How Much Does A Cane Corso Cost – Cane Corso Price
If you are considering adopting a Cane Corso, you will need to be prepared in a lot of ways.
While much of this has to do with the type of food you should be buying and how much exercise your dog needs, it is also important to know what you can expect as far as Cane Corso cost.
The cost of a dog is affected by many factors, including where you get your dog, how old he was when you adopted him, and even if your dog already has health conditions.
It is so important to take care of your dog and know what you are looking at in terms of cost.
The Average Cane Corso Price
To begin with, let’s take about the average Cane Corso price. Looking at full-bred Cane Corso puppies, the range is extreme.
On the low end, you are looking at about $800 a puppy. At the very high-end of the spectrum, a Cane Corso puppy can cost $6,000. On average, a Cane Corso puppy costs between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the registration status.
A Cane Corso puppy with limited registration is going to be the lowest price of a Cane Corso out there. They range from $800 to $1,000. These dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption.
A full registration Cane Corso puppy can cost between $1,200 and $2,400. This is because they are still capable of being bred, unlike the limited registration, dogs are.
The highest end of the price spectrum goes to the Cane Corso puppies with nobility bloodlines. They are meant for breeding and dog shows only, which is why their price is between $2,400 and $6,000.
Factors That Can Affect Cane Corso Price
There are a lot of different factors that affect the cost of a Cane Corso. We have broken them down below:
Breeder Reputation
The reputation of the breeder will definitely affect the cost of a dog. Some breeders are known to stick strictly to the breed standard provided by the AKC, upping the price of the dog while guaranteeing how purebred the dog is.
AKC Papers – Purebred vs. Mixed: Having a dog that has AKC papers certifying that it is a purebred, high-quality lineage will definitely up the Cane Corso price. Mixed dogs will always be less expensive.
Dog Bloodline
Just like with the AKC papers, if the dog’s bloodline can be verified, it will be a more expensive dog.
Dogs with a long lineage that can verify breed purity across several generations will cost more than dogs that do not have that history.
Gender & Coat Color
Gender is not a big factor when it comes to the cost of a Cane Corso. Males are usually bigger and eat more food, but this does not affect their initial cost.
Coat color can definitely affect the price of a Cane Corso. Most of the Cane Corso colors are brindle, red, fawn, grey, and black.
If you come across a Cane Corso that is a color outside of these, such as blue, the dogs will be less expensive.
Age & Location
It is always going to cost more money to adopt a puppy than it costs to adopt an adult dog. A puppy between 8 and 12 weeks old will be the highest-priced Cane Corsos. The price drops significantly after a year old.
The location of the breeder will also affect the price. If you consider having to fly a long distance to adopt a dog, your cost has already gone up. This can be frustrating if you do not like the dog when you get there.
Vaccines & Medical Expenses
Getting a dog that is already spayed and vaccinated will save you money, and typically reduce the cost of the dog, because they cannot be bred.
Where To Buy A Cane Corso Puppy
Adoption & Rescue Shelter
Adopting a Cane Corso from a shelter is a great way to help save a dog and bring one into your home. Shelter fees for an adult dog can be somewhere between $200 and $500, depending on where you live and the age of the dog.
The pro to adopting a shelter dog is that you are giving an unwanted dog a fresh start and a loving home.
The cons are that you will not know the exact history of the dog and what has happened to him in the past. You will also not be sure how much of your dog is a Cane Corso or whether your dog only looks like one.
Reputable Breeder
Getting a Cane Corso from a reputable breeder is a great way of ensuring that your dog comes from excellent breeding stock.
These breeders have the paperwork about the parents of the dogs and they can guarantee that you are getting the real thing.
They will be able to supply you with a lineage for their dogs, their dogs’ parents, and their dogs’ grandparents, showing the strength and authenticity of the breed.
Their puppies can be used for breeding as well or can be show dogs. The price of these dogs can be anywhere from $2,500 to $8,500.
If you have no intention of breeding your dog, there is no real reason that you need to spend that kind of money to get a good dog. If you are interested in the papers, however, this is the safest bet.
Backyard Breeder
A backyard breeder is a breeder who does not have all of the high-end paperwork that shows that the dog’s lineage goes back centuries.
Instead, they should be able to show you that their dogs are full-bred Cane Corsos and help ensure that what you are getting is the real thing.
Because they are not breeding for show, they will be less expensive than the reputable breeders are, though not as cheap as a shelter. These dogs can range between $1,000 and $3,000. This is a great way to go to be sure you are getting a full Cane Corso, but don’t need a lineage.
Pet Stores
Adopting dogs from a pet store is the least desirable place to buy a dog. Pet stores often get their dogs from puppy mills, which is where mother dogs are locked up and used strictly to produce puppies.
They are considered inhumane and are illegal. If you do see a Cane Corso in a pet store and believe the store is only using reputable sources for their dogs.
You can expect to pay between $500 and $1,000, depending on whether the Cane Corso they are selling is purebred. Really, unless you know the pet store, this is not the best way to adopt a puppy.
Initial Costs Of Cane Corso Ownership
If you are looking more for what you can expect to pay right out of the gate with your Cane Corso, we have found that the price varies a great deal, depending on the type of Cane Corso you are buying.
The range itself is anywhere from $900 to $3,000, but the average cost is more like $1,400. The price of a Cane Corso goes up depending on the lineage of the breed. If you are going with a top-of-the-line Cane Corso, the cost is more likely between $2,500 and $8,500.
Of course, you can always go with a Cane Corso that doesn’t have any registration papers to prove breed or even a Cane Corso mix. As we mentioned above, it is a lot less expensive to adopt a rescue Cane Corso than it is to purchase one from a breeder.
The initial cost should include your dog’s initial vaccinations. In the case of a shelter, your puppy will also come spayed or neutered, so that will reduce that cost for you in the future.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Puppy Dog Food | $150 |
| Treats | $45 |
| Dog Bed | $60 |
| Dog Crate | $90 |
| Toys | $60 |
| Dog Collar & Leash & Bowls | $65 |
| Grooming Supplies (Shampoo, Brush, Nail Clippers) | $45 |
| Cleaning Supplies (Waste Bags, Carpet Cleaner, Popper Scooper) | $40 |
| Microchip | $45 |
| Initial Vaccines | $150 |
| Dog License | $35 |
| Total | $785 |
First-Year Expenses Of Owning A Cane Corso Puppy
While we all know that the price of buying a Cane Corso goes into their first-year expenses, there are other factors as well that affect the cost of your dog.
To begin with, having your Cane Corso trained is one expensive you would pay the first year and never need again. This is optional but will save you from trouble later on.
You will also have the cost of having your dog spayed or neutered if you are planning to not breed the dog.
That is also a one-time expense that will never come up again. You should wait until your dog has finished growing before doing this, however.
Puppies also need to go in for routine checks and vaccinations. A typical vet visit can be between $30 and $80, depending on where you live and what is done during the appointment. You will also need to think about heartworm and flea/tick medications.
Food is the final factor when it comes to the first-year cost. Puppies eat quite a bit and will eat more food as they get bigger. But food is a cost that will always be there.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cane Corso Puppy | $2000 |
| High-Quality Dog Food | $1700 |
| Initial Expenses (these are the initial expenses from the first table) | $785 |
| Treats | $380 |
| Toys | $350 |
| Grooming Supplies | $150 |
| Spaying & Neutering | $300 |
| Veterinaran Visits & Vaccinations | $350 |
| Total | $6015 |
Monthly Expenses Of Owning An Adult Cane Corso
Typically, the majority of the monthly expenses for your Cane Corso will have to do with food and treats, and potentially a dog sitter and groomer.
The average price per month that you will spend on food for a Cane Corso is about $90. The cost of treats will vary quite a bit, depending on how many treats that you are giving your dog and the type of treats that you are buying for your dog.
If you are leaving your dog at doggy daycare or have a dog walker, those prices can be factored into the cost of the monthly expenses as well.
Having a groomer bathe your Cane Corso will also affect the monthly cost of owning one, but it might not apply to your situation.
On average, it costs about $159 a month to own a Cane Corso. Needing a dog walker will up that cost a lot, so take that into consideration before adopting a dog. They are big, after all, and require more care.
| Type Of Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Dog Food | $140 |
| Treats | $30 |
| Toys | $30 |
| Dog Supplies | $25 |
| Grooming Supplies | $20 |
| Pet Insurance | $30 |
| Training Clases | $200 |
| Dog Walking | $120 |
| Total | $595 |
Cost Of Feeding A Cane Corso Puppy & Adult
It is also really important to know what you are looking at as far as food cost goes. Since a Cane Corso is a large breed dog, you can expect to feed your dog a lot more than you would if you had a smaller dog.
An adult Cane Corso will eat between 4 and 8 cups of food a day. The range depends on the size that your Cane Corso is, his activity level, and even his age.
If you consider that a good dog food costs about $2 a pound and the average size of a large bag of food is 30 pounds, a bag is likely to cost around $60 for 120 cups of dog food.
If your Cane Corso eats 6 cups of food a day, you’ll go through a bag every 20 days, which comes out to 18 bags of food a year. That will come out to $1,080 a year for food.
A puppy is harder to calculate because the amount that they eat varies a lot depending on age and growth spurt.
Optional Cane Corso Expenses
Ear Cropping
Ear cropping is definitely an optional expense. It is where you have your dog’s ears cut when he is a puppy and bound so that their ears stand up rather than flop down.
Ear cropping ranges from $150 and $600, depending on where you live. Most vets recommend against this procedure, however, as it is considered an unnecessary cosmetic procedure.
Spaying & Neutering
Having your dog spayed or neutered is always optional of course, but it is a good idea if you are not breeding your dog.
Dogs that are intact are more likely to run off and cause unwanted pregnancies. Since they are a large breed, it is recommended that you do not have this done until after they are done growing.
The cost of sterilization is usually between $300 and $600, depending on where you live.
Training
Training is highly recommended with Cane Corsos. The price will depend on the type of training you go for. Group lessons can be anywhere from $50 to $125 per lesson and typically you need at least 1 to 2 months of lessons.
One-on-one training is more expensive. While pricy, the investment will last you a lifetime as you have a well-trained and obedient dog. Since they have a very powerful bite, having them well-trained will ease your mind.
Grooming
Luckily, Cane Corsos do not need much in the way of grooming. You do not want to have their fur cut and as long as you brush them regularly, you won’t need a groomer for that.
Since they are large, a groomer would be helpful to bathe your dog, which runs for about $50. Most people don’t have tubs large enough to easily bathe the dog yourself, so a groomer is a good idea.
DNA Testing
There are a lot of different dog DNA testing companies out there, so the cost of having this done can be as cheap as $40 or as much as $300.
A DNA test might give you some closure as to whether a rescued pup is a full-bred Cane Corso and can sometimes disclose the risk of certain medical conditions, so it might be worth it for you to have it done.
Dog Walker & Dog Sitter
Having a dog walker or dog sitter is also optional, but recommended if you are not home with your dog all day. Your dog will need to get out and have some exercise.
A dog walker averages about $20 a walk, so if your dog walker is walking your Cane Corso 5 days a week, you are looking at $100 a week or $400 a month. Boarding is a lot more, so you should only do that if you are leaving town.
Is Cane Corso Insurance Worth It?
Just like with humans, there is animal insurance out there that is meant to help break up the costs of visits or procedures that your dog might go through.
Because the breed is so large and has such a strong bite, not all insurances will cover the breed. You also need to make sure that your vet accepts it.
Usually, exam fees are included in pet insurance, which should include both routine and sick visits. Routine vaccinations are also usually covered as are unexpected injuries. Insurance will also cover dental care.
The biggest thing to know is that pet insurance will often not cover hereditary conditions, like hip dysplasia or entropion. Since these are the equivalent of a pre-existing condition, insurance might not pay for it.
Pet insurance costs about $50 a month on average per pet. Whether it is worth it is entirely dependent on your situation. For a Cane Corso, it is really hard to say.
The most expensive factors with this breed are the genetic conditions and since they are not likely to be covered, it might not be worth it. Then again, if your annual vet visits add up to $600 a year, the $50 a month would pay for itself.
Cane Corso Common Health Issues & Treatment Cost
Something else that you should think about is the common genetic conditions that a Cane Corso is faced with.
Knowing ahead of time that your dog could develop these issues can better prepare you for the cost of treating your dog in the future.
The three most common issues that could break the bank with a Cane Corso are hip dysplasia, entropion, and gastric dilation volvulus, also known as bloat.
Hip dysplasia is a common condition among large breed dogs. It happens when the hip joints do not grow correctly and will result in mobility issues as the dog gets older. The treatment for hip dysplasia can run anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000.
Entropion is a condition where there is too much skin around the eyelid, resulting in the dog’s eyelashes rubbing against their eyes. It can cause irritation, infection, and blindness if left untreated. It is treated with surgery, which can cost between $300 and $1,500.
Bloat is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. It is also the most expensive treatment on here, ranging from $1,500 to $7,500. Surgery is usually required, but if not caught in time, the prognosis is poor.
Final Words
Cane Corsos are definitely loving dogs to add to your family. But they are also incredibly large dogs. Knowing what you are going to be getting into as far as cost goes should help you decide whether it is a good idea for you to own one.
With large appetites and a food bill that reaches over $1,000 a year, the dog is not the right breed for everyone.
While they do not require much in the way of grooming and are smart enough to be trained well easily, they are still a lot to handle.
It is important to know whether you are prepared to take on the expenses of the breed before you dive into adopting one.
This means taking your pup to routine visits, feeding him quality food, and taking him in when there is a problem. If you are up to the task, you will have a wonderful long life with your new best friend.
