Do Cane Corsos Shed? (Corsi Shedding Guide)

Cane Corsos are large working dogs with an ancient Italian heritage. Throughout the ages, they’ve gone from fearlessly charging enemy lines in battle, to hunting and guarding livestock, to becoming one of the most popular dogs in the United States and abroad.

Given his background, intimidating stature and loyal, protective nature, it’s easy to see why he’s often referred to as the “bodyguard of dogs.” However, they’re also known for being gentle, affectionate family dogs. And, properly trained and socialized, can be very obedient and well behaved for a confident owner.

Do they shed lots? Cane Corsos have a short, coarse double coat that sheds a low-to-moderate amount of hair throughout the year. Except during shedding season, which typically occurs in spring and fall, where you may notice an uptick in shedding.

Regular grooming with a rubber brush or bristle brush should help you minimize the shedding though. And given the short length of his coat, brushing isn’t difficult or time consuming.

Read on to learn more.

Cane Corso Shedding – What to Expect

Cane Corsos are a low-to-moderate shedding breed.

To put this into perspective, they shed about the same amount as a Rhodesian Ridgeback, Greyhound and Bullmastiff, which are also large shorthaired breeds.

But they don’t shed as much as other mastiff type dogs, such as the English Mastiff. And they don’t molt anywhere near the amount as other large dogs with thicker, heavier coats, like the German Shepherd.

So if you’re looking for a large, low maintenance dog that sheds very little, the Cane Corso fits that description.

Like most dogs though, you may notice an increase in shedding during spring and fall. Even though it may not look like it, he does have an undercoat, which becomes more obvious during winter. And once winter is over, and he no longer needs it, the undercoat is shed in preparation for summer.

This process is known as seasonal shedding. And it does depend on where he lives as to how extreme this is, but some level of extra moulting during this time is to be expected.

Related: What is Seasonal Shedding?

There are other reasons why a dog can shed excessively though. As in, beyond what is considered normal for that particular breed. Such as diet, stress, or some other underlying problem. So if you do have any concerns, the best thing to do would be to contact a qualified veterinarian for advice.

Even high levels of shedding can be considered “normal” though. One look at a Newfoundland or Alaskan Malamute during shedding season is enough to demonstrate that. But moulting is typically minimal with a Cane Corso, and through proper grooming, it’s not hard to keep your home fur-free.

Grooming Your Corsi

Grooming a Cane Corso (Corsi) is not difficult or time consuming, they have very low maintenance coats. A brush once or twice per week with a bristle brush or rubber brush should keep his coat in good order.

Either of these brushes can work well for a shorthaired breed like the Corsi, so which one you use really depends on your own personal preference. And they’re not very expensive or difficult to use either.

A medium-bristle brush is just a brush made up of bristles that massage the dog’s coat, spread his skin oils, and remove any dead hairs. Which is similar to what a rubber brush (or glove) does except instead of bristles it has rubber nubs.

With that being said, these brushes aren’t the most ideal way to remove the loose undercoat fur. So a fine toothed comb or deshedding tool may be a better option during shedding season.

For general coat maintenance, brushing once or twice a week should be fine. But during shedding season, daily brushing may be worthwhile, as the more hair you can remove from his coat, before it falls out, the better.

Although using a metal comb or deshedder every day may irritate his skin, so it pays to limit how often you use these. Not just for his sake, but because dry, irritated skin can actually cause excessive shedding.

Aside from occasional brushing, there’s not much work in maintaining his coat, the odd bath here and there should keep him looking great. And, as with most dogs, it’s important to keep his nails trimmed so that it’s not painful for him to walk and run around.

How to Stop Your Cane Corso from Shedding Excessively

You can’t stop a dog from shedding completely. Unless you have a hairless breed, you are going to notice some hair around the home at some point. The only difference is how much and how often.

The good news is that you can significantly reduce how much hair falls off of their coat and onto your furniture. And it’s not difficult or time consuming with a Cane Corso, given how easy they are to groom. It mostly comes down to brushing and bathing, as well as ensuring his diet is optimal.

Brushing your Cane Corso is a simple and effective way to reduce shedding. During shedding season, daily brushing helps remove the dead fur from his coat and helps massage his skin. So not only can it save you some time when it comes to vacuuming, but it can help him maintain a healthy, moisture rich coat.

Bathing with a good quality dog shampoo prior to a thorough brushing session can also help. As long as you don’t over bathe him, and use a good moisturizing dog shampoo, this can be a great way to loosen up that old, dead hair before brushing.

When it comes to diet, consult with your veterinarian to help you decide the best possible, highest quality food for your dog. There are lots of great options. And while you might pay a little more for quality, a healthy dog has a healthy coat. So this can be an effective way to reduce unnecessary shedding, and give your dog what he needs to thrive.

At the end of the day, Cane Corsos don’t shed much anyway, and they’re very easy to groom. But together, these simple methods of reducing shedding can make a big difference over time as to how much time you spend vacuuming up the fur he does drop around the home.

If you want to learn more about reducing shedding, check out this guide.