Though similar in name, there are significant reasons for American cane Corso vs Italian cane Corso being a popular debate.
Many breeders claim that they are similar but that’s not the truth. They have differences in origin, appearance, and characteristics.
In this article, I will discuss all the differences between American and Italian Corsi. It will be easier to distinguish between the two breeds. To learn some amazing facts about these two magnificent dogs, keep reading.

Content Summary
- American Cane Corso and Italian Cane Corso are from different origins and different gene pools.
- Both breeds have noteworthy differences in characteristics.
- Their appearance and lifespan are also different.
American cane Corso vs Italian cane Corso: Quick Differences
Italian Cani Corsi derives from ancient Italian Mastiffs whereas American Cane Corsi are completely different dog breeds in America. Italian Corsi are amiable and like to be trained. In contrast, American Corsi are fiery and aggressive. Moreover, American Corsi are usually bigger in size than Italian ones.
There’s more to discuss on the dissimilarity of these two canines. Here’s a quick difference between them before we go into the in-depth discussion.
Factor | Italian Cane Corso | American Cane Corso |
Origin & Breed | Origin: Italy Breed from Italian Mastiff | Origin: America. Breed from English Mastiff, Rottweiler, Bandogge, Pit Bull Terrier, and Presa Canario |
Characteristics | Takes instruction well, calm. Used as a guard dog for detectives and police forces | Aggressive and does activities by themselves. Used as a house guard dog |
Appearance | Shorter than American ones with a round jaws. | Longer with a strong jawline. |
Average Lifespan | 9-11 years | 10-12 years |
Let’s have a detailed segmentation of the two breeds in the next section.
American Cane Corso vs Italian Cane Corso: In-detail Differences
A detailed discussion of these dogs’ origins, characteristics, appearances, and other traits will clarify your idea about their differences.
Origin & Breed
The history of Italian authentic Cane Corso is an ancient one. The direct descendants of Italian Cane Corso are Neapolitan Mastiffs. And Mastiff breeds are descendants of a very ancient dog breed called Molossus war dogs from 3000 B.C.
Neapolitan Mastiffs were acknowledged as a separate breed in the 1940s. And by the 1980s there were only a few of this breed left.
That’s when the breeder enthusiasts decided to sustain the genes of this breed by crossing them with Italian bullmastiffs and boxers. And the new breed derived from them is called the Italian Cane Corso.
On the other hand, American Cane Corso has a different bloodline although the name is the same. This cane corso is a breed derived from some fighting dogs like English Mastiff, Rottweiler, Bandogge, Pit Bull Terrier, and Presa Canario here in America.
That’s why these American dog breeds are also known as, nontraditional corsos.
The Latin word Cane Corso ( kah neh kor soh ) loosely translates as “Body Guard dogs” in English. Breed enthusiasts had chosen a similar name because American Corsi are also guard dogs.
Verdict on Breed: Italian Cani Corsi are the original Italian breed of Cane Corso. Whereas, for American Cani Corsi, only the name was taken by the breed enthusiasts.

Characteristics
Both Italian and American Cane Corso are tremendously loyal to their owner. Both will help their owners in every way they can. However, they have different ways of showing their loyalty.
Italian Cane Corso is a well-put-together dog. They don’t act on impulse and have a cool temper.
They are hard-working dogs but they need a lot of mental and physical encouragement to make them work for you. They require intense training before you groom them to be as you want. Once they are trained, they will take instructions very well.
As a result, they thrive under strong and dominant owners. You have to give them at least 6 months of regular training in basic obedience, and socialization.
After that, you have to give your Italian Corso regular commands on what to do. For example, they will bark when they see strangers but won’t attack them if you don’t command them to.
Using tools to train your dog can be really helpful. Here are some amazing pet training gears you can check out.
- To increase your Cane Corso’s natural ability like walking around barriers, RAIN QUEEN Training Equipment will be really effective.
- Mutual communication and socializing with other humans and pets are important parts of training. ASOCEA Dog Teaser will help you with that.
- To make potty training fun and entertaining for your beloved Cane Corso, JEXCULL Training Bells are just the right stuff you need.
Italian Cani Corsi are really suitable as guard dogs for detectives and police forces. They move as they are instructed which is a perfect trait for dogs used in these sectors.
Compared to the Italian Cane Corso, the ancestors of fighter dogs, American Cani Corsi like to move as they like.
They are good as house guard dogs. They need only a shorter training period of 2-3 months. However, they may even show aggressiveness while serving their humans.
American Cani Corsi are protective of your family. But, if they see a new person near their owner, they automatically take them as rivals. They can sometimes unintentionally hurt them as well. This is why they seem to have a bad reputation in the pet society.
Making them socialize with people frequently from their childhood will reduce this type of behavior.
Verdict on Characteristics: If you want a more agreeable pet that you like to train yourself, Italian authentic Cane Corso is a good choice. If you like your dog to be more enthusiastic and self-motivated, American Cane Corso is a good choice.
Whether they are traditional or nontraditional Corsos, they all need basic training. Here are some tips you can use while training them.
- Start giving them basic command training including “sit”, “heel”, “stay” and “down” from a very early age. The 3rd week from their birth is a very good time to start this training.
- You or your family members should never yell at them while training.
- Dismiss their wrong behaviors by saying “no”. Another way of telling them you are not happy is, suddenly getting quiet around your Cane Corso when it does something wrong.
- And apply positive reinforcement by treating your Cane Corso for its good behavior.
- Try to socialize your Cane Corso from an early age. Take them outside and introduce as many people and pets as possible. Because once they grow older, it’s tough to make them socialize.
- While in the training phase, tell all your family members to follow the same behavior around the dog.
With a little care and grooming, you can make the Cane Corso your best companion and also the best friend for your children. This applies to both American and Italian cane corsos.

Appearance
Although you will find similarities at the first glance, If you notice carefully you can tell these breeds apart. American Cani Corsi are bigger and taller than Italian Cani Corsi in appearance.
A male Italian authentic Cane Corso grows at most 27 inches in height and a female grows around 26 inches. And they weigh around 100 pounds when fully matured. However, American Cani Corsi can grow 2-3 inches longer and 10-20 pounds heavier than them.
An American Cane Corso has a more defined jaw and a smaller head. They also have at most 1½ centimeters short and thick coats.
Whereas, an Italian Cane Corso has a frowned and rounded jaw. The coats of these dogs are thinner and longer than 1½ centimeters. They also have bigger heads.
An American Cane Corso has a more masculine and intimidating appearance. In comparison, an Italian Cane Corso looks more agreeable in appearance.
Verdict on Appearance: Both the dog breeds look elegant. Still, if you like larger dogs with a more masculine and sharp face, American Cane Corso is perfect for you. If you want a shorter one with a more agreeable-looking face, Italian Corso is better for you.
Average Lifespan
American Cane Corso has a little longer life expectancy than Italian ones. A healthy American Cane Corso lives up to 10-12 years. Whereas, a healthy Italian Cane Corso lives around 9-11 years.
Although, this life expectancy can vary with their lifestyle, environment, health issues, and other factors. Both of the Cani Corsi are prone to the same diseases including heart and eye problems and hip dysplasia. These diseases can occur at any point in a Cane Corso dog’s life.
Final Verdict
Italian Cani Corsi are traditional Italian breeds. They are calmer and cool-tempered. Although American Corsi can be your reliable friend too, their temperament somewhat isn’t acceptable to many.
If you want real Italian Cani Corsi, there are some breeders all over the country who will provide you with that. So, choose a reliable breeder for Cane Corso.
FAQs
What Kind Of Dog Is Scooby Doo?
The famous cartoon character Scooby Doo is a Great Dane dog. Great Dane is a giant breed and the origin of this breed is Germany. And it was bred from Mastiff-type dogs.
What Is The Rarest Color Cane Corso?
Chocolate and Isabella-colored Cani Corsi are the rarest ones. Liver, blue fawn, and straw colors in Cani Corsi are also rare to be found.
Are Cani Corsi Stronger Than Pitbulls?
Yes, Cani Corsi are stronger in all aspects than Pitbulls. They are bigger than Pitbulls with stronger jaws. The bite force of Cani Corsi are around 700 psi. In comparison, Pitbulls have a bite force of only 235 psi.
Conclusion
That was my take on American cane Corso vs Italian cane Corso. Though there are some differences, they both can be lovable and loyal companions for your family.
And no matter which dog you have, give them proper attention and training so they don’t become aggressive.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading. Take care and have a great day!