Is a Cane Corso Smarter Than Other Dogs? Intelligence & Vet-Reviewed Training Abilities

Cane Corsos are considered to be pretty intelligent. They can quickly pick up on commands and be very devoted to their owners. Cane Corsos aren’t one of the smartest 20 breeds of dogs but are more intelligent than average.1

That said, this doesn't mean they will always listen to commands. For much of their history, Cane Corsos were bred to follow their instincts and function without the supervision of their owner. Therefore, they may not be the best if you're looking for a dog that will always listen.

For much of history, Cane Corsos spent their time laying around guarding and watching for threats, while they were also used for hunting, livestock droving, and farming. Therefore, they didn't need to respond to their master's every whim. Cane Corsos can be territorial. They're moderately vigilant with strangers and are not always good with other dogs, based on their personality and early socialization, which is crucial alongside consistent training in order to avoid undesirable behavioral issues later on.

Are Cane Corsos Easy to Train?

Evaluating intelligence in dogs is challenging, leading many to measure their willingness, instinct to perform certain tasks, adaptive problem solving, ease of learning, and attentiveness instead.2

For example, a mastiff breed type may view lounging around and keeping watch as the best solution to a problem. It can be hard to distinguish a lack of interest from a lack of intelligence, making it an insurmountable issue. However, despite these challenges, mastiff breeds can still learn if trained by a competent handler who appreciates their slow-moving nature, as long as the task isn't unreasonable, like herding sheep, which Cane Corsos are ill-suited for.

I have witnessed impressive performances from mastiffs and other large breeds in sports, such as when a Newfoundland jumps, causing the whole building to tremble. I've also seen big dogs clear very high jumps in agility competitions. Nevertheless, these breeds are not well-suited for tricks and are not generally inclined to understand what you want them to do without proper communication or incentives. If they don't see the point of a command, they may decide to just not follow it.

Additionally, if a protective dog doubts your judgment, they may not obey you in an emergency, which does not indicate a lack of intelligence, but a lack of trust.

For this reason, a Cane Corso may need more practice than other dogs. They need to know exactly what you mean and trust that you're correct—two factors you may not have to consider when training more devoted breeds.

How to Train a Cane Corso

Training a Cane Corso isn't particularly difficult. However, you should give your dog plenty of practice and always use clear communication. The last thing you want is to confuse a Cane Corso, as they'd probably just give up.

You should remain consistent, using the same rewards and commands each time. If you have more than one person in your family, work through the commands together so that everyone is doing them exactly the same. Cane Corsos aren't going to put in much work figuring out what you need.

Build trust whenever possible. Often, this can be accomplished by using commands as much as possible in your daily life. Over time, the dog will get plenty of practice obeying commands, which can help overcome a stubborn attitude present in some individuals.

Start with basic obedience commands as you would for any dog. Puppy classes are highly recommended, as they can help socialize your dog, too.

On top of regular obedience, be sure to get your canine around as many other dogs, animals, and people as possible. These dogs can be territorial if not properly socialized. Getting them around many different people and animals early helps prevent them from being fearful, which can cause aggression.

Are Cane Corsos the Smartest Dog?

By most methods, rating a dog's intelligence is difficult, if not impossible. Some dogs were bred to be obedient and listen to their master. However, other dogs weren't. These latter dogs may be smart but not show it in traditional situations.

However, Cane Corsos are quite smart. They're considered to be one of the more intelligent dog breeds. They aren't always particularly obedient, though. Instead, they're more independent and tend to make a lot of decisions on their own. It's worth noting that intelligence in dogs can also vary individually, even within a breed. Some dogs may be more adept at certain tasks or better understand certain concepts than others.

Dogs that are bred for working in real-life environments tend to be more intelligent than show dogs. More intelligent dogs succeed in these environments, which leads to them being bred.

Are Cane Corsos Hard to Control?

Cane Corsos are extremely large dogs. Therefore, it is practically impossible to control them physically when they are fully grown. They're also strong-willed and independent, which makes training a challenge.

However, that doesn't mean that all Cane Corsos are hard to control. Training and socializing them from an early age is essential to ensure they are well-behaved and obedient. Proper training and socialization can help prevent potential behavior issues, such as aggression, fearfulness, and excessive barking.

Cane Corsos are also a large and powerful breed, so it is crucial to have the physical strength and ability to control them if necessary. They require a firm and consistent approach to training and positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior. Working with a professional trainer or veterinarian is highly recommended.

Conclusion

Cane Corsos are considered intelligent dogs. However, that doesn't mean they're the most intelligent dog. Measuring intelligence in dogs is challenging. Dogs weren't bred to perform the same tasks. Therefore, it's hard to compare them.

Cane Corsos often have an easy time assessing situations and people. However, they won't always listen to commands in a real-world setting. They tend to be independent and even a bit stubborn.

See also:

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Featured Image Credit: IRINA ORLOVA, Shutterstock