The Rottweiler Cane Corso Mix – or the “Rotticorso” is a large and powerful designer dog breed.
A true workhorse, the Rotticorso is a muscular dog that excels in guarding and protection work, but a dog that demands a knowledgeable, firm, and confident handler.
Rottweiler Cane Corso Mix
The Rotticorso is a crossbreed from breeding the Rottweiler and the Cane Corso Italiano. The Rotticorso is not suitable for a novice or unassertive dog owner.
The Rottweiler Cane Corso or Rotticorso is an extra-large working dog.
With the genetics of two of the largest and strongest breeds, only owners familiar with the Cane Corso Italiano breed should consider this breed.
Breed History
The Rottweiler is one of the oldest known breeds and descends from the mastiffs of the Roman legions.
The Romans used these large and powerful dogs to drive cattle with the advancing military units so that the soldiers always had a fresh food supply.
After the collapse of the Roman Empire, these large cattle dogs were charged with protecting cattle on the way to the market in Rottweil just east of the Black Forest in South Germany – hence the name “Rottweiler.”
The Cane Corso Italiano is an ancient breed closely tied to the Neopolitan Mastiff. The Italians used this breed as a guard dog, a cattle watchdog, and a hunting dog.
The Cane Corso’s ancestors were a group of large mastiff-like breeds called Mollosers which were later bred with dogs from the Greek islands to create the Neopolitan Mastiff and the Cane Corso.
The Corso breed became the ultimate Roman war dog, accompanying soldiers into battle.
The Cane Corso took on the role of guardian, protector of livestock, and property watchdog after the Roman Empire fell.
By the mid-twentieth century, the Cane Corso was close to extinction, and it was only due to a small group of individuals that the breed survived.
Appearance
The Rotticorso is a newer designer dog breed and is still being refined – despite this, specific physical characteristics are proving quite dominant in the breed.
These characteristics include:
- A maximum height of between 25 and 27.5 inches.
- A short, smooth coat.
- A weight of 80 lbs. to 12 lbs.
- Long jowls.
- A muscular body.
- A short and broad muzzle.
- Pendant ears when not cropped.
Early Rottweiler Cane Corso hybrids vary in weight and height. Male Rotticorso tends to measure between 25 and 27.5 inches at the shoulder.
Female Rotticorso measures between 23.5 inches and 26 inches at the shoulder.
When it comes to shedding, the Rotticorso is a seasonal shedder.
Common Rotticorso coat colors include:
- Black
- Fawn
- Brown
- Sable
- Brindle
- Red
Personality
Both the Rottweiler and the Cane Corso have similar personalities. Dominant traits are seen in the Rotticorso include:
- Intelligent
- Protective
- Eager to please
- Sociable.
- Loyal
- Dominant
The Rotticorso is exceptionally intelligent and responds well to positive reinforcement training.
It is not uncommon for this breed to be quite stubborn at times, and paired with the dog’s size, this makes a confident and knowledgeable handler a necessity.
Socialization is one of the most important aspects of raising a Rotticorso.
Familiarizing your dog with as much as possible by regularly exposing them to other people and animals helps create a more well-rounded character.
The Rottweiler Cane Corso hybrid is a very loyal dog that develops strong bonds with its family and has strong protective instincts.
However, this large pup has a natural tendency towards suspicion, which is why proper socialization is a MUST.
The Rotticorso is not afraid to bark when the situation warrants it, and they are quick to warn strangers away from their property and family.
The deep warning bark of this hybrid pup is enough to rattle anyone and certainly proves to be an efficient deterrent to neer-do-wells.
The Rottweiler Cane Corso is a working dog and requires a job and regular physical activity needs a family.
At least two hours of vigorous exercise a day is enough to keep this big dog happy, but the mental stimulation of a job is mandatory if this intelligent hybrid stays out of trouble.
Trainability of the Rottweiler Cane Corso Mix
The Rotticorso must have a strong and confident owner with experience working with similar breeds because of their size and occasional stubbornness.
The Rotticorso is eager to please but suspicious of anyone outside their immediate family circle. This suspicion makes training with a trusted person a must.
Praise is the ideal motivator for this intelligent workhorse, but excess food rewards are discouraged since this dog is prone to obesity.
The importance of socialization cannot be overstated regarding the Rotticorso because a 100 lbs.+ disgruntled dog is not something anyone wants to encounter!
Health
The Rotticorso is at risk for various heritable conditions that commonly affect the Rottweiler and Cane Corso breeds, including
- Hypothyroidism
- Bloating or Gastric Dilation Volvulus.
- Hip dysplasia
- Entropion
- Elbow dysplasia
- Osteosarcoma
- Allergies
- Addison’s disease
- Other cancers
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
- Epilepsy
Some of these conditions are preventable through genetic testing and refusing to breed dogs that carry the mutations related to these conditions.
Your dog’s health hinges on your ability to select a reputable and experienced breeder who does their due diligence when researching their dog’s pedigree.
Conclusion / Summary
The Rottweiler Cane Corso hybrid is an athletic and muscular dog that requires a great deal of physical and mental exercise.
With an experienced and confident handler, this intelligent dog excels in obedience training and makes a loving and loyal companion and protector.
Unfortunately, this dog can be a lethal weapon in the wrong hands, so many housing organizations have added them to the “banned breeds list.”
If you are interested in adding a Rotticorso to your family, our best advice is to:
- Be sure that you fully understand both parent breeds extensively
- Be sure that you are dedicated to lifelong obedience training
- Be sure you have considered all ramifications of bringing home a dog frequently featured on the banned breeds list.
