Irish Wolfhound vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Irish Wolfhound vs Cane Corso - Breed ComparisonCane Corso is originated from Italy but Irish Wolfhound is originated from Ireland. Cane Corso may grow 16 cm / 6 inches shorter than Irish Wolfhound. Both Cane Corso and Irish Wolfhound are having almost same weight. Both Cane Corso and Irish Wolfhound has almost same life span. Both Cane Corso and Irish Wolfhound has almost same litter size. Both Cane Corso and Irish Wolfhound requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Molosser dogs
Hound dog
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Italy
Ireland
Height Male:
62 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
Height Female:
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
81 - 86 cm
31 - 34 inches
Weight Male:
45 - 50 kg
99 - 111 pounds
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
48 - 54 kg
105 - 120 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
6 - 10 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
3 - 4
Size:
Large
Giant
Other Names:
Cane Corz, Cane Di Macellaio, Italian Mastiff
None
Colors Available:
Fawn shades, gray, red, brindle or black shades
red, black or brindle, grey, white, Fawn
Coat:
Short, dense, double coat
Medium length, straight to wavy and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cane corsoAs a descendant of the Canis pugnax, the Cane Corso dog which hails from Italy has been used for guarding livestock and property. The Corso’s lineage goes far back to ancient Roman times, with the name of dog actually meaning bodyguard dog.

As life changed in Italy, the Corso became more rare so that some enthusiasts of the breed began to look at helping the dog recover from the brink of extinction. By 1994, the breed was accepted by the Italian Kennel Club and the dog was also recognized internationally, with the American Kennel Club recognizing the Cane Corso in 2010.

irish wolfhoundIt is believed that the Irish Wolfhound is an ancient breed and that it was brought to Ireland as early as 7000 BC.

These dogs were bred as hunting dogs as well as guard dogs. There was a time when these huge canines were only allowed to be owned by the nobility. The breed died out somewhat, but Scotsman Captain George Augustus Graham made efforts to restore the breed’s numbers.

Captain Graham devoted his life to making sure the Irish Wolfhound’s numbers were built up, and the breeding program included Great Danes, Borzois, English Mastiffs and Scottish Deerhounds.

Description

A Molosser Dog:

cane corso puppy - descriptionThe Cane Corso is a large dog which hails from Italy. He is a molosser. The dog is muscled and is somewhat less bulkier than other Mastiff breeds. He is 64-70 cm in height and he weighs 45-50 kg.

The head of the Cane Corso is large and the ears are cropped and stand erect. The tail is also traditionally docked to give the dog a distinctive look, but these days, with regulations regarding tail docking, the dog can also be seen with a full tail.

The Corso has a short coat which comes in fawn shades, gray, red, brindle or black shades. White markings are common on the chest, chin, toes and sometimes on the nose.

Temperament:

The Corso is a working dog who needs lots of mental and physical stimulation. He’s an inquisitive dog who is confident and ready to meet life as it comes. He’ll want a strong, firm owner with leadership qualities. He'll require training and socialization and then he becomes an affectionate, obedient pet who gets on well with all members of the family as well as other pets. He is a highly intelligent dog and responds well to training.

irish wolfhound puppy - descriptionThe tallest of the sighthounds, the Irish Wolfhound looks like a large Greyhound, only he has a rough, wiry type of coat.

He is also gracefully built and known as a gentle giant. The double coat which can be fawn, red, white, grey, black or brindle is straight to wavy.

He stands at about 81 to 86cm and weighs roughly 48 to 54kg. This is one of the few dog breeds that you can’t really call social. He loves his own human family, and becomes unhappy and ‘down-in-the-dumps’ when separated from his family members for too long. He is a quiet dog who tends to be somewhat introverted and reserved, while being highly intelligent.

He will require being trained and socialized to make him obedient as he is an independent dog. He takes his role as family protector seriously and even though he is quiet, he is ready to take on anyone who threatens his property.

Temperament:

The Irish Wolfhound is a gentle, quiet, soft-natured, easy-going dog and even though it is such a large dog, it doesn’t throw it’s weight around but is calm and patient around the elderly and children in the home. It can tend to be aggressive with animals he isn’t familiar with.

He is an intelligent dog, but even so he may be quite resistant to training as he is strong-willed and determined to have his own way. These dogs need to be trained and socialized otherwise they just do their own thing.

Characteristics

cane corso dog - characteristicsThe Cane Corso is known for his agility and athleticism. He is full of energy and he also wants lots of attention and companionship from his human family. With proper training and socialization his temperament changes so that he becomes a super friend and companion while also being protective.

The dog is attentive and receptive to training. The way a dog turns out is essentially what the owners are like, and many Cane Corso dogs have been blamed for being aggressive because they’ve been brought up by aggressive, abusive and irresponsible owners.

The Cane Corso is a large dog with an exuberant nature and who expresses his joy by snorting, wheezing, grunting and slobbering. Treat him well as a family member and you’re going to have a wonderful friend and protector.

irish wolfhound dog - characteristicsThe most notable aspect of the Irish Wolfhound is his amazing height. The legs are long, the body narrow. He is gentle and easy-going but because he is a sighthound he loves to give chase after animals.

He is capable of living in the city or countryside, but your home will need to cater to his size. He isn’t particularly energetic, enjoying a quiet life but he will absolutely need to be exercised.

Provide your gentle giant with everything needed to make him content, and you’ll have a faithful, loving friend for about 10 years.

Health Problems

cane corso puppies - health problemsThe life expectancy of the Cane Corso is 10 to 12 years. He is a large, healthy dog breed, but all large dogs are inclined towards bone and joint problems which includes hip dysplasia. Your Cane Corso is also prone to eye defects.

Cherry Eye:

Strangely, dogs have 3 eyelids, with the third eyelid being home to tear producing gland. There are some dogs where the ligament fails so that the gland pops out, looking like a cherry stuck at the inner corner of the eye. The veterinarian will be able to perform surgery to attach the gland back.

Entropion:

There are dogs where the eyelids roll inwards. Entropion causes hair to rub on the surface of the eye, resulting in pain and also damage to the cornea. Sometimes surgery will be necessary to fix the eyelid.

irish wolfhound puppies - health problemsOne wonders why breeders seem so bent on breeding such large dogs when they have health issues and they don't live particularly long. Not only do they cost a fortune to feed, but large dogs like this are more prone to illnesses and won’t live as long as small dog breeds. This big dog can live up to 10 years of age or so.

For starters, just because he is a deep chested dog, bloat or gastric torsion can be a threat. Other illnesses to look out for are dilated cardiomyopathy and bone cancer.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This is a disease of the heart muscle where the enlarged heart won’t function properly. The upper- and lower chambers of the heart are enlarged and the heart isn’t able to pump blood out properly. When the heart’s ventricle doesn’t pump enough blood into the lungs, fluid accumulates in the lungs and this ultimately leads to congestive heart failure.

Older dogs battle more with this heart disease and it is also more common in some dog breeds of which the Irish Wolfhound is one. Your dog will have shortness of breath, coughing and abdominal distension. He will need to get to the vet for medical tests.

Bone Cancer:

Bone cancer can strike any dog, but you’ll find in more commonly with larger dog breeds. It can spread quickly and the long term prognosis isn’t good. It’s not easy to pick the disease up and it can mean joint pain for your pet and even lameness.

Your dog will be tired too. Your vet will do X-rays and other tests, but unfortunately the prognosis isn’t usually good. Big-dog breeders should take this into consideration.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

cane corso dogs - caringThe short coat sheds fairly heavily twice a year. His coat will certainly need a brush twice a week but during shedding time it will be more often if you want to avoid your home being full of hair. As you brush, its the chance to check for fleas, ticks and skin infections.

Brush your Cane Corso’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to remove tartar build-up. If you don’t there is the problem of bacteria which can result in gum disease, bad breath and tooth loss.

Diet:

Your Cane Corso is a large, active dog and will therefore require a high quality food for his breed type. The type of food your dog eats will depend on his age and his activity levels.

The quality of dog food is highly important as it is a contributing factor towards his health. Always try to give your dog some home-made food such as vegetables, rice and meat. Include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as a dog is a carnivore, and raw meat in his diet will help to stave off skin problems. Never forget to check that he has fresh, cool water around the clock.

Exercise:

irish wolfhound dogs - caringThis isn’t a particularly energetic dog and he can tend to become lazy. Don’t allow this as becoming unfit and overweight can be very bad for such large dog. Being so large already puts stress on the dog’s body, and the dog is already susceptible to cardiac and skeletal problems. Allowing him to become lazy and overweight will be a death sentence for this large dog. It is imperative to make sure you take him on walks and play games with him.

Grooming:

The coat of your dog is thick and medium length and he will require being brushed at least twice a week. You may want to also trim the longer hair you find around his face and legs.

When it comes to his ears, you can moisten some cotton wool and wipe the inside of his ears to remove dirt and excess wax. Remember not to probe too deeply to avoid damaging the ear. If you’re uncertain how to do this, your vet can explain to you how its done.

Check his teeth regularly as dental disease can affect other areas of the body too. Don’t allow his nails to get too long as they can cause paw problems and the nails can hook onto things and cause injury.

Diet:

Because this is a giant breed, the puppy will grow for a long time. Speak to your vet about how to ensure you feed your puppy in such a way that he doesn’t grow too quickly.

If you feed your dog a commercially manufactured food, make sure its one of the top quality brands. Include home-made cooked food such as chicken, rice and vegetables into his kibble from time to time, and also try to feed him some raw meat occasionally.

Fresh, cool water must be available to your Irish Wolfhound around the clock.

Comparison with other breeds

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  29. Irish Wolfhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Wolfhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Wolfhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Wolfhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Wolfhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Wolfhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Wolfhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Wolfhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Wolfhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Wolfhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Wolfhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Wolfhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Wolfhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Irish Wolfhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Irish Wolfhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Wolfhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Irish Wolfhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Irish Wolfhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Irish Wolfhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Irish Wolfhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Irish Wolfhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Irish Wolfhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison