Rotticorso Dog Breed

The Cane Corso and Rottweiler mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but since both parent breeds are in the Working group in the AKC and other clubs, the Rotticorso would fit nicely in that category. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while a Cane Corso mixed with Rottweiler has probably existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. Regardless, these large, powerful, loyal dogs will make good pets for active families, and they're terrific guard dogs--but they'll need a lot of training and socialization to minimize any aggressive tendencies.

A few facts about the Rottweiler x Cane Corso mix: they're giant-sized and muscular, averaging 25 inches at the shoulders in height and 105 pounds in weight; they have short, stiff, double-layered coats that shed seasonally; and they're very energetic and will need a lot of exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning a Rotticorso:

Cons

• Training and socialization are absolute musts
• High exercise needs
• Too large and active for apartment living
• May be suspicious of and aggressive towards unknown people and animals
• High prey drive; will instinctively chase small animals
• Unfortunate hygiene habits (drooling, snoring, flatulence)
• Not a good choice for first-time owners
• Will shed heavily during spring and fall shedding seasons
• Ownership is prohibited in some areas

The Rottweiler and Cane Corso mix is the offspring of two powerful Mastiff breeds, both of which are courageous and protective--so likewise the Rotticorso will be equally intimidating. These hybrids are indeed big: height at the shoulders is normally 23-27 inches, and weight runs 90-120 pounds (with males being somewhat larger than females).

Because the Cane Corso-Rottie mix is so powerful, owners will need to provide these dogs a lot of training and socialization, beginning during puppyhood if possible, to teach them to be calm and respectful. Like its parent breeds, the Rotticorso is friendly and affectionate around loved ones--and suspicious of everyone and everything else! With these dogs' history as guardians comes the instinctive desire to protect loved ones at all costs--which could be disastrous with an untrained Rotticorso. In fact, many local ordinances prohibit ownership of breeds like this one; potential owners are advised to check with their neighborhood associations or city governments for such ordinances before bringing a Rotticorso home.

And these dogs are muscular, athletic, and task-oriented--which means they'll need both physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis. Walks or jogs, fetch and other games, and all manner of canine sports competitions are great for the Rotticorso.

Because these hybrids' parent breeds are physically similar, the Rotticorso doesn't see too much variation in physical features. Breeders use symbols like P, F1, F2, and so on to denote a crossbred dog's genetic makeup; for the Cane Corso-Rottweiler cross the following applies:

• P: Purebred; 100% Rottweiler or Cane Corso
• F1: P x P; 50% Rottweiler, 50% Cane Corso
• F1b: F1 x P; 75% of the purebred parent's DNA
• F2: F1 x F1; 50% Rottweiler, 50% Cane Corso

(The sequence continues up to F5 or higher.)

Breeders use the F1b cross to accentuate one parent breed's traits. For the Rotticorso, breeders sometimes employ selective breeding of a "King Corso" (an especially large Corso variation) to produce larger puppies. The King Corso-Rottweiler mix is indeed bigger, often reaching 140 pounds.

Protective, intelligent, friendly to loved ones, task-oriented, and at times stubborn and even dominant, the Cane Corso-Rottweiler mix temperament is one of quiet confidence, power, and devotion. These hybrids will be very affectionate with family members--and they'll instinctively protect their loved ones at all costs. Rotticorso mixes will need to be supervised around strangers, and they'll need plenty of training and socialization to keep them peaceful. That said, they can get along well with kids, and possibly with other pets (though their high prey drives may cause them to instinctively chase small animals, and they might naturally be dominant over other dogs). Owners say it's best if your Rotticorso is part of a "one-dog" (or even a "one-pet") household.

But Rotticorso mixes are smart, and normally respond well to training. They might be a bit stubborn, and thus reluctant to learn commands or tasks, but this isn't often the case. As with any dog, firm (but never harsh!), consistent, reward-based training methods are best.

And the Rotticorso's watch- and guard dog skills are virtually unmatched. These dogs will be alert, confident, and loyal, and they're sure to bark at and investigate unknown sights and sounds. Odds are they're physically capable of neutralizing potential threats like intruders too.

The Rotticorso, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is pretty healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including hip and/or elbow dysplasia, demodectic mange, and various heart problems. Large, deep-chested dogs like this one are also prone to gastric torsion (or bloat), especially if they're allowed to "wolf" their food too quickly. Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings.

Life expectancy for these hybrids is relatively short, at 9-11 years.