on her body. Giving her time to heal between litters makes sense and is more humane. Indeed, the most caring breeders only allow their Cane Corso females to have one litter per year for this very reason. If you decide to let your Cane Corso have puppies, most veterinarians agree that once a year is a good choice.

Is There a Method to Determine How Many Puppies Your Cane Corso is Having?

Although ultrasound can determine if a Cane Corso is pregnant, it can’t tell how many pups are inside her. The only way to know exactly how many puppies a Cane Corso is having is to have her X-rayed. You should also note that X-rays usually aren’t taken until after the first 45 days of your Cane Corso’s pregnancy. Any earlier and her pups won’t have skeletons yet; without those, you won’t see anything.

Conclusion

As we saw today, a litter of 4 to 6 pups is average, although Cane Corso’s have been known to have several more. Also, their first litter is usually smaller, something to keep in mind if this is your dog’s first litter.

At the end of the day, it’s unknown exactly how many pups your Cane Corso will have, thanks to the magic of genetics and canine procreation. If the Cane Corso that had 19 puppies on her first try in Russia taught us anything, it’s that you can never know exactly how many pups your Cane Corso will have. It’s better to be prepared for any outcome and be thankful for every healthy, happy Cane Corso pup that shines its light into your life.

---

Featured Image Credit: Sbolotova, Shutterstock